Martha Layne Collins
American businesswoman and politician (1936-2025) · United States · On the map · Politicians · Died at 88
Martha Layne Collins was an American businesswoman and politician from Kentucky; she served as the state's 56th governor from 1983 to 1987, the first woman to hold the office and the only one to date. Prior to that, she served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Kentucky, under John Y. Brown Jr.
Martha Layne Collins is read about 70 times a day, in 23 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 7 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 120 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?People around Martha
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Media & music
Photos 6
Wendell Ford; Collins worked on his 1971 gubernatorial campaign
Jim Bunning was Collins's Republican opponent in the 1983 gubernatorial election.
Collins speaking in 1986 during the commissioning of the USS Louisville
Walter Mondale interviewed Collins as his potential running mate in 1984.
St. Catharine College; Collins was its president from 1990 to 1996.Awards
About this person
Her election as governor made her the highest-ranking woman in the Democratic Party. She was considered as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential election, but Mondale chose Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro instead.
