Biography

12/27/1941 -

Mary Jo White (R21) Butler (Part), Clarion, Erie (Part), Forest, Lawrence (Part), Venango, and Warren (Part) Counties 1997-2002 (R21) Butler (Part), Clarion, Erie (Part), Forest, Venango, and Warren (Part) Counties 2003-2012

Early Life:

Mary Jo White, born December 27, 1941, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, daughter of Joseph E. and Patricia Ransford; Aquinas High School, 1959; Quincy University (B.A.), 1963; University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D.), 1967; married, Judge H. William White; children, H. William III, David Ransford, Allison Patricia; public defender, Venango County, Pennsylvania, 1974-1976; Corporate Secretary, Vice-President, Environmental Government Affairs, Quaker State Oil Corporation, 1976-1995; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1997-2012; Trustee Emerita, Board of Trustees, University of Pittsburgh, member, Pitt Public Health Board of Visitors, 2007-2020.

Early Career:

Associate, law firm of Dale and Woodward; Venango County public defender; vice president, Quaker State, 1976-1995; board member, Northwest Regional Planning and Development Corporation; board member, Center for Rural Pennsylvania Environmental Quality; board trustees, Westminster College; Member, Venango County Association for the Blind and Venango Community Foundation; member, Military Academy Selection Committee 5th Congressional District; chair, Barrow Civic Theatre Foundation; chair, Nursing Advisory Commission of Clarion University.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 21st district, Butler (Part), Clarion, Erie (Part), Forest, Lawrence (Part), Venango, and Warren (Part) Counties, 1997-2002; Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 21st district, Butler (Part), Clarion, Erie (Part), Forest, Venango, and Warren (Part) Counties, 2003-2012; chairwoman, Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, (twelve of fourteen years senate); member, Appropriations, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Judiciary (vice chair), Public Health and Welfare Committees; left office November 30, 2012.

Legacy:

First woman, elected, Senate Republican Leadership, Caucus Administrator, 2001-2006.

Chaired, Senate Environmental Committee, involved in every major environmental law passed, 1999-2012, Environmental Stewardship and Watershed Protection (Growing Greener) Act, Water Resources Planning Act.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members W". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1999). Crowell, G.; Secretary, Department of General Services. (Volume 114) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 3-35, 3-43; Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-23.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2011-2012). Phillips, S.; Secretary, Department of General Services. (Volume 120). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; pages 3-34, 3-41. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-25.