Dorothy Eck

Dorothy Eck (née Fritz; January 23, 1924 – September 23, 2017)[1] was an American politician in the state of Montana. She served in the Montana Senate from 1980 to 2000.[2][3] Eck was also active in feminist movements including the League of Women Voters[4][5] and served as a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention.[6][7]

Dorothy Eck
Member of the Montana Senate
In office
1980–2000
Personal details
Born
Dorothy Fritz

(1924-01-23)January 23, 1924
Sequim, Washington, U.S.
DiedSeptember 23, 2017(2017-09-23) (aged 93)
Bozeman, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHugo Eck
RelationsDiana L. Eck (daughter)
Children1
Residence(s)Bozeman, Montana
EducationMontana State University (MS)
OccupationPolitician

Life

Born Dorothy Fritz on January 23, 1924, she grew up with two sisters in Bremerton, Washington, where their father was Union Oil station manager.[4] In 1946, she married Hugo Eck, and they moved to Bozeman, Montana,[7] where Hugo taught architecture.[4] Eck received her MS in applied science from Montana State University. The couple had two children. Her daughter Diana Eck is a Harvard professor of comparative religion.[4]

Eck became active in the Bozeman League of Women Voters and became state president of that organization. She was elected as a delegate to Montana's 1972 Constitutional Convention and served as the western vice chair. She championed articles protecting Montanans' right to privacy, equal rights for women, and Indian Education for All. After the convention, she traveled with fellow delegates Betty Lee Babcock and Daphne Bugbee on a campaign to convince voters to ratify the new constitution. Eck served as a Democrat in the Montana Senate from 1980 until 2000.[8]

Eck died at her home in Bozeman on September 23, 2017.

See also

References
  1. Schontzler, Gail. "Dorothy Eck, trailblazer for women in Montana politics, dies at 93". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  2. http://ir.lib.umt.edu:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10844/618/OH396-50.pdf?sequence=2
  3. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  4. Schontzler, Gail (June 16, 2007). "Dorothy Eck, pioneer for Montana women, still trying to change the world". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  5. Schontzler, Gail (September 4, 2011). "Dorothy Eck: Champion for women, open government". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  6. Democrats, Gallatin County. "Gallatin County Democrats official site". gallatindemocrats.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  7. "Dorothy Eck: Building bridges, not playing bridge". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  8. Kirk, Kelly (Summer 2016). "State of Change: Women and the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention". Montana The Magazine of Western History. 66 (2): 11. JSTOR 26322794. Retrieved 18 March 2021.


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