Dixy Lee Ray

Dixy Lee Ray was a scientist who served as the 17th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington. Variously described as idiosyncratic, and ridiculously smart, she was the states first female governor and was known for her leadership of the state during the devastating eruption of Mt. St. Helens, for her strident support of atomic energy, and for her personal eccentricities.

She was born Marguerite Ray in Tacoma, Washington to Frances Adams Ray and Alvis Marion Ray, the second in a family of five girls. She joined the Girl Scouts and, at the age of 12, became the youngest girl, up to that time, to summit Mount Rainier. In 1930, at age 16, she legally changed her name to Dixy Lee in homage to Robert E. Lee.

Source: Wikipedia