Phyllis Lamphere | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theSeattle City Council | |
| In office 1968–1979 | |
| 51st President of theNational League of Cities | |
| In office 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Hans Tanzler |
| Succeeded by | Tom Moody |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Phyllis Hagmoe (1922-02-09)February 9, 1922 |
| Died | November 13, 2018(2018-11-13) (aged 96) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Barnard College |
| Occupation | Politician,activist |
Phyllis Lee Hagmoe Lamphere (February 9, 1922 – November 13, 2018) was an American politician and civic activist. She was a longtime member of theSeattle City Council and was the first woman to lead theNational League of Cities.
Lamphere was born Phyllis Lee Hagmoe on February 9, 1922, inSeattle, Washington. Her father, Ernest Archibald Hagmoe, initially worked in the local water department although he lost his job due to his alcoholism. Her mother, Minnie Hagmoe, was a public servant who worked a series of jobs throughout theGreat Depression with the state welfare office, theWorks Progress Administration, the Seattle War Commission, the city's voter registration and license offices and the King County tax department.[1][2] Lamphere studied at Interlake Grade School andLincoln High School, before receiving a scholarship toBarnard College in 1939. She received a degree in mathematics from the college in 1943, where she studied under dancerMartha Graham.[1][3]
After Barnard, she worked forIBM andBoeing, where she was Director of Women's Activities, before entering politics.[4] Lamphere was active inLeague of Women Voters and lobbied theSeattle City Council to pass a bill that placed budget decisions under the mayor's authority.[4] She won a seat on the city council in 1967 and remained on the council for 11 years. She helped pass an "Open Housing" law banning discrimination in Seattle in 1968 and lobbied for the building of theWest Seattle Bridge.[5]
In 1977, Lamphere became the first nonmayoral and woman president of theNational League of Cities and ran forMayor of Seattle, coming in fourth in the primary.[4]
After leaving the council, Lamphere served as regional director of theEconomic Development Administration and was named in 1980 to a team tasked with building theWashington State Convention Center, where the Phyllis Lamphere Gallery was named after her.[6] She also helped theMuseum of History & Industry relocate to its present location inSouth Lake Union, Seattle.[1] She was also a board member ofVirginia Mason Medical Center,Museum of History & Industry, and a board member of the Washington State Convention Center from 1982 to 2002.[1]
Lamphere was married five times. She lived at the Horizon House retirement center, where she remained active in civic affairs and mobilized retirees in her 90s.[7] She died on November 13, 2018, at age 96 and was survived by three daughters, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[4]