Martha Layne Collins, the first and only woman governor in Kentucky to date, died Saturday, Nov. 1, at 88 years old.
She served in office from 1983 to 1987 as just the third woman in the U.S. elected to a gubernatorial office. She also chaired the Democratic National Convention in 1984.
One of her most enduring achievements was luring Toyota to Georgetown, a move that created thousands of jobs and has had a lasting economic impact on the region.
She photos of Collins through the years.
Don, right, and Dudley Webb chat with Gov. Martha Layne Collins before the opening ceremony for Festival Market, July 25, 1986. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff Herald-Leader
Former Kentucky Govenor, Martha Layne Collins talks with 4th-graders at Wilmore Elementary School in Wilmore, Kentucky, on Monday, Feb. 13, 2006 about the importance of reading and doing the best they can during school’s "I Love to Read Week.” Students in the 3rd, 4th & 5th grades are encouraged to read as much as they can to meet a school goal of total of 50,000 minutes for the week. Gov. Collins, mostly talked with the students about her growing up in Bagdad, Kentucky, and wanting to suceed. Frank Anderson/Staff FRANK ANDERSON LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER
L-R: former Gov. Martha Layne Collins with son Steve, Libby and Former Gov. Brereton Jones, Judy and former Gov. Paul Patton, during the Grand March at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Tuesday, December, 11, 2007. This was one of several events on the night of Gov. Steve Beshear's inauguration. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins, left, smiles as Gov. Paul Patton applauds the unveiling of a Matha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway sign during the parkway's renaming ceremonies Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, outside the Woodford Community Christian Church in Woodford County. DAVID PERRY LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER
Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins sits next to Tipper Gore before they speak during the Women Leading Kentucky conference at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, May 9, 2006. David Stephenson/Staff DAVID STEPHENSON LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER
Former Governor Martha Layne Collins speaks as Toyota's Georgetown plant hit the 10 millionth vehicle milestone on Thursday, May 29, 2014, in Georgetown, Ky. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff Herald-Leader
The new Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant holds its first dedication ceremony at the plant on October 6, 1988. Participants in the program included: Dr. Schoichiro Toyoda - President of Toyota Motor Corporation, Kentucky Gov. Wallace Wilkinson and former Gov. Martha Layne Collins. All the Toyota employees were invited to attend the ceremony. Speaking is Kaneyyoshi Kusunoki - President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, U.S.A. Inc. Charles Bertram/Lexington Herald-Leader.
Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins gives John Henry a rub on the head after the famous Thoroughbred race horse arrived in Lexington Aug. 26, 1985, at Blue Grass Field, now called Blue Grass Airport. Lexington Herald-Leader
Seven former Kentucky governors join then-Gov. Paul Patton and his wife Judy Patton, for dinner at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999. Standing L-R: Ned Breathitt Jr., John Y Brown Jr., Julian Carroll, Judy Patton, Paul Patton, Louie Nunn, Brereton Jones, Martha Layne Collins, Wendell Ford. CHARLES BERTRAM LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER
A robot is sworn in as a Kentucky State Trooper Aug. 6, 1984, at the state capital in Frankfort. The robot, which was donated by the Chevron Corp. at a cost of $14,750, was used to teach traffic safety in Kentucky schools. The robot was sworn in by Kentucky Chief Justice Robert F. Stephens and given badge No. 219. In the background, Kentucky State Police Commissioner Morgan T. Elkins and Gov. Martha Layne Collins talk in the Capitol rotunda. David Perry
Former Kentucky governors L-R: Martha Layne Collins, Paul Patton and Steve Beshear, with his wife Jane, pose for a photo before Former Vice President Joe Biden appears with 6th Congressional District Democratic candidate Amy McGrath afternoon at a fish fry in the Bath County High School gymnasium in Owingsville, Ky. Biden was campaigning for McGrath, who was running against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Barr. Charles Bertram cbertram@herald-leader.com
Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins applauds the achievements as the first Lexus ES 350 built in the United States is unveiled in a ceremony at the Georgetown facility. Herald-Leader
The new Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Georgetown holds a dedication ceremony on October 6, 1988. Participants are taking a tour of the plant following the ceremony. From left to right, Georgetown Mayor Tom Prather, Kido Toshiyuki, interpreter (pointing), and former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins. Far right is Gov. Collins' daughter, Marla Collins. Charles Bertram | Staff Herald-Leader
Martha Layne Collins,Kentucky's first female governor Herald-Leader
Former President Bill Clinton kisses former Kentucky Gov. Martha Layne Collins during a campaign stop in Ashland on behalf of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alison Grimes, left. Photo by John Flavell Herald-Leader
Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins introduces the Japanese Consul General Motohiko Kato before his remarks during a Shinnenkai, a traditional Japanese New Year's celebration hosted by Japanese/America Society of Kentucky at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort, Ky. Friday Jan. 31, 2014. Photo by David Stephenson Herald-Leader
Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins, center, breaks into a large smile as does Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman of the Board Eiji Toyoda, left, and President Shoichiro Toyoda, right, just after the three turned over the soil for the official groundbreaking ceremony Monday, May 5, 1986, near Georgetown, KY. T (AP Photo/Tom Moran) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former Governor Martha Layne Collins addresse sthe crowd during the Bluegrass Sports Awards banquet Wednesday, February 15, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff Herald-Leader
L-R: Former Sen. Wendell Ford, Dr. Lee Todd, Gov. Martha Layne Collins, Gov. Julian Carroll and Gov. John Y. Brown at a benefit dinner for UK Center for Research on Violence Against Women at the Marriott Hotel in Lexington, KY on June 14, 2004. The former governors were honored with legacy awards for their respective contributions to ending violence against women. PHOTOGRAPHER: Matt Goins
Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins.
Former Govs. Julian Carroll, Ernie Fletcher, Paul Patton, John Y. Brown Jr. and Martha Layne Collins, and then-Gov. Steve Beshear, talk about the Kentucky Horse Park and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse park Oct. 3, 2010, in Lexington.
