June 1914 - June 2008

Ellie Peterson made history
in so many ways it is hard
to count them all.

She was the first woman to
serve as co-chair of the RNC
twice, according to the
Washington Post, and the
first to serve as a deputy
campaign chairman for a
presidential candidate.

A former co-chair of ERAMerica,
Ellie Peterson became the first
woman to lead the Michigan
Republican Party; the first to
lead a major state party any
where in the US.  She was a
charter member of the National
Political Women's Caucus.

Peterson reached out to
young people and African
Americans in Michigan and
worked to take the idea to
the party nationally.

In 1964 she ran for US Senate
in Michigan winning over 35%
of the vote but losing to a
popular incumbent.

A role model for many women
in the Republican Party, Ellie
Peterson will be missed.