STATE MOURNS DEATH OF LEADER
Katherine Graham "Katie" Peden, 80, former broadcasting executive and civic and political leader who was internationally recognized as a developer in business and commerce, has died.
She died at 3:55 p.m. Sunday at Country Place Nursing Home, Lexington, following a long illness.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Maddux-Fuqua-Hinton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
A native of Hopkinsville, her career started in 1944 when she went to work at radio station WHOP where 20 years later she was general manager of the station and owner of WNVL in Nicholasville. She also worked as national sales manager for five CBS stations.
It was in that capacity that she began opening doors previously closed to women. In conjunction with her work, she joined the Business and Professional Women's Club, (B&PW) beginning with the Hopkinsville B&PW and leading to positions on the state, national and international level. In 1961 she was elected as national B&PW president.
Three presidents appointed her to prestigious posts.
President John F. Kennedy appointed her to the President's Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1961.
In 1964 she served on the Kentucky Commission on the Status of Women that would later evolve into the Kentucky Commission on Women.
In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson appointed her as the only woman to the 12-member National Advisory Committee on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission.
In 1978 President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the Executive Committee of the White House Conference on Balanced Growth and Economic Development.
She became the first female state commerce commissioner, appointed by then Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
By the end of her four-year tenure as commerce commissioner, 150,000 new jobs had been created, unemployment in Kentucky was cut in half and personal income had increased by 30 percent.
It was during that time that she was instrumental in bringing the Phelps Dodge Co. to Hopkinsville and in the development of the first Pembroke Road industrial park where a street is named in her honor.
Business Week magazine referred to her success as "the Pedenblitz."
In 1968 she opened her business, Peden and Associates and spent the next three decades successfully locating businesses and industries in Kentucky.
In 1969 she was appointed to the board of directors of Westvaco Corp., now MeadeWestvaco Corp, becoming one of the first women n the nation named to a Fortune 500 company board of directors. In
1968, Peden made a bid for the U.S. Senate and was the first woman to be nominated for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky.
She addressed the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but in the fall narrowly lost her Senate bid to Marlow Cook by 30,000 votes in an election with more than one million votes cast.
In 1996, while still working in a male dominated field, she was the first woman designated "Master Professional" by the Industrial Development Research Council, the world's preeminent association of corporate and real estate executives and development professionals.
Through her work and also pleasure, she had visited seven continents and more than 200 countries.
She is also a former president of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
In 2003, the Kentucky Commission on Women named her as a Kentucky Woman Remembered, and her portrait hangs in the east wing of the Kentucky capitol with other distinguished Kentucky women.
Jim Bruce, long-time state representative who was serving in that capacity when Peden was commerce commissioner, said Sunday afternoon, "I always thought she was a great lady and she was greatly respected throughout Kentucky, especially in the Louisville area and Central Kentucky."
Reflecting on her loss for the Senate, Bruce said, "She just continued right on and didn't let that interfere with her work and for her love for Kentucky."
Roger Jeffers, retired former co-owner and manager of WHOP, said, "I only spent a year working with Katherine at the station, but knew she was a tremendous asset to the station, and she was a personal friend."
Carolyn Key, who is a former state president of B&PW, called Peden a "challenger and an ambassador for Kentucky. Her main focus was to help women in business, and she was a very good friend of mine."
She was reared in Hopkinsville and graduated from Hopkinsville High School, but in recent years had made her home in Louisville. She was born Jan. 2, 1926, the daughter of the late William and Mary Gorin Peden. She leaves no immediate survivors.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Hopkinsville. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 2601 S. Walnut St., Hopkinsville, Ky., or to the Hopkinsville Business and Professional Women's Club, Post Office Box 1027, Hopkinsville, Ky., 42241
-------------------------------
The above article about Ms. Peden was written By Mary D. Ferguson, Staff Writer for the KY New Era. It appeared in the January 9, 2006 issue of the newspaper. We wish to thank Mary for her splendid account of Ms. Peden's accomplishments. It will help researchers in her family for years to come.
There is much written about Katherine Peden. With this lady, it was difficult to know where to start. Just type her name into any internet server and you'll be flooded with everything from "A RESOLUTION adjourning the House of Representatives in loving memory and honor of Katherine "Katie" Graham Peden" to an incredible article written by JACK LYNE, Site Selection Executive Editor of Interactive Publishing.
Anyone researching this family is sure to have an abundance of history along with amazing stories to pass down for generations to come.
Katherine's brothers preceded her in death. They were: Maxie Burton Peden,Sr., James Edward "Hamfoot" Peden, Thomas Renfro Peden, Sr., and William Gorin Peden.
Katherine Graham "Katie" Peden, 80, former broadcasting executive and civic and political leader who was internationally recognized as a developer in business and commerce, has died.
She died at 3:55 p.m. Sunday at Country Place Nursing Home, Lexington, following a long illness.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Maddux-Fuqua-Hinton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
A native of Hopkinsville, her career started in 1944 when she went to work at radio station WHOP where 20 years later she was general manager of the station and owner of WNVL in Nicholasville. She also worked as national sales manager for five CBS stations.
It was in that capacity that she began opening doors previously closed to women. In conjunction with her work, she joined the Business and Professional Women's Club, (B&PW) beginning with the Hopkinsville B&PW and leading to positions on the state, national and international level. In 1961 she was elected as national B&PW president.
Three presidents appointed her to prestigious posts.
President John F. Kennedy appointed her to the President's Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1961.
In 1964 she served on the Kentucky Commission on the Status of Women that would later evolve into the Kentucky Commission on Women.
In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson appointed her as the only woman to the 12-member National Advisory Committee on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission.
In 1978 President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the Executive Committee of the White House Conference on Balanced Growth and Economic Development.
She became the first female state commerce commissioner, appointed by then Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
By the end of her four-year tenure as commerce commissioner, 150,000 new jobs had been created, unemployment in Kentucky was cut in half and personal income had increased by 30 percent.
It was during that time that she was instrumental in bringing the Phelps Dodge Co. to Hopkinsville and in the development of the first Pembroke Road industrial park where a street is named in her honor.
Business Week magazine referred to her success as "the Pedenblitz."
In 1968 she opened her business, Peden and Associates and spent the next three decades successfully locating businesses and industries in Kentucky.
In 1969 she was appointed to the board of directors of Westvaco Corp., now MeadeWestvaco Corp, becoming one of the first women n the nation named to a Fortune 500 company board of directors. In
1968, Peden made a bid for the U.S. Senate and was the first woman to be nominated for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky.
She addressed the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but in the fall narrowly lost her Senate bid to Marlow Cook by 30,000 votes in an election with more than one million votes cast.
In 1996, while still working in a male dominated field, she was the first woman designated "Master Professional" by the Industrial Development Research Council, the world's preeminent association of corporate and real estate executives and development professionals.
Through her work and also pleasure, she had visited seven continents and more than 200 countries.
She is also a former president of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
In 2003, the Kentucky Commission on Women named her as a Kentucky Woman Remembered, and her portrait hangs in the east wing of the Kentucky capitol with other distinguished Kentucky women.
Jim Bruce, long-time state representative who was serving in that capacity when Peden was commerce commissioner, said Sunday afternoon, "I always thought she was a great lady and she was greatly respected throughout Kentucky, especially in the Louisville area and Central Kentucky."
Reflecting on her loss for the Senate, Bruce said, "She just continued right on and didn't let that interfere with her work and for her love for Kentucky."
Roger Jeffers, retired former co-owner and manager of WHOP, said, "I only spent a year working with Katherine at the station, but knew she was a tremendous asset to the station, and she was a personal friend."
Carolyn Key, who is a former state president of B&PW, called Peden a "challenger and an ambassador for Kentucky. Her main focus was to help women in business, and she was a very good friend of mine."
She was reared in Hopkinsville and graduated from Hopkinsville High School, but in recent years had made her home in Louisville. She was born Jan. 2, 1926, the daughter of the late William and Mary Gorin Peden. She leaves no immediate survivors.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Hopkinsville. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 2601 S. Walnut St., Hopkinsville, Ky., or to the Hopkinsville Business and Professional Women's Club, Post Office Box 1027, Hopkinsville, Ky., 42241
-------------------------------
The above article about Ms. Peden was written By Mary D. Ferguson, Staff Writer for the KY New Era. It appeared in the January 9, 2006 issue of the newspaper. We wish to thank Mary for her splendid account of Ms. Peden's accomplishments. It will help researchers in her family for years to come.
There is much written about Katherine Peden. With this lady, it was difficult to know where to start. Just type her name into any internet server and you'll be flooded with everything from "A RESOLUTION adjourning the House of Representatives in loving memory and honor of Katherine "Katie" Graham Peden" to an incredible article written by JACK LYNE, Site Selection Executive Editor of Interactive Publishing.
Anyone researching this family is sure to have an abundance of history along with amazing stories to pass down for generations to come.
Katherine's brothers preceded her in death. They were: Maxie Burton Peden,Sr., James Edward "Hamfoot" Peden, Thomas Renfro Peden, Sr., and William Gorin Peden.
STATE MOURNS DEATH OF LEADER
Katherine Graham "Katie" Peden, 80, former broadcasting executive and civic and political leader who was internationally recognized as a developer in business and commerce, has died.
She died at 3:55 p.m. Sunday at Country Place Nursing Home, Lexington, following a long illness.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Maddux-Fuqua-Hinton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
A native of Hopkinsville, her career started in 1944 when she went to work at radio station WHOP where 20 years later she was general manager of the station and owner of WNVL in Nicholasville. She also worked as national sales manager for five CBS stations.
It was in that capacity that she began opening doors previously closed to women. In conjunction with her work, she joined the Business and Professional Women's Club, (B&PW) beginning with the Hopkinsville B&PW and leading to positions on the state, national and international level. In 1961 she was elected as national B&PW president.
Three presidents appointed her to prestigious posts.
President John F. Kennedy appointed her to the President's Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1961.
In 1964 she served on the Kentucky Commission on the Status of Women that would later evolve into the Kentucky Commission on Women.
In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson appointed her as the only woman to the 12-member National Advisory Committee on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission.
In 1978 President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the Executive Committee of the White House Conference on Balanced Growth and Economic Development.
She became the first female state commerce commissioner, appointed by then Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
By the end of her four-year tenure as commerce commissioner, 150,000 new jobs had been created, unemployment in Kentucky was cut in half and personal income had increased by 30 percent.
It was during that time that she was instrumental in bringing the Phelps Dodge Co. to Hopkinsville and in the development of the first Pembroke Road industrial park where a street is named in her honor.
Business Week magazine referred to her success as "the Pedenblitz."
In 1968 she opened her business, Peden and Associates and spent the next three decades successfully locating businesses and industries in Kentucky.
In 1969 she was appointed to the board of directors of Westvaco Corp., now MeadeWestvaco Corp, becoming one of the first women n the nation named to a Fortune 500 company board of directors. In
1968, Peden made a bid for the U.S. Senate and was the first woman to be nominated for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky.
She addressed the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but in the fall narrowly lost her Senate bid to Marlow Cook by 30,000 votes in an election with more than one million votes cast.
In 1996, while still working in a male dominated field, she was the first woman designated "Master Professional" by the Industrial Development Research Council, the world's preeminent association of corporate and real estate executives and development professionals.
Through her work and also pleasure, she had visited seven continents and more than 200 countries.
She is also a former president of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
In 2003, the Kentucky Commission on Women named her as a Kentucky Woman Remembered, and her portrait hangs in the east wing of the Kentucky capitol with other distinguished Kentucky women.
Jim Bruce, long-time state representative who was serving in that capacity when Peden was commerce commissioner, said Sunday afternoon, "I always thought she was a great lady and she was greatly respected throughout Kentucky, especially in the Louisville area and Central Kentucky."
Reflecting on her loss for the Senate, Bruce said, "She just continued right on and didn't let that interfere with her work and for her love for Kentucky."
Roger Jeffers, retired former co-owner and manager of WHOP, said, "I only spent a year working with Katherine at the station, but knew she was a tremendous asset to the station, and she was a personal friend."
Carolyn Key, who is a former state president of B&PW, called Peden a "challenger and an ambassador for Kentucky. Her main focus was to help women in business, and she was a very good friend of mine."
She was reared in Hopkinsville and graduated from Hopkinsville High School, but in recent years had made her home in Louisville. She was born Jan. 2, 1926, the daughter of the late William and Mary Gorin Peden. She leaves no immediate survivors.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Hopkinsville. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 2601 S. Walnut St., Hopkinsville, Ky., or to the Hopkinsville Business and Professional Women's Club, Post Office Box 1027, Hopkinsville, Ky., 42241
-------------------------------
The above article about Ms. Peden was written By Mary D. Ferguson, Staff Writer for the KY New Era. It appeared in the January 9, 2006 issue of the newspaper. We wish to thank Mary for her splendid account of Ms. Peden's accomplishments. It will help researchers in her family for years to come.
There is much written about Katherine Peden. With this lady, it was difficult to know where to start. Just type her name into any internet server and you'll be flooded with everything from "A RESOLUTION adjourning the House of Representatives in loving memory and honor of Katherine "Katie" Graham Peden" to an incredible article written by JACK LYNE, Site Selection Executive Editor of Interactive Publishing.
Anyone researching this family is sure to have an abundance of history along with amazing stories to pass down for generations to come.
Katherine's brothers preceded her in death. They were: Maxie Burton Peden,Sr., James Edward "Hamfoot" Peden, Thomas Renfro Peden, Sr., and William Gorin Peden.
Katherine Graham "Katie" Peden, 80, former broadcasting executive and civic and political leader who was internationally recognized as a developer in business and commerce, has died.
She died at 3:55 p.m. Sunday at Country Place Nursing Home, Lexington, following a long illness.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Maddux-Fuqua-Hinton Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
A native of Hopkinsville, her career started in 1944 when she went to work at radio station WHOP where 20 years later she was general manager of the station and owner of WNVL in Nicholasville. She also worked as national sales manager for five CBS stations.
It was in that capacity that she began opening doors previously closed to women. In conjunction with her work, she joined the Business and Professional Women's Club, (B&PW) beginning with the Hopkinsville B&PW and leading to positions on the state, national and international level. In 1961 she was elected as national B&PW president.
Three presidents appointed her to prestigious posts.
President John F. Kennedy appointed her to the President's Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1961.
In 1964 she served on the Kentucky Commission on the Status of Women that would later evolve into the Kentucky Commission on Women.
In 1967 President Lyndon Johnson appointed her as the only woman to the 12-member National Advisory Committee on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission.
In 1978 President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the Executive Committee of the White House Conference on Balanced Growth and Economic Development.
She became the first female state commerce commissioner, appointed by then Gov. Edward T. Breathitt.
By the end of her four-year tenure as commerce commissioner, 150,000 new jobs had been created, unemployment in Kentucky was cut in half and personal income had increased by 30 percent.
It was during that time that she was instrumental in bringing the Phelps Dodge Co. to Hopkinsville and in the development of the first Pembroke Road industrial park where a street is named in her honor.
Business Week magazine referred to her success as "the Pedenblitz."
In 1968 she opened her business, Peden and Associates and spent the next three decades successfully locating businesses and industries in Kentucky.
In 1969 she was appointed to the board of directors of Westvaco Corp., now MeadeWestvaco Corp, becoming one of the first women n the nation named to a Fortune 500 company board of directors. In
1968, Peden made a bid for the U.S. Senate and was the first woman to be nominated for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky.
She addressed the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, but in the fall narrowly lost her Senate bid to Marlow Cook by 30,000 votes in an election with more than one million votes cast.
In 1996, while still working in a male dominated field, she was the first woman designated "Master Professional" by the Industrial Development Research Council, the world's preeminent association of corporate and real estate executives and development professionals.
Through her work and also pleasure, she had visited seven continents and more than 200 countries.
She is also a former president of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
In 2003, the Kentucky Commission on Women named her as a Kentucky Woman Remembered, and her portrait hangs in the east wing of the Kentucky capitol with other distinguished Kentucky women.
Jim Bruce, long-time state representative who was serving in that capacity when Peden was commerce commissioner, said Sunday afternoon, "I always thought she was a great lady and she was greatly respected throughout Kentucky, especially in the Louisville area and Central Kentucky."
Reflecting on her loss for the Senate, Bruce said, "She just continued right on and didn't let that interfere with her work and for her love for Kentucky."
Roger Jeffers, retired former co-owner and manager of WHOP, said, "I only spent a year working with Katherine at the station, but knew she was a tremendous asset to the station, and she was a personal friend."
Carolyn Key, who is a former state president of B&PW, called Peden a "challenger and an ambassador for Kentucky. Her main focus was to help women in business, and she was a very good friend of mine."
She was reared in Hopkinsville and graduated from Hopkinsville High School, but in recent years had made her home in Louisville. She was born Jan. 2, 1926, the daughter of the late William and Mary Gorin Peden. She leaves no immediate survivors.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Hopkinsville. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 2601 S. Walnut St., Hopkinsville, Ky., or to the Hopkinsville Business and Professional Women's Club, Post Office Box 1027, Hopkinsville, Ky., 42241
-------------------------------
The above article about Ms. Peden was written By Mary D. Ferguson, Staff Writer for the KY New Era. It appeared in the January 9, 2006 issue of the newspaper. We wish to thank Mary for her splendid account of Ms. Peden's accomplishments. It will help researchers in her family for years to come.
There is much written about Katherine Peden. With this lady, it was difficult to know where to start. Just type her name into any internet server and you'll be flooded with everything from "A RESOLUTION adjourning the House of Representatives in loving memory and honor of Katherine "Katie" Graham Peden" to an incredible article written by JACK LYNE, Site Selection Executive Editor of Interactive Publishing.
Anyone researching this family is sure to have an abundance of history along with amazing stories to pass down for generations to come.
Katherine's brothers preceded her in death. They were: Maxie Burton Peden,Sr., James Edward "Hamfoot" Peden, Thomas Renfro Peden, Sr., and William Gorin Peden.
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