Gwendolyn King

Gwendolyn King
Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
In office
August 1, 1989 – September 30, 1992
PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush
Preceded byDorcas Hardy
Succeeded byLouis Enoff (Acting)
Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
In office
April 17, 1986 – May 2, 1988
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byDeborah Steelman
Succeeded byAndy Card
Personal details
Born (1940-09-23) September 23, 1940 (age 83)
East Orange, New Jersey, US
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Colbert I. King
​
(m. 1961)​
EducationHoward University (BA)
George Washington University (MPA)

Gwendolyn S. King (born September 23, 1940)[1] is an American businesswoman. From 1989 to 1992 she was the Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration.[2]

Early life

King attended Howard University as an undergraduate, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and education in 1962.[3][4] She later attended the George Washington University for graduate courses in public administration.[3][4]

Career

King began her career teaching in Niagara Falls, New York and Washington, DC.[1]

Beginning in 1971, she worked for the Department of Health and Human Services (then called the Department of Health, Education and Welfare).[4]

From 1978 to 1979,[1] she served as senior legislative assistant to Senator John Heinz.[5]

In 1986, she was appointed Deputy Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and Director of the office for Intergovernmental Affairs.[6]

In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed King as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.[7] King became the 11th Commissioner[1] and the first black woman to hold the position.[4] She served through 1992.[8]

King is a retired member of the board of directors of Marsh and McLennan Companies, Lockheed-Martin Corporation and Monsanto Company.[9] She is also formerly a director of Pharmacia. She is also a past director of the National Association of Corporate Directors.[10]

Awards

King has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of New Haven,the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and Howard University.[3]

Personal life

King is married to Colbert I. King, Washington Post columnist and the editorial page's deputy editor.[11] The two met at Howard in the late 1950s[12] and married in 1961.[13] They have three adult children.

References

  1. ^ a b c d U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Gwendolyn Stewart King". Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  2. ^ "Board of Directors and Executive Officers". MMC. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Hawkins, Carol Hooks (2008). American Women Leaders: 1,560 Current Biographies. McFarland. p. 204. ISBN 9780786452750.
  4. ^ a b c d Smith, Jessie Carney (2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. p. 289. ISBN 9781578594245.
  5. ^ "Social Security Online History Pages". Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  6. ^ "Appointment of Gwendolyn S. King as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs". Reagan Library. April 17, 1986. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Associated Press (July 15, 1989). "Gwendolyn King Selected to Head Social Security". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  8. ^ Associated Press (October 2, 1992). "Acting Social Security Chief". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Gwendolyn S. King Profile - Forbes.com". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  10. ^ "Gwendolyn King: Executive Profile & Biography – BusinessWeek". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved December 6, 2010.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Colbert I. King". National Press Foundation. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  12. ^ King, Colbert I. (February 19, 2005). "For Redder, for Bluer". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  13. ^ "Colbert I. King". www.thehistorymakers.org. The HistoryMakers. May 4, 2005. Retrieved October 21, 2017.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Deborah Steelman
 Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
1986–1988
Served alongside: Mitch Daniels, Frank Donatelli (Political and Intergovernmental Affairs) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
1989–1992 		Succeeded by
Louis Enoff
Acting
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