5 Wyoming Women That Deserve Their Own Barbie Doll

Christy Ruth Walton is probably best known for being the wife of the son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. This Jackson, Wyoming native was ranked as the highest female philanthropist according to the amount she gives at a percentage of her wealth. As of 2006, she had already donated 3.5 billion dollars to charitable organizations.

Nellie Davis Tayloe Ross was the first woman to be sworn in as governor of an American state. She holds the distinction of being the only woman to have served as governor of Wyoming.

In addition, Ross was appointed director of the U.S. Mint on May 3rd, 1933, also making her the first woman to hold that position.

A lot of what has been recorded about Martha Canary is hearsay, but what many historians do agree on was her fame and time spent in the Cowboy State.

Wyominghistory.org states:

The heroic myths about Calamity Jane are so interwoven with truer accounts of her generosity, audacity and high spirits, that all stories of her life merit close examination.

Harriet Elizabeth Byrd was the first African American elected to the Wyoming Legislature.

Byrd was born in Cheyenne in April, 1926. She served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1980 to 1988, and in the Wyoming Senate from 1988 to 1992, becoming the first African-American to serve in both houses.

In 1974, Alona E. Boggess became the first female (and the first African-American female) to serve on the Casper Police Department. Originally from Sedalia, Missouri, she moved to Casper after graduating college with a Bachelors of Science degree from Oakwood University in Hunstville, Alabama.

Alona served on the force locally until 1976, but also served in her hometown and on the rough streets of Flint, Michigan, until her retirement in 2014.