Gwendolyn King

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

Gwendolyn King
Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
In office August 1, 1989 – September 30, 1992
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Dorcas Hardy
Succeeded by	Louis Enoff (Acting)
Personal details
Born	August 23, 1940 East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Colbert I. King
Education	Howard University (BA) George Washington University (MPA)

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, where she earned a master's degree in public administration in 1974.[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 now a member of the board of directors of Lockheed-Martin Corporation and Monsanto Company.[9] She is also formerly a director of Pharmacia. She is also a director of the National Association of Corporate Directors.[10]

Awards

King has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of New Haven and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.[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 children,[11] including Rob King, senior vice president of SportsCenter and News at ESPN.[14]

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Gwendolyn Stewart King". Retrieved October 22, 2017.
2. "Board of Directors and Executive Officers". MMC. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
3. Hawkins, Carol Hooks (2008). American Women Leaders: 1,560 Current Biographies. McFarland. p. 204. ISBN 9780786452750.
4. 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 6 December 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 (1989-07-15). "Gwendolyn King Selected to Head Social Security". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
8. Associated Press (1992-10-02). "Acting Social Security Chief". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
9. "Gwendolyn S. King Profile - Forbes.com". Forbes. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
10. "Gwendolyn King: Executive Profile & Biography - BusinessWeek". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
11. "Colbert I. King". National Press Foundation. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
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 2017-10-21.
14. Hare, Kristen (June 18, 2016). "Rob King and Colbert I. King on journalism, fatherhood and a new generation". Pontyer. Retrieved October 21, 2017.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN