Bentley, Helen Delich (1923–)
Bentley, Helen Delich (1923–)
American politician. Born in Ruth, Nevada, Nov 28, 1923; dau. of Michael (miner) and Mary (Kovich) Ivanesvich; attended University of Nevada and George Washington University; University of Missouri School of Journalism, BA, 1944; m. William Roy Bentley (schoolteacher), June 7, 1959.
US Congressional Representative (Jan 3, 1985–Jan 3, 1995), began a long association with the Baltimore Sun (1945), as a reporter specializing in labor matters; became the 1st woman to cover an American Federation of Labor convention (1947); began writing and producing a weekly tv show, The Port that Built a City and State, for a Baltimore station (1950); after serving as maritime editor at the Sun (1952–68), with her "Around the Waterfront" column syndicated in 15 newspapers, was appointed chair of the Federal Maritime Commission by President Richard Nixon (1969); as a Republican from Maryland, elected to US House of Representatives (1984); served 4 consecutive terms, during which she was a member of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, the Budget Committee and the Select Committee on Aging; continued her efforts as an advocate of a more powerful American merchant marine.
See also Women in World History.