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MARION E. HAY was born in Adams County, Wisconsin and attended business college in Iowa. After moving to WashingtonTerritory in 1888, he came to own several businesses-including a wheat ranch in Canada, and served as mayor of Wilbur, Washington for two terms. He moved to Spokane in 1908 and won the race for Lieutenant Governor. The following year, he succeeded to the governorship when Samuel Cosgrove died. As governor, Hay focused on corruption in state government, and he called a special session of the legislature to investigate and impeach dishonest state officials. He also supported amendments to the state constitution allowing initiatives, referendums, recall of public officials, and women's suffrage. He was defeated for election in 1912, and returned to Spokane, where he served as chairman of the board of the 12th District Regional Agricultural Credit Corporation.

Sources:

Official Records at Washington State Archives, 1909-1912, 19.5 cubic feet.

List of finding aids available at the Division of Archives and Records Management, Office of the Secretary of State. Available in hard copy: Guide to the Papers of the Governors of Washington, Volume 2: 1889-1919—Governor Ferry through Governor Lister.

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. 14 (Supp.). New York: James T. White & Company.

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 4. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

Washington State Library: Governors of Washington State