Ruth Stockton

Ruth Small Stockton (June 6, 1916 – October 21, 1990) represented Jefferson County for 24 years as a Republican state representative in the Colorado General Assembly. Stockton was the Senate Majority Caucus leader (1967–1968) and the first woman to serve as the state's president pro tempore (1979–1980).

Stained glass mural of Stockton in the Colorado State Capitol.

Stockton waited until her daughter went to college to run for office. She was first elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1961 and, after subsequent reelections to the house, won a seat in the Colorado Senate, where she represented Lakewood from 1965 until 1984. Stockton was the Senate Majority Caucus leader (1967–1968) and the first woman to serve as the state's president pro tempore (1979–1980).