Patsy T. Mink

A Representative from Hawaii. Born Patsy Matsu Takemoto, December 6, 1927, in Paia, Maui County, Hawaii. Graduated from Maui High School, Maui, Hawaii, 1944. Attended Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pa. , 1946. Attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr. , 1947. B. A. , University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii, 1948. J. D. , University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Ill. , 1951. Lawyer, private practice. Lecturer, University of Hawaii, 1952-1956, 1959-1962, and 1979-1981. Attorney for Hawaii territorial house of representatives, 1955. Member of the Hawaii territorial house of representatives, 1956-1958. Member of the Hawaii territorial senate, 1958-1959. Member of the Hawaii state senate, 1962-1964. Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, 1960, 1972, 1980, and 1984. Elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-ninth and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1965-January 3, 1977). Was not a candidate for reelection to the Ninety-fifth Congress in 1976, but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, 1977-1978. President, Americans for Democratic Action, 1978-1981. Member, Honolulu, Hawaii, city council, 1983-1987, chair, 1983-1985. Elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred First Congress in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Daniel K. Akaka. Reelected to the seven succeeding Congresses (September 22, 1990-September 28, 2002). Died on September 28, 2002, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Interment at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii. Elected posthumously to the One Hundred Eighth Congress in 2002. Awarded posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, 2014.