Ralph Munro Explained

Ralph Munro
Birth Name:Ralph Davies Munro
Birth Date:25 June 1943
Birth Place:Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Death Place:Lacey, Washington, U.S.
Residence:Thurston County, Washington
Alma Mater:Western Washington University (BA)
Office:13th Secretary of State of Washington
Term Start:January 14, 1981
Term End:January 10, 2001
Governor:John Spellman
Booth Gardner
Mike Lowry
Gary Locke
Predecessor:Bruce Chapman
Successor:Sam Reed
Party:Republican

Ralph Davies Munro (June 25, 1943 – March 20, 2025) was an American Republican politician who served as the 13th Secretary of State of Washington. First elected in 1980, he served five terms.

Life and career

Munro was born on June 25, 1943, in Seattle, Washington, and grew up on Bainbridge Island. He was a graduate of Western Washington University and held a B.A. in Education and Political Science. Munro's first job with the state was as a supply clerk working in the basement of the Legislative Building.[1] Governor Daniel J. Evans appointed Munro as the state's first volunteer coordinator in 1969.

Munro was a member of the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, and strongly advocated for expanding vote-by-mail.[2]

In 2022, Munro was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in recognition of "his contributions in promoting regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States."[3]

He died in Lacey, Washington, on March 20, 2025, at the age of 81.[4]

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas . Ralph . Business | Ralph Munro leaving a career carved in stone . Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com . 29 December 2000 . 25 February 2012.
  2. Member listing, Commission on Federal Election Reform
  3. Web site: 2022 Autumn Conferment of Decorations (Mr. Ralph Davies Munro, Former Secretary of State of Washington). Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle. 2022-11-02.
  4. https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/20/remembering-ralph-munro-five-term-washington-secretary-of-state-and-statesman/ Remembering Ralph Munro, five-term Washington secretary of state and statesman