Mary Maxwell Gates
Encyclopedia
Mary Maxwell Gates was an American businessperson. Gates served 18 years (1975–1993) on the University of Washington
board of regents
. She was the first female president of King County’s United Way, the first woman to chair the national United Way’s executive committee where she served most notably with IBM's CEO, John Opel
, and the first woman on the First Interstate Bank of Washington's board of directors
. Mary's son Bill Gates
is the co-founder of Microsoft
.
as Mary Maxwell to James Willard Maxwell (Nebraska
, 1901 – 1960), a banker, and wife (married c. 1927) Adele Thompson ((probably Enumclaw, King County
), Washington, c. 1903. She received a degree in education from the University of Washington
in 1950. She met and married law student William H. Gates, Sr.
at that time. During the early 1950s she taught school. After her husband co-founded the law practice that became Preston Gates & Ellis
in Seattle, Gates turned to a variety of civic activities. Gates' volunteer roles in Seattle and King County included serving on the boards of the Children's Hospital Foundation, Seattle Symphony
, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, United Way of King County, and many other nonprofit organizations. She also served as President of the Junior League
of Seattle from 1966–1967.
In 1975, Governor Daniel J. Evans
appointed Gates to the Board of Regents for her alma mater, where she led the movement on the board to divest the University of Washington
's holdings in South Africa
to protest apartheid. In addition, Gates served on the UW Foundation Board of Directors, the UW Medical Center Board, and the UW School of Business Administration's Advisory Board. She died in 1994 of breast cancer at the age of 64. Since then, her family has established two endowments in her name at the UW. The UW's Mary Gates Hall, which houses the UW's Office of Undergraduate Education
as well as UW's Information School, is named in her honor.
Beyond the Seattle area, Gates was appointed to the board of directors of the national United Way in 1980.
In the for-profit world, Gates served for many years on the boards of several major corporations, including: First Interstate Bank of Washington; Unigard Security Insurance Group; Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company, which became U.S. WEST Communications; and KIRO Incorporated.
Mary and William H. Gates, Sr. had three children.
The obituary of Mary Gates in The New York Times on 11 June 1994 was headlined "Mary Gates, 64; Helped Her Son Start Microsoft," and reported that, "She was ... appointed to the board of the United Way of America; in 1983, she became the first woman to lead it. Right Time, Right Place. Her tenure on the national board's executive committee is believed to have helped Microsoft, based in Seattle, at a crucial time. In 1980, she discussed with John Opel
, a fellow committee member who was the chairman of the International Business Machines Corporation," her son's company. "Mr. Opel, by some accounts, mentioned Mrs. Gates to other I.B.M. executives. A few weeks later, I.B.M. took a chance by hiring Microsoft, then a small software firm, to develop an operating system for its first personal computer."
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
board of regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
. She was the first female president of King County’s United Way, the first woman to chair the national United Way’s executive committee where she served most notably with IBM's CEO, John Opel
John Opel
John Roberts Opel was a U.S. computer businessman. He served as the president of IBM between 1974 and 1985. He then served as the CEO of IBM from 1981 to 1985. Finally he was the chairman of IBM between 1983 and 1986...
, and the first woman on the First Interstate Bank of Washington's board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. Mary's son Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
is the co-founder of Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
.
Life and career
Gates was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
as Mary Maxwell to James Willard Maxwell (Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 1901 – 1960), a banker, and wife (married c. 1927) Adele Thompson ((probably Enumclaw, King County
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
), Washington, c. 1903. She received a degree in education from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1950. She met and married law student William H. Gates, Sr.
William H. Gates, Sr.
William Henry Gates, Sr. is a retired American attorney and philanthropist and author of the book Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime. He is the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.-Life and career:Gates was born in Bremerton, Washington, to William Henry Gates I or Sr...
at that time. During the early 1950s she taught school. After her husband co-founded the law practice that became Preston Gates & Ellis
Preston Gates & Ellis
Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP, also known as Preston Gates, was a law firm with offices in the United States, China and Taiwan. Its main office was in the IDX Tower in Seattle, Washington...
in Seattle, Gates turned to a variety of civic activities. Gates' volunteer roles in Seattle and King County included serving on the boards of the Children's Hospital Foundation, Seattle Symphony
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra's season runs from September through July, and serves as the pit orchestra for most productions of the Seattle Opera in addition to its own concerts...
, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, United Way of King County, and many other nonprofit organizations. She also served as President of the Junior League
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a non-profit organization of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism and...
of Seattle from 1966–1967.
In 1975, Governor Daniel J. Evans
Daniel J. Evans
Daniel Jackson Evans served three terms as the 16th Governor of the state of Washington from 1965 to 1977, and represented the state in the United States Senate from 1983 to 1989....
appointed Gates to the Board of Regents for her alma mater, where she led the movement on the board to divest the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
's holdings in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to protest apartheid. In addition, Gates served on the UW Foundation Board of Directors, the UW Medical Center Board, and the UW School of Business Administration's Advisory Board. She died in 1994 of breast cancer at the age of 64. Since then, her family has established two endowments in her name at the UW. The UW's Mary Gates Hall, which houses the UW's Office of Undergraduate Education
University of Washington Information School
The Information School at the University of Washington is an undergraduate and graduate school that offers BS, MLIS, MSIM, and PhD degrees...
as well as UW's Information School, is named in her honor.
Beyond the Seattle area, Gates was appointed to the board of directors of the national United Way in 1980.
In the for-profit world, Gates served for many years on the boards of several major corporations, including: First Interstate Bank of Washington; Unigard Security Insurance Group; Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company, which became U.S. WEST Communications; and KIRO Incorporated.
Mary and William H. Gates, Sr. had three children.
The obituary of Mary Gates in The New York Times on 11 June 1994 was headlined "Mary Gates, 64; Helped Her Son Start Microsoft," and reported that, "She was ... appointed to the board of the United Way of America; in 1983, she became the first woman to lead it. Right Time, Right Place. Her tenure on the national board's executive committee is believed to have helped Microsoft, based in Seattle, at a crucial time. In 1980, she discussed with John Opel
John Opel
John Roberts Opel was a U.S. computer businessman. He served as the president of IBM between 1974 and 1985. He then served as the CEO of IBM from 1981 to 1985. Finally he was the chairman of IBM between 1983 and 1986...
, a fellow committee member who was the chairman of the International Business Machines Corporation," her son's company. "Mr. Opel, by some accounts, mentioned Mrs. Gates to other I.B.M. executives. A few weeks later, I.B.M. took a chance by hiring Microsoft, then a small software firm, to develop an operating system for its first personal computer."