Milly Bernard
Encyclopedia
Mildred Adelaide "Milly" Cox Bernard (May 28, 1920 – November 7, 2005) was a member of the Utah House of Representatives
from Kearns, Utah
, serving five terms from 1966 to 1976.
to Robert E. and Eleanor Jarvis Cox. She graduated with honors from Broken Bow High School in Broken Bow, Nebraska
, after which she attended business college in Denver.
Two marriages, to Robert E. Workman and to Rex E. Oberhansley, ended in divorce. In 1972, she married Justice Court Judge Lynn (Bud) Bernard; the marriage lasted until his death in 1987.
In 1967, she was elected to the Utah House of Representatives as Milly Oberhansley. She served five terms, until 1976, changing her name to Milly O. Bernard in 1972. A Democrat
, she served as Majority Whip, and as Minority and Majority Leader
. She also sat on a number of boards and committees, including the Juvenile Court Governing Board, the Judicial Council, the Granite Mental Health Board, the Community Action Board, and the Social Services Committee.
Bernard described herself as a "minority, minority, minority", as a woman, a non-Mormon
, and as a non-native of Utah. Colleagues described her as a supporter of higher education and of women's rights.
In 1976, Bernard was appointed by Governor Calvin L. Rampton
and reappointed by Governor Scott M. Matheson
to the Utah Public Service Commission, on which she served as Chairman until her retirement in 1982.
Bernard worked for fifteen years for EIMCO, a Salt Lake supplier of mining machinery; her tenure at EIMCO encompassed her ten years in the House.
Bernard died in Keans at the age of 85.
Utah House of Representatives
The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district contains an average population of 35,000 people...
from Kearns, Utah
Kearns, Utah
Kearns is a township and census-designated place in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. Named after Utah's U.S. Senator Thomas Kearns, it had a population of 35,731 at the 2010 Census.This was a 6.2 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 33,659...
, serving five terms from 1966 to 1976.
Early life and career
Bernard was born May 28, 1920 in Brewster, NebraskaBrewster, Nebraska
Brewster is a village in Blaine County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 29 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Blaine County.-Geography:Brewster is located at ....
to Robert E. and Eleanor Jarvis Cox. She graduated with honors from Broken Bow High School in Broken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow, Nebraska
Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
, after which she attended business college in Denver.
Two marriages, to Robert E. Workman and to Rex E. Oberhansley, ended in divorce. In 1972, she married Justice Court Judge Lynn (Bud) Bernard; the marriage lasted until his death in 1987.
Political career
After moving to Kearns, where she was one of the earliest residents, she helped to organize the Kearns Town Council, on which she served for many years. She was a charter member of the Kearns Water & Sewer District Board, and the first woman to sit on the Salt Lake Planning and Zoning Commission, a seat that she held for 13 years.In 1967, she was elected to the Utah House of Representatives as Milly Oberhansley. She served five terms, until 1976, changing her name to Milly O. Bernard in 1972. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she served as Majority Whip, and as Minority and Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
. She also sat on a number of boards and committees, including the Juvenile Court Governing Board, the Judicial Council, the Granite Mental Health Board, the Community Action Board, and the Social Services Committee.
Bernard described herself as a "minority, minority, minority", as a woman, a non-Mormon
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
, and as a non-native of Utah. Colleagues described her as a supporter of higher education and of women's rights.
In 1976, Bernard was appointed by Governor Calvin L. Rampton
Calvin L. Rampton
Calvin Lewellyn Rampton was the 11th Governor of the state of Utah from 1965 to 1977.Following his graduation from Davis High School in 1931, he took over his family's automobile business, due to his father's death that same year. He sold the business in 1933 and entered the University of Utah,...
and reappointed by Governor Scott M. Matheson
Scott M. Matheson
-External links:* from...
to the Utah Public Service Commission, on which she served as Chairman until her retirement in 1982.
Bernard worked for fifteen years for EIMCO, a Salt Lake supplier of mining machinery; her tenure at EIMCO encompassed her ten years in the House.
Bernard died in Keans at the age of 85.