Eudocia Bell Smith

Eudochia Bell Smith
Colorado State Senator
1887 - 1977
INDUCTED 1985

During her lifetime, Eudochia Bell Smith was successful in three careers — newspaper editor, Colorado legislator and director of a federal agency.

Smith moved from Texas to Denver in 1920. She took the position of women’s page editor for the Rocky Mountain News in 1926. Voters elected her to the state House of Representatives where she worked to improve conditions for delinquent youth, food service regulations, and pensions for the elderly. In 1944, Smith was elected to the state Senate – only the third woman to serve there. Her finest victory was to carry and pass legislation allowing women to sit on juries, which was approved by Colorado voters in 1945.

“Laws affecting the welfare of women and children need the feel of a women’s hand clasp, her guidance and protection.” — Eudochia Bell Smith