Ralph Munro, who was elected as Washington Secretary of State in 1980 and served until 2001, has died, according to the current Office of the Secretary of State.
Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued a statement about Munro’s death on Thursday afternoon, calling his predecessor a “dedicated servant of the people” who sought to improve others’ lives with compassion and dedication. Munro was a major advocate for expanding access for voters with disabilities, especially in election-polling places during an era that predated widespread mail-in voting.
“He embodied the drive and attitude of a true statesman,” Hobbs said in a March 20 statement. “He often crossed the aisle in a bipartisan effort to serve the people of Washington and put their needs first.”
Munro was born in Seattle on June 25, 1943, according to HistoryLink.org. In 1961 he graduated from Bainbridge High School and in 1966 earned a B.A. in education and political science from Western Washington University.
Following a career of promoting civic engagement, Munro lived to see the establishment of the Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education at his alma mater.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 1:48 PM.