Sophie Thigpen - First Woman to Win Public Office
Sophie Thigpen had lived in Dumas about eight years when she saw an opportunity to enter politics and became the first woman to be elected to a public office in Moore County.
She had been employed by First State Bank and for about a year before the campaign, she worked for the agriculture extension office.
When she rain in the Democratic primary in July of 1939, she defeated the incumbent treasure, T. E. Wynn. She was unopposed in the general election.
She took office in January of 1940 and was re-elected in 1942 and 1944 without much competition.
In the 1946 election, she lost the Democratic primary nomination to a young World War II veteran, Victor C. Johnson. He was a former Marine sergeant who had lost a leg in injuries suffered in Saipan.
It was a close race. Only 112 votes separated the candidates. Johnson polled 779 votes and Sophie received 667.
After serving as treasurer for six years, she worked for Baer Brothers Insurance and for the Retail Merchants Association.
As a volunteer, she worked with the Dumas Cemetery Association for a number of years.
She died in August of 1980 at age 85.
She had been employed by First State Bank and for about a year before the campaign, she worked for the agriculture extension office.
When she rain in the Democratic primary in July of 1939, she defeated the incumbent treasure, T. E. Wynn. She was unopposed in the general election.
She took office in January of 1940 and was re-elected in 1942 and 1944 without much competition.
In the 1946 election, she lost the Democratic primary nomination to a young World War II veteran, Victor C. Johnson. He was a former Marine sergeant who had lost a leg in injuries suffered in Saipan.
It was a close race. Only 112 votes separated the candidates. Johnson polled 779 votes and Sophie received 667.
After serving as treasurer for six years, she worked for Baer Brothers Insurance and for the Retail Merchants Association.
As a volunteer, she worked with the Dumas Cemetery Association for a number of years.
She died in August of 1980 at age 85.