Ray, Dixie Lee (1914–1994)

US politician and biologist. The first woman on the Atomic Energy Commission, as chair 1973–75 she championed nuclear power plant construction. As an independent governor of Washington 1977–81, she feuded with aides and refused to close the Hanford nuclear dump.

She was born in Tacoma, Washington. She was associate marine biology professor at the University of Washington 1947–72, and directed the Pacific Science Center of research and public education in Seattle 1963–72.