Joyce Munson
Joyce Munson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 11th district | |
| In office January 15, 1979 – January 12, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Bylsma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joyce Arnold December 13, 1930 |
| Died | June 29, 2010 (aged 79) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Wichita State University |
| Occupation | Mental health advocate, sculptor |
Joyce Arnold Munson (December 13, 1930 – June 29, 2010)[1][2] was an American politician and mental health advocate. She was an elected member of the Alaska House of Representatives from January 1979 to January 1981.[3][4] Before serving in the legislature, Munson was the Executive Director of the Alaska Mental Health Association.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Munson was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and raised in Newton, Kansas, the daughter of Delbert Arnold and Ada Arnold (later Shuldberg). Her mother was from Utah.[5] Munson attended Wichita State University.[1]
Career
[edit]Beginning in 1971,[1] Munson was executive director of the Alaska Mental Health Association, and lobbied in the state capital for mental health clinics in Alaskan communities.[6] In 1978 she ran for the Alaska House of Representatives as a Democrat,[7] and won a seat. She served in the legislature from 1979 to 1981, and was vice chair of the committees on Commerce and Health, Education, and Social Services.[8]
Munson ran for re-election in 1980,[8] but lost. She ran for a seat in the state legislature again in 1982[9][10] and 1984.[11][12] After her time in the legislature, Munson was deputy director of the Resource Development Council of Alaska,[1] director of the Division of Pioneers Benefits,[1] and a registered lobbyist.[11]
Munson studied sculpture, and made papier-mâché figures with her children as models. She built fireplaces and swimming pools with cement at her family's home in the 1960s.[13] In retirement, she ran a bed and breakfast, and pursued her artistic interests with her own pottery studio.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Munson was married to Joe Munson and had four children.[6] The Munsons divorced in 1987.[14] She died in 2010, at the age of 79, in Anchorage.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Joyce Munson Obituary". Anchorage Daily News. Legacy.com. July 1, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- 1 2 "Joyce Munson". 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature. Alaska Legislature. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Joyce Munson". Center for American Women and Politics. Rutgers University. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Mike Gravel, who represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate from 1969-1981, dies at 91". Anchorage Daily News. June 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Ada Shuldberg". Anchorage Daily News. June 4, 1992. p. 21. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Joyce Munson is 'Practical'". Anchorage Times. August 6, 1978. p. 25. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "South Anchorage: Munson (D)". Anchorage Daily News. August 17, 1978. p. 13. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Nine candidates vie for two District 11 seats". Anchorage Daily News. August 8, 1980. p. 8. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hansen, Steve (October 5, 1982). "Bussell, Munson exchange business experience barbs". Anchorage Times. p. 13. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hansen, Steve (October 22, 1982). "Democrat Ayers criticizes GOP's spending plans". Anchorage Times. p. 13. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Cony, Ann (November 4, 1984). "Collins, Munson: Fiscal Responsibility Needed". Anchorage Daily News. p. 221. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Allen, Kenneth R. (October 30, 1984). "Candidates crack mirror image in House seat race". Anchorage Times. p. 9. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Millsap, Pam (December 30, 1970). "Take One Cement Mixer and a Stack of Stones". Anchorage Daily News. p. 6. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Vital Statistics: Divorces". Anchorage Daily News. January 2, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved May 27, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.