LuAnn Ridgeway
Encyclopedia
Luann Ridgeway is an American
attorney and politician, currently a Republican
member of the Missouri State Senate.
. She attended William Woods University
and Westminster College, Missouri
where she received a BA
degree with Magna Cum Laude honors with a double major in political science and history. She received her JD
degree at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and also studied at American University
and Oxford University.
She is a Baptist
Home Missionary to New Harvest Church (St. Joseph, Missouri). In addition to her missionary work, Ridgeway serves as pianist for the church. She is a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau, the Kiwanis
Club (past president), the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri County Bar Association, the Clay County Bar Association, the Missouri Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Regents, and the William Woods University Board of Trustees.
Senator Ridgeway resides in rural Clay County, just north of Smithville, Missouri
. When the State Senate is not in session, Ridgeway operates her own general-practice law firm in Smithville. She has been married to Richard Dennis Ridgeway since 1984. The Ridgeways have no children.
in 1992, and served there until 2002. While in the House, Ridgeway served on the House Judiciary Committee and was Ranking Member of that committee from 1995-2002. She was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 2004. In 2007, she was elected Majority Caucus Chair by fellow senators. She is the Chair of the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules. She is currently the Vice Chair of the following committees: Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics; Small Business and Insurance; and also serves on the following committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Energy and the Environment and the Joint Committee on Capital Improvements.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and politician, currently a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Missouri State Senate.
Biography
Ridgeway was born and raised in Moberly, MissouriMoberly, Missouri
Moberly is a city in Randolph County, Missouri, United States. According to the 2008 census bureau estimate, the population was 14,227. The city was incorporated 1868. The Moberly Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Randolph County....
. She attended William Woods University
William Woods University
William Woods University is a coeducational, independent, private university of 3,800 students, representing most states and approximately 20 foreign countries. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines in both campus and outreach settings. WWU is situated...
and Westminster College, Missouri
Westminster College, Missouri
Westminster College is a private, selective, liberal arts institution in Fulton, Missouri, USA. It was founded by Presbyterians in 1849 as Fulton College and assumed the present name in 1851. The are located on the campus. The National Churchill Museum is a national historic site and includes...
where she received a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree with Magna Cum Laude honors with a double major in political science and history. She received her JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and also studied at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and Oxford University.
She is a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Home Missionary to New Harvest Church (St. Joseph, Missouri). In addition to her missionary work, Ridgeway serves as pianist for the church. She is a member of the Missouri Farm Bureau, the Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Club (past president), the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri County Bar Association, the Clay County Bar Association, the Missouri Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Regents, and the William Woods University Board of Trustees.
Senator Ridgeway resides in rural Clay County, just north of Smithville, Missouri
Smithville, Missouri
Smithville is a city in Clay and Platte counties in the U.S. state of Missouri, along the Little Platte River. The population was 5,514 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smithville is located at , primarily in Clay County....
. When the State Senate is not in session, Ridgeway operates her own general-practice law firm in Smithville. She has been married to Richard Dennis Ridgeway since 1984. The Ridgeways have no children.
Political career
She was first elected to the Missouri House of RepresentativesMissouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
in 1992, and served there until 2002. While in the House, Ridgeway served on the House Judiciary Committee and was Ranking Member of that committee from 1995-2002. She was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 2004. In 2007, she was elected Majority Caucus Chair by fellow senators. She is the Chair of the Joint Committee of Administrative Rules. She is currently the Vice Chair of the following committees: Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics; Small Business and Insurance; and also serves on the following committees: Appropriations, Commerce, Energy and the Environment and the Joint Committee on Capital Improvements.
External links
- Webpage at Missouri State Senate (includes photo)