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 Republican 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, a Democrat, 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 bachelor’s degree in education and political science from Western Washington University in Bellingham.
Following a career promoting civic engagement, Munro lived to see the establishment of the Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education at his alma mater.
Munro served five terms as secretary of state. He previously worked as an assistant to then-Gov. Dan Evans, a Republican who served in the governor’s mansion from 1965 to 1977. Evans died last September.
Former Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who held the role from 2013 to 2021, posted a tribute to Munro on LinkedIn, calling him a “great mentor.”
“He inspired me to lead with integrity and represent all of the people of the state, not just those who voted for me,” Wyman wrote March 20. “He reminded me to enjoy the journey and have fun doing the hard work of governing.”
Lt. Gov. Denny Heck released a statement praising Munro’s leadership.
“Ralph Munro was public service personified,” Heck wrote. “I once said he was the best Republican Governor we never had. Ralph would take stands on issues which weren’t always popular with the base of his own party and that is the very definition of courage. We could use more of it today.
Paula and I send our deepest sympathies to Ralph’s son — George, who was a former student of Paula’s — and his family. Washington state has lost a true leader.”
Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro, center, dines with Thurston County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dave Pearsall, second from right, and his family during the pancake breakfast fundraiser for Sheriff John Snaza at Seventeen51 Restaurant & Bistro at Panorama in Lacey in 2016. Tony Overman/ toverman@theolympian.com
Hobbs remembered Munro as a man who loved the state, someone who urged others “to explore its natural wonders and have fun.” He’d pushed for the preservation of lands for wildlife, the protection of orcas and the establishment of a bald-eagle sanctuary, Hobbs said. Munro also worked to ensure that such lands could be accessed by wheelchair.
In June 2018, the McLane Nature Trail in Olympia was renamed after Munro.
Munro played a key role in bringing Vietnam War refugees to the state, practicing empathy and acceptance, Hobbs said.
“Ralph spent his life showing how we can care about the people around us and the world in which we live, trying to make Washington a better place for future generations,” Hobbs said. “I extend my condolences to his family for their loss.”
