KATHERINE D. ORTEGA Biography - Writers

 
 

Biography » writers » katherine d ortega

KATHERINE D. ORTEGA
       

Katherine D. Ortega (born 1934 in Tularosa, New Mexico) was the 38th Treasurer of the United States.

       

Her father, a former blacksmith, owned a small restaurant and dance hall. Ortega worked at the restaurant as a young child. While in high school and during college, Ortega worked part time at the local bank. She earned her BA in business and economics with honors at Eastern New Mexico University .

       

In 1968, Ortega moved to Los Angeles where she became a CPA and joined the firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. She became the first woman president of a bank in California at Santa Ana State Bank. In 1983, she was appointed the 38th Treasurer of the United States and held that position until 1989. From 1990-1991, she was appointed by President Bush, to serve as an Alternate Respresentative to the United Nations General Assembly.