Margaret Holden

Holden, Margaret Jean July 27, 1925 July 10, 2006 Margaret Holden died July 10, 2006, at the Episcopal Church Home, St. Paul, after a long illness. Graduated Central High School, St. Paul, 1942. B.A., Business Administration, University of Minnesota, 1954. Tireless organizer and advocate for gender equity in employment, education and athletics. Began 35 year career with Great Northern Railroad, later Burlington Northern Santa Fe, as an accounting clerk in 1950. Became BNSF's first female programmer, 1956, promoted to Assistant Director, Systems and Programming, 1968, the highest executive rank attained by a woman in that company to that point. Thereafter her responsibilities increased but her rank did not and after having been passed over for further promotion many times she filed a gender discrimination complaint against the railroad in 1981. The case, certified as a class action encompassing nearly 8,000 women, eventually settled in 1986 after months of trial, and established several legal landmarks. Margaret retired from BNSF in 1985 and devoted herself to gender equity issues. She served in many capacities for, among others, the American Association of University Women, American Council of Railroad Women, National Association of Railway Business Women, Business and Professional Women's Association, Independent-Republicans of Minnesota, Women's Equity Action League, Minnesota Coalition of Organizations for Sex Equity in Education, Minnesota Women's History Month, Minnesota Women's Consortium and the Ramsey County Womens Political Caucus. Recognition and awards, to name a few, include AAUW Women as Agents of Change, St. Paul YWCA Outstanding Achievement in Business, WCCO Good Neighbor, National Women's Equity Action League Member of the Year and Award of Merit, Ramsey County Women's Political Caucus Founding Feminist, Saint Paul BPW Woman of Achievement. Survived by devoted sister, Dorothy H. Werlich, Chelmsford, MA. Preceded in death by cherished brother-in-law, LTC John David Werlich. Memorials to Episcopal Church Home, 1879 Feronia Ave., St. Paul 55104, or Margaret Holden/Dorothy Werlich Scholarship Fund, University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Graveside burial service, Roselawn Cemetery, 803 Larpenteur Ave. W., Roseville, Tuesday, July 18, 2006, at 1:30PM. Memorial service followed by reception, ST. MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1895 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, Thursday, August 3, 2006, at 10:30AM. Bradshaw 678 Snelling Avenue South 651-698-3878