Patricia A. Goodrich (January 13, 1933March 31, 1999) was an American politician and homemaker. She served as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services in the cabinet of Governor Tommy Thompson, and earlier served ten years in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

Biography

Born in

Jefferson City, Missouri Jefferson City, informally Jeff City, is the capital of Missouri, United States. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 census, ranking as the 15th most populous city in the state. It is also the county seat of Cole County and the princip ...

, Goodrich was educated at Jefferson City Junior College and Park College. Goodrich moved to Berlin, Wisconsin. She served in the

for five terms, from 1975 to 1985, as a Republican, representing Green Lake and Waushara counties. During her years in the Assembly she served alongside Tommy Thompson, who represented the neighboring district. When Tommy Thompson later became Governor, he appointed Goodrich as Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services. She would become Acting Secretary when her predecessor, Timothy Cullen, left office in 1988. Thompson later appointed her as Cullen's permanent replacement. Her appointment was controversial with some

anti-abortion Anti-abortion movements, also self-styled as pro-life or abolitionist movements, are involved in the abortion debate advocating against the practice of abortion and its legality. Many anti-abortion movements began as countermovements in respons ...

activists in Thompson's Republican base, due to her outspoken pro-choice record. She was confirmed and ultimately served in the role from mid 1988 through early 1991. Goodrich died in Gold Canyon, Arizona. She was survived by her husband, Bud, and her three sons, Phil, Jim, and John.Assembly Joint Resolution 40
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Notes

, - 1933 births 1999 deaths People from Jefferson City, Missouri People from Berlin, Wisconsin Women state legislators in Wisconsin State cabinet secretaries of Wisconsin 20th-century American legislators 20th-century American women politicians Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 20th-century Wisconsin politicians {{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Republican-1930s-stub