Ralph Munro

Ralph Davies Munro was an American Republican politician who served as the 13th Secretary of State of Washington. First elected in 1980, he served five terms.

Life and career

Munro was born on June 25, 1943, in Seattle, Washington, and grew up on Bainbridge Island. He was a graduate of Washington University">Washington (state)">Washington University and held a B.A. in Education and Political Science. Munro's first job with the state was as a supply clerk working in the basement of the Legislative Building. Governor Daniel J. Evans appointed Munro as the state's first volunteer coordinator in 1969.
Munro was a member of the bipartisan Commission on [Federal Election Reform], and strongly advocated for expanding Postal voting in [the United States|vote-by-mail].
In 2022, Munro was awarded the Order of [the Rising Sun#3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon|Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon] in recognition of "his contributions in promoting regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States."
He died in Lacey, Washington, on March 20, 2025, at the age of 81.