Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio’s first woman House speaker and a trusted adviser to many of the state’s Republicans, has died after a political career spanning nearly 60 years.

Jo Ann Davidson, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, speaks at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. Davidson, the first and only woman to serve as speaker of the Ohio House, died Friday at the age of 97. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds) AP

Jo Ann Davidson, who climbed her way up through the male dominated world of Ohio politics to become Ohio House speaker, died Friday. She was 97.

Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio's first female House Speaker, died at the age of 97, leaving a significant legacy in state politics.

Jo Ann Davidson, who served six years as the speaker of the Ohio House before going on to other public service work, was 97.

After retiring due to term limits from the Ohio House in 2001, Davidson devoted energy to the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute.

Jo Ann Davidson, the first female Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, died on Friday. She was 97. She served in the Ohio House from 1980 to 2001 and was the speaker from 1995 to 2000. “Jo Ann dedicated her life to public service and the people of Ohio,

The first woman to be elected as Ohio Speaker of the House, Jo Ann Davidson, has died at 97 years old after decades of public service.