Kathryn "Kay" Bailey Hutchison was born on July 22, 1943, in Galveston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1967. Unable to find employment at a law firm, Hutchison first pursued television journalism. Joining Houston's KPRC-TV in 1969 as a legal and political correspondent, she became one of the first on-air newswomen in Texas. An interview with Anne Armstrong, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, inspired the burgeoning reporter to consider a career in politics. After working as Armstrong's press secretary, Hutchison successfully ran for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives in 1972. She left the Texas Legislature after two terms to serve as vice-chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.    Hutchison briefly left politics for the private sector in 1982 following an unsuccessful campaign for US Congress. For eight years, she worked as a banking executive and owner of a candy manufacturing company. In 1990, Hutchison was elected Texas State Treasurer. Two years later, she co-chaired the Republican National Convention, held in Houston.    In 1993, Hutchison launched a campaign to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen. The open primary attracted 24 candidates, with Hutchison ultimately defeating interim appointee Bob Krueger by a 29-percent margin. She served three six-year terms, eventually becoming  the most senior female senator in the Republican Conference and the fifth most senior female senator overall.    In 2010, Hutchison unsuccessfully challenged Rick Perry in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Fearing her own primary challenger during the 2012 election, she decided not to run for a fourth term. Following her retirement from the Senate, Hutchison joined the Dallas office of the Houston-based law firm, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP. In 2017, she was appointed the US Permanent Representative to NATO.