Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 8th district In office November 5, 1996 – January 22, 2013 Preceded by Bill Emerson Succeeded by Jason Smith Personal details Born Carolyn Cook (1950-09-16) September 16, 1950 (age 64) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. Political party Republican (Before 1996; 1997–present) Independent (1996–1997) Spouse(s) Bill Emerson (1975–1996) Ron Gladney (2000–present) Alma mater Ohio Wesleyan University Religion Presbyterianism Jo Ann Emerson (born September 16, 1950) is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 8th congressional district from 1996 to 2013. The district consists of Southeast and South Central Missouri and includes the Bootheel, the Lead Belt and the Ozarks. Emerson is a member of the Republican Party. On January 22, 2013, Emerson resigned her seat in Congress to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. With the defeat of Congressman Ike Skelton, Emerson became the dean, i.e., the longest-serving member, of Missouri's congressional delegation in 2011.