Obit of the Day

Obit of the Day: “Mother Time”

Let’s begin with a quick history lesson. In 1883, railraod companies from the U.S. and Canada developed standard time zones across both countries. During WWI and WWII, daylight savings time (DST) was first introduced, and called “war time.” Finally in 1967 DST was put in place across the U.S. and placed under the purview of the Department of Transportation. In 1985, Joanne Petrie joined the department for the next quarter century she was the lawyer who oversaw the “time zone portfolio.”

Ms. Petrie would spend her time mediating time zone and DST disputes around the country. She was present at hearing when Indiana debated to use DST at all. They now do. (Only Alaska and Hawai’i do not.) She helped transition the citizens of Kearney, KS from its 50/50 division between Central and Mountain time to Central. (Decisions on disputes are often based on how commerce is affected.) Wherever the debate Ms. Petrie was there, the doyen of daylight savings time.

She was 55.

(Image of U.S. time zones courtesy of oltiby.com)