Mary Groves Bland served the people of the 9th District (part of Jackson County). Born in Kansas City, she graduated from R.T. Cole High School in 1954. She attended Ottawa University, Penn Valley and Pioneer Colleges. She also received certification in Executive Policy from Harvard University. She was a freelance community and personnel consultant and a past president of Freedom, Inc. and the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. She was the honorary chair of the Minority Health Advisory Committee, past treasurer of the Niles Home for Children and a member of the Minority Business Advocacy Commission. Her awards included Jefferson Community Service; Outstanding Black Women, Role Model for Youth; and Outstanding Legislator. She was first elected to the House in 1980 and served there until winning a special election to the Senate in 1998. Senator Bland won re-election in 2000 and served through 2004. (Democrat)