Donna Jean Boley represented West Virginia Senate District 3, encompassing Pleasants, Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, and part of Roane counties. Born on December 9, 1935, in Bens Run, West Virginia, she was a widow with two children, Brian and Kari, and a lifelong Methodist. Appointed to the Senate on May 14, 1985, by Gov. Arch Moore to succeed Sen. Sam White, she won election in 1986 and was reelected 11 times, serving 41 years until resigning in January 2026 at age 90 for health and family reasons. She was the longest-serving state senator in West Virginia history, Senate President pro tempore , and Senate Minority Leader , notably as the sole Republican senator in 1991–1992.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended West Virginia University, Parkersburg .
• Political Experience:
  • Senator, West Virginia State Senate, District 3 .
  • Senate President pro tempore .
  • Senate Minority Leader .
  • Chair, Pleasants County Republican Executive Committee .
  • Member, West Virginia Republican Executive Committee .
  • Republican National Committeewoman for West Virginia.
  • Committee roles: Banking and Insurance, Confirmations , Education, Energy/Industry/Mining, Finance, Rules, School Choice; joint committees on Education, Energy, Finance, Public Employees Insurance, Equal Pay .