Earl Mackey, NCSL Co-Founder and First Executive Director, Dies at 81.

• Author: Smith, Edward

Earl Mackey, the leading architect and first executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures, died on Aug. 26 in Portland, Ore. He was 81.

In the early 1970s, Mackey was one of a group of advocates looking to raise the visibility of state government at the national level. Their efforts led to the creation of the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association.

The legislative world was a familiar one to Mackey. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1962 and went to work as legislative counsel to U.S. Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri. After practicing law for two years, Mackey was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1966. He served one term, then became assistant director of the Washington, D.C., office of the Council of State Governments, devoting the bulk of his time to state legislative matters.

Between 1972 and 1974 Mackey worked with legislative leaders to galvanize three existing state legislative groups into one national organization that would offer high visibility, greater service and an enhanced voice for legislatures across the country.

Mackey became NCSL's first executive director when the...