Flags were at half staff today in honor of former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins, the state's first and only female governor.

Collins died on Saturday.

She was 88 years old.

Tonight, our Toby Gibbs looks back at her legacy to the Commonwealth.

See, I came from a little town.

No stoplight.

Martha Lane Collins was born Martha Hall on December 7th, 1936, in the town of Baghdad in Shelby County.

Her family moved to Shelbyville when she was in the sixth grade.

Her father became a funeral director.

She believed that background shaped her.

I'm proud I keep referring to my roots in Baghdad and Shelbyville in Kentucky.

It's where you develop your values and your sense of yourself.

The future governor graduated from Shelbyville High School and went to Lindenwood College in Missouri before transferring to the University of Kentucky.

She graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics.

She married Bill Collins, a future dentist, shortly after graduation.

They would have two children, Steve and Marla.

The Collins moved to Versailles in 1966.

She became a teacher at Woodford County Junior High School and soon became involved in Democratic politics.

She was named secretary of the state Democratic Party in 1975, and was elected clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

In 1979, she was elected lieutenant governor under Governor John Whybrow.

In 1983, Collins was elected as Kentucky's 56th governor, its first and only woman governor, defeating state senator and future U.S.

Senator Jim Bunning 54 to 44%.

She took office with two main priorities.

Well, and stick with the priorities I had when I was there 20 years ago, education and economic development, because I think they're the key to everything.

She pushed for more money for public schools.

Being a former schoolteacher, I felt like education was very important and I did try to start an educational reform.

She backed mandatory kindergarten teacher testing, teacher races and smaller class sizes.

She helped persuade Toyota to locate an $800 million manufacturing plant in Georgetown.

It's probably her best known achievement.

Today, the plant turns up more than a half million vehicles a year and has produced 14 million vehicles since 1988.

Governors at the time were not allowed to succeed themselves.

She left office in 1987 and never ran for public office again.

She became president of Saint Catherine College near Springfield in 1990.

In 1993, her husband, doctor Bill Collins, was accused and convicted of influence peddling.

During Governor Collins term in office.

He served time in prison and was released in 1997.

Governor Collins was not charged with any crime in her later years, Martha Lane Collins stayed busy.

She became director of the International Business and Management Center at the University of Kentucky.

She stayed active in Democratic politics, and in 1998 took a part time position at Georgetown College.

As Executive Scholar in Residence and served on the boards of directors of several corporations.

For Kentucky Edition.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

Thank you.

Toby.

Funeral arrangements for former Governor Martha Lynn Collins have not yet officially been announced.

We will update you as we learn more.

Reacting to the news, U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Collins was known for breaking barriers.

In a statement, he said she was, quote, a tireless advocate for all levels of education in Kentucky.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said, quote, as a dad of two daughters, I applaud Governor Collins's service to Kentucky and busting through the glass ceiling to show that there are no limitations in our Commonwealth.

End quote.

Governor Andy Beshear called Collins a friend, adding, quote, she created a foundation for us to build a strong future upon, and her legacy will continue to benefit Kentucky families for generations.

End quote.