The first Innovation dollar of 2025 is here…
Making Waves: Raye Montague

Celebrating an Arkansas native, the Raye Montague dollar kicks off this year’s American Innovation dollars.

The apple blossom state has delighted the world with fried pickles, the Wonder Horse and Johnny Cash since it joined the Union in 1835. However, one of Arkansas’ most noteworthy accomplishments is calling itself home to America’s first female naval engineer.

Three Strikes

Born in 1935 and growing up as an African American in the South, Raye was told all the things she couldn’t do. But – beginning at the age of seven – she would find a reason to do them anyways.

In 1942, during the midst of World War II, Raye had the opportunity to see a recently captured German submarine. Brought to the exhibition by her grandfather, she was captivated by the mechanics of the machine. Enthralled, Raye asked how she could build something like it.

The man working the display told her that she would need to be an engineer – but she wouldn’t have to worry about that.

And yet, Raye did.

Her mother encouraged her to challenge the norm. In interviews during her later years, Raye would recall her mother saying, “You’ll already have three strikes against you. You’re female, you’re black, and you’ll have a southern segregated school education. But you can be or do anything you want, provided you’re educated.”

When Raye enrolled in college, African Americans weren’t able to receive an engineering degree in Arkansas. Instead, she earned a degree in business before making her way to Maryland in 1956.  It was here that she would begin her career with the U.S. Navy.

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

In 1971, during the Vietnam War, the Navy received urgent orders from President Nixon. They were tasked with designing a ship that could: protect soldiers, carry supplies, and serve as a convoy for both aircraft and submarines. 

The problem? It could take years to create a ship of that scale using pen and paper. But Nixon needed a quicker turn around. He gave the U.S. Navy one month to complete the assignment.

It was time for Raye to show what she was made of.

Prior to her job with the U.S. Navy, Raye had never even seen a computer let alone used one. That wouldn’t stop her from making history though. In less than 19 hours, Raye had delivered the first draft of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate using a computer. And the system she used to do it? It was one Raye had developed during her overnight shifts over the course of 6 months.

She had done the seemingly impossible – not as the first woman or first African American but rather as the first person. A distinction she would proudly wear for the rest of her life.

Raye jump started her career when she completed this Herculean task that had been set before her. The following year, she was awarded the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award. But Raye wasn’t done making waves quite yet.

From footnote to spotlight

In addition to being the first person to design a ship using a computer, Raye was the first woman to become a program manager for the U.S. Navy. Over the course of her career, she would continue to design other naval ships (and even a submarine) as well as teach at the United States Naval Academy. Accomplishments the young girl from Little Rock could only dream about in the 1940’s.  

After more than 30 years working for the U.S. Navy, Raye retired in 1990. However, that didn’t mean she was ready to go quietly into her golden years. She spent the remainder of her life serving her community the same way she had served her country – passionately and with hope for the future.

Raye had worked tirelessly throughout her career to prove her mettle. While her contributions to naval engineering were groundbreaking, she faded into the footnotes of history. Now, the Raye Montague dollar places her back in the spotlight.

Front and center on the dollar is the USS Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate. The ship is shown gliding across a grid pattern reminiscent of the computer program used to create it. Overlooking it all is Raye at the top of the coin, watching her revolutionary design come to life.  

The first of four designs for the year’s Innovation dollars, Arkansas’ Raye Montague dollar leads the way into 2025. What designs are you looking forward to adding to your collection this year? Who do you hope to see honored on future dollar designs?

Sources:

Hurley, Todd A. “Raye Montague, a U.S. Navy ‘Hidden Figure’.” Accessed January 6, 2025 https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2549135/raye-montague-a-us-navy-hidden-figure

ABC News. “Meet the woman who broke barriers as a hidden figure at the US Navy.” Accessed January 6, 2025 https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/meet-woman-broke-barriers-hidden-figure-us-navy/story?id=45566924

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. “Raye Jean Jordan Montague (1935-2018).” Accessed January 7, 2025 https://www.arwomenshalloffame.com/raye-jean-jordan-montague

The History Makers. “Raye Jean Montague.” Accessed January 7, 2025 https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/raye-jean-montague#:~:text=In%201971%20Montague%20became%20the,the%20information%20systems%20improvement%20program.

Collins, Elizabeth M. “Breaking Barriers, Part 2: The Raye Montague Story.” Accessed January 7, 2025 https://allhands.navy.mil/Stories/Display-Story/Article/1840330/breaking-barriers-part-2

Owen, Rhonda. “Raye Jean Jordan Montague.” Accessed January 8, 2025 https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/dec/16/raye-jean-jordan-montague-20121216