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Four years after women won the right to vote and hold office, Soledad Ch谩vez de Chac贸n made headlines across the country when she served as acting governor of New Mexico.

For two weeks in 1924, while then-Gov. James Hinkle was away at the Democratic Convention in New York City, Chac贸n held the highest office in state government 鈥� the first woman in the nation to ever do so.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct.15, the city honored Chac贸n by naming her a 鈥淏reakthrough New Mexican鈥� and dedicating a plaque to her at the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 International Sunport.

鈥淪he really didn鈥檛 just break glass ceilings 鈥� she essentially broke them a century ago,鈥� said Mayor Tim Keller at the ceremony late last month.

Today, the state has a female-majority Legislature, and a woman elected to the state鈥檚 highest office following in the tradition set by Chac贸n. Between former Gov. Susana Martinez and current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state has been led by women for nearly 15 years.

鈥淚鈥檓 sure this is what she wanted and I feel she paved the way,鈥� said Chac贸n鈥檚 great-granddaughter, Jolene Chac贸n, who accepted the award on her behalf.

In a historical photo, Soledad Chac贸n sat poised in a leather desk chair holding a gavel. Jolene Chac贸n still has her great-grandmother鈥檚 gavel and her official copper plated stamp, among other mementos that have been passed down over the years.

But her possessions are not all the family holds onto.

鈥淪he was a very strong woman, a strong-willed woman, and I think that鈥檚 where a lot of us got that strength and determination,鈥� said Jolene Chac贸n.

Her family and friends called Soledad Chac贸n 鈥淟ala鈥� and beyond being politically minded, she was known to be sweet and smart with money. She could play mandolin and piano, was excellent at the card game bridge and encouraged her children to pursue a college education, according to recollections from her daughter, Adelina Chac贸n Ward.

Before her political career, Soledad Chac贸n fought for women鈥檚 suffrage, attending marches and rallies, Jolene Chac贸n said.

Once the 19th Amendment made it legal for women to vote and be elected to higher office, Chac贸n ran for secretary of state and won. She was the first woman in the state to do so.

鈥淥ur family has always been so proud of my great-grandmother,鈥� Jolene Chac贸n said at the ceremony.

Not everyone at the time was so supportive.

Soledad Chac贸n faced stigma from some members of her community, who traditionally saw women as wives and homemakers, Jolene Chac贸n said.

鈥淭he men were very standoffish with her,鈥� Jolene Chac贸n said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 like the idea that she was running and trying to do what they said was meant to be a man鈥檚 job. And she didn鈥檛 care 鈥� she was doing it 鈥� and she won.鈥�

During her short governorship, Soledad Chac贸n signed off on federal funds for the New Mexico National Guard, pardoned one inmate and requested the extradition of a man from Kansas who was accused of larceny, according to archived newspapers.

A year later, two other women joined her rank. Nellie Tayloe Ross and Miriam Amanda Ferguson became the elected governors of Wyoming and Texas, respectively.

After her term as secretary of state ended, Soledad Chac贸n ran for the New Mexico House of Representatives and broke barriers yet again, becoming the first Hispanic woman elected to the Bernalillo seat.

While serving the second half of her two-year term, Soledad Chac贸n died Aug. 4, 1936, of internal bleeding caused by a ruptured ulcer. She was one week shy of her 46th birthday.

鈥淪he had a lot on her shoulders, and she was taking care of all the family, plus doing this for her people of New Mexico,鈥� Jolene Chac贸n said. 鈥淪o I wouldn鈥檛 doubt that it had contributed.鈥�

Chacon had two children, Adelina Chacon Ward and Santiago Chac贸n, and is survived today by generations of grandchildren.