OMAHA- Nancy Hoch, a barrier-breaking Nebraska woman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senator in 1984, died Wednesday at age 84. Her death followed that of her husband in January. Hoch was raised in Nebraska City, known for leaving her mark in political circles. She was the first woman to join a rotary club in the state. She went on to earn the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Nebraska City Chamber of Commerce in 1983. Shortly after, she became the first woman elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in which she represented District 4 on the board for 12 years.

In 1984, she became the state's Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, challenging the incumbent Sen. J.J. Exon. In 1986, she ran for governor but lost to then State Treasurer Kay Orr. Orr went on to become the state's first female governor and the nation's first female Republican governor. In 2015, she was recognized with the Henry Fonda Award, the Nebraska Tourism Commission's highest female honor.

Later in their lives, Nancy and her husband, Richard moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She kept in touch with her Nebraska roots by watching Husker football every weekend.

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