Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by Oklahoma Governor George Nigh "to honor Oklahoma women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma; who have made a significant contribution to the State of Oklahoma; who serve or have served as role models to other Oklahoma women; who may be "unsung heroes," but have made a difference in the lives of Oklahomans or Americans because of their actions; who have championed other women, women's issues, or served as public policy advocates for the issues important to women; and who exemplify the Oklahoma spirit."[1]

The Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame is one of several events sponsored by the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women to support its mission, "To improve the quality of life for women, children and families in Oklahoma."[2] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no inductees in 2020 and 2021.

Eligibility requirements

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And shall include:

  • Women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma.
  • Women who have made a significant contribution to the State of Oklahoma.
  • Women who serve or have served as role models to other Oklahoma women.
  • Women who may be "unsung heroes" but have made a difference in the lives of Oklahomans or Americans because of their actions.
  • Women who have championed other women, women's issues, or served as public policy advocates for the issues important to women.
  • Women who exemplify the Oklahoma spirit.[3]

Inductees

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Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
Name Image Birth–Death Year Area of achievement Ref(s)
Mo Anderson (b. 1937) 2023 [4]
Patricia Fennell 2023 [4]
Ann Felton Gilliland 2023 [4]
Donna Grabow (b. 1945) 2023 [4]
Kim Garrett-Funk 2023 [4]
Cathy Keating (b. 1950) 2023 Philanthropist, First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [4]
Freddye Harper Williams (1917–2001) 2023 [4]
Sue Ann Arnall (b. 1956) 2022 [5]
Carleen Burger (b. 1951) 2022 [5]
Janice Dobbs 2022 [5]
Wanda Jackson (b. 1937) 2022 [5]
Roseline Nsikak 2022 [5]
Kayse Shrum (b. 1972) 2022 [5]
Betty McElderry (1939–2019) 2022 [5]
Anna Belle Wiedemann (b. 1931) 2022 [5]
Helen Holmes (1915–1997) 2019 Journalist, historian, Women's Army Corps officer [6]
Noma Gurich (b. 1952) 2019 Jurist [6]
Ollie Starr (b. 1941) 2019 [6]
Judy Love (b. 1937) 2019 Philanthropist [6]
Susan Chambers 2018 OB/GYN founding partner of Lakeside Women's Hospital in Oklahoma City [7]
Jane Anne Jayroe (b. 1946) 2018 Broadcaster, author, Miss Oklahoma, Miss America [7]
Joan Gilmore (1927–2022) 2018 Journalist [7]
Willa Johnson (1939–2022) 2018 City and county office holder [7]
Kay Rhoads 2018 Principal Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation [7]
Linda Cavanaugh (b. 1950) 2017 Journalist [8]
Glenda Love 2017 Executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Tulsa [8]
Pat Potts 2017 First woman to serve as President of the Oklahoma City School Board [8]
Meg Salyer 2017 Volunteerism [8]
Rhonda Walters 2017 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma;
Helped create the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women
[8]
Edith Kinney Gaylord (1916– 2001) 2017 Journalist [8]
LaDonna Harris (b. 1931) 2015 Comanche activist [9]
Mary Mélon-Tully 2015 Newspaper publisher; The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools [10]
Marion Paden 2015 Oklahoma Community City College [10]
Thelma Parks (1923–2019) 2015 Civil rights [10]
Ramona Paul (1936–2013) 2015 Education [10]
Patty Roloff 2015 Owner Oklahoma City 89ers [10]
Avis Scaramucci 2015 Entrepreneur [10]
Ida Blackburn (1929–2016) 2013 Television personality, public relations [11]
Elaine Dodd 2013 Law enforcement [11]
Lou Kerr (1937–2024) 2013 Businesswoman [11]
Terri Watkins (b. 1954) 2013 Investigative journalist [11]
Nancy Miller 2013 Television producer [11]
Linda Haneborg 2013 Political activist, businesswoman [11]
Laura Boyd (b. 1949) 2011 Oklahoma state representative; first woman nominee for Governor of Oklahoma [12]
Chloe Brown (b. 1951) 2011 Founded The Chloe House transition home for women [12]
Joy Culbreath (b. 1939) 2011 Executive Director of all Choctaw Nation Education Service [12]
Marcia Mitchell 2011 Founded The Little Light House faith-based mission to assist children with a wide range of developmental disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy [12]
Ardina Moore (1930–2022) 2011 Preservationist for the Quapaw language [12]
Cindy Ross (b. 1950) 2011 First female president of Cameron University [12]
Kathy Taylor (b. 1955) 2011 Mayor of Tulsa [12]
Helen Harrod Thompson (b. 1931) 2011 Co-creator of the Family Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence in Ardmore [12]
Rita Aragon (b. 1947) 2009 United States Air National Guard two-star general [13]
Suzanne Edmondson (b. 1945) 2009 Founder of Friends of Eddie Warrior (FEW) Foundation [14]
Edna Hennessee (1919–2011) 2009 Entrepreneur [15]
Kim Henry 2009 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [14]
Mirabeau Lamar Looney (1871–1935) 2009 First woman member of the Oklahoma Senate [16]
Susan Savage (b. 1952) 2009 First woman mayor of Tulsa [14]
Carolyn Whitener (b. 1941) 2009 Filed 1970s sexual discrimination lawsuit Craig v. Boren [14]
Sherri Coale (b. 1965) 2007 Head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners [14]
Ginny Creveling (b. 1946) 2007 Community activist [14]
Joe Anna Hibler (b. 1939) 2007 First woman president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University [14]
Maxine Horner (1933–2021) 2007 One of the first African American women to serve in the Oklahoma State Senate [14]
Kay Martin 2007 Second female superintendent to lead an Oklahoma technology center [14]
Terry Neese (b. 1947) 2007 Entrepreneur, public policy strategist, women's equality advocate [14]
Claudia Tarrington (1944–2003) 2007 Political consultant [14]
Carolyn Thompson Taylor (b. 1957) 2007 State representative, associate professor of political science at Rogers State University [14]
Della Warrior (b. 1946) 2007 First and only woman to date to serve as the chairperson and chief executive officer for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe [14]
Wanda L. Bass (1927–2008) 2005 Philanthropist [14]
Nancy Coats-Ashley (b. 1939) 2005 District Court Judge for Oklahoma County [14]
Mary Fallin (b. 1954) 2005 Governor of Oklahoma [17]
Bessie S. McColgin (1875–1972) 2005 First woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives [18]
Jeanine Rhea (b. 1938) 2005 Professor Emeritus in the Department of Management at Oklahoma State University [14]
Stephanie Kulp Seymour (b. 1940) 2005 First female Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit [14]
Esther Houser (b. 1950) 2003 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services [14]
Vicki Miles-LaGrange (b. 1953) 2003 First woman U.S. Attorney in Oklahoma [19]
Linda Morrissey (b. 1953) 2003 Tulsa County District Judge [14]
Lynn Schusterman (b. 1939) 2003 Philanthropist, chair emerita of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies [14]
Donna Shirley (b. 1941) 2003 Aerospace engineer, head of the Mars Exploration Program in 1994 [20]
Jari Askins (b. 1953) 2001 Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma [21]
Shirley Bellmon (1927–2000) 2001 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [14]
Dorothy Moses DeWitty (1926–2012) 2001 First African-American woman president of the League of Women Voters [14]
Sandy Garrett (b. 1943) 2001 First woman elected Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction [14]
Lynn Jones (b. 1949) 2001 Police woman, developed the first Officers’ Street Survival course in Oklahoma [14]
Yvonne Kauger (b. 1937) 2001 Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court 1997-1998 [22]
Jill Zink Tarbel (1924–2009) 2001 Advocate for disabled persons, trustee for the University of Tulsa [14]
Dana Tiger (b. 1961) 2001 Native American artist [14]
Isabel Keith Baker (1929–2019) 1997 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents [14]
Jessie Thatcher Bost (1875–1963) 1997 First woman to graduate from a university in Oklahoma [23]
Norma Eagleton (b. 1934) 1997 Finance and Revenue Commissioner; Board of Regents for Rogers State College [14]
Kay Goebel (b. 1929) 1997 Community activist [14]
Ruth Hardman (1914–2005) 1997 Philanthropist [14]
Beverly Horse (1931–2010) 1997 Human rights activist [14][24]
Mazola McKerson (1921–2014) 1997 First African-American and first female to serve on the Ardmore City Council; first African-American female mayor of Ardmore; first chair of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women [14]
Penny Williams (1937–2018) 1997 State legislator [14]
Betty Boyd (1924–2011) 1996 Pioneer woman journalist [14]
Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher (1924–1995) 1996 Civil rights activist [25]
Lela Foreman (1930–2015) 1996 Civil rights activist [14][26]
Sandy Ingraham (b. 1947) 1996 Child Advocate of the Decade [14]
Lorena Males (1909–2006) 1996 Community activist [14]
Bernice Shedrick (b. 1940) 1996 Attorney, judge, state legislator [14]
Valree Fletcher Wynn (1922–2021) 1996 Professor Emeritus at Cameron University; first African American to teach at Lawton High School, to teach at Cameron University, and to serve on the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges. [14]
Nancy Feldman (1922–2014) 1995 Civil rights activist [14]
Barbara J. Gardner-Anderson (b. 1949) 1995 First woman to chair the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce [14]
Ruthe Blalock Jones (b. 1939) 1995 Delaware-Shawnee Native American artist and Director Emeritus and associate professor of art at Bacone College [27]
Mona Salyer Lambird (1938–1999) 1995 First woman president of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the first woman elected to the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association [14]
Gloria Grace Langdon (1927–2003) 1995 Tonkawa News publisher [14]
Bernice Mitchell (1939–2021) 1995 First African American woman to be elected as County Commissioner in Payne County, Oklahoma [14]
Donna Nigh (b. 1933) 1995 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [14]
Marie C. Cox (1920–2005) 1993 Founded the North American Indian Women's Association [14]
Anita Hill (b. 1956) 1993 Attorney and academic [28]
Moscelyne Larkin (1925–2012) 1993 Native American ballerina [29]
Jacqulyn Longacre (b. 1932) 1993 Executive Director of Planned Parenthood [14]
Shannon Lucid (b. 1943) 1993 Biochemist, astronaut [30]
Clara Luper (1923–2011) 1993 Civic leader, civil rights activist [31]
Opaline Deveraux Wadkins (1912–2000) 1993 First African American nurse to earn a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma [14]
Pat Woodrum (b. 1941) 1993 Executive Director of the Tulsa City-County Library System [14]
Sara Ruth Cohen (1920–1986) 1986 Activist for the arts in the Jewish community [14]
Vinita Cravens (1909–1994) 1986 Stage productions promoter [14]
Rubye Hibler Hall (1912–2003) 1986 First African-American appointed to the State Regents for Higher Education [14]
Elizabeth Ann McCurdy Holmes (1927–1983) 1986 Continuing Education and Public Service at the University of Oklahoma [14]
Grace Elizabeth Hudlin (1908–1995) 1986 Political activist and first woman to head an electric cooperative in Oklahoma [14]
Wilma Mankiller (1945–2010) 1986 First woman elected chief of the Cherokees [32]
Edna Mae Phelps (1920–2001) 1986 First woman to serve on the Oklahoma State Election Board [14]
Evelyn La Rue Pittman (1910–1992) 1986 Author, composer, choral director, producer, and music educator [14]
Mae Boren Axton (1914–1997) 1985 The woman who wrote Heartbreak Hotel; songwriter, promoter, mother of Hoyt Axton [33]
June Tompkins Benson (1915–1981) 1985 First woman mayor in Oklahoma [14]
Pam Olson (b. 1949) 1985 News journalist, CNN White House correspondent [34]
Betty Durham Price (1931–2023) 1985 Visual arts preservationist [14]
Bertha Frank Teague (1898–1991) 1985 Basketball coach; She established the first girls' basketball clinic in the Southwest [35]
Angie Debo (1890–1988) 1984 Historian who focused on Native Americans [36]
Jeane Kirkpatrick (1926–2006) 1984 Professor, diplomat, political activist [37]
Jewell Russell Mann (1903–1987) 1984 Feminist activist who was instrumental in amending the state constitution to allow women to hold elective office in Oklahoma [14]
Zella J. Patterson (1909–1986) 1984 Head of the Home Economics Department at Langston University [14]
Zelia N. Breaux (1880–1956) 1983 Organized the first music department at Oklahoma's Langston University and the school's first orchestra [14]
Kate Frank (1890–1982) 1983 First woman president of the Oklahoma Education Association [14]
Leona Mitchell (b. 1949) 1983 African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano [38]
Jean Pitts (b. 1945) 1983 Cardiovascular surgeon and medical researcher [14]
Juanita Stout (1919–1998) 1983 First African-American woman elected to any judgeship in the United States and the first to serve on the Supreme Court of any state [14]
Alma Wilson (1917–1999) 1983 First woman to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and its first woman as chief justice, [39]
Hannah Diggs Atkins (1923–2010) 1982 First African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1968–1980) [40]
Kate Barnard (1875–1930) 1982 First woman elected to statewide office by a male-only electorate [41]
June Brooks (1924–2010) 1982 Oil lobbyist [42]
Gloria Stewart Farley (1916–2006) 1982 Author, historian [14]
Aloysius Larch-Miller (1886–1920) 1982 Suffragist [14]
Susan Ryan Peters (1873–1965) 1982 Founded the Kiowa Indian School of Art [14]
Christine Salmon (1916–1985) 1982 Architect [14]
Edyth Thomas Wallace (1880–1975) 1982 Newspaper columnist and radio disc jockey [14]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women - Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". www.ok.gov.
  2. ^ "OCSW website".
  3. ^ "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Guidelines" (PDF).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "OCSW Names 2023 Women's Hall of Fame Inductees". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. April 11, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d "Late OSU professor inducted into Women's Hall of Fame - Oklahoma State University". news.okstate.edu. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  7. ^ a b c d e "2018 Inductees". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "2017 Inductees". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  9. ^ Fluharty, Sterling. "LaDonna Vita Tabbytite Harris". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony April 9". The Daily Ardmorette. Gatehouse Media, Inc. March 31, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f McNutt, Michael (April 12, 2013). "Six join Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". NewsOK. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h "2011 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. State of Oklahoma. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "Major General LaRita A. "Rita" Aragon". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma State University. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  15. ^ Wilson, Linda D. "Edna Miller Hessessee". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  16. ^ Pappas, Christine. "Lamar Looney". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  17. ^ Wilson, Linda D. "Mary Fallin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  18. ^ Pappas, Christine. "Amelia Elizabeth "Bessie" Simison McColgin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  19. ^ Decker, Stephanie. "Vicki Miles-LaGrange". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  20. ^ Moore, Bill. "Donna Shirley". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  21. ^ "50 Making a Difference Profile: Jari Askins, State of Oklahoma". The Journal Record. Dolan Media Company. September 21, 2007. Archived from the original on December 27, 2015.
  22. ^ "Justice Yvonne Kauger". The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  23. ^ Wilson, Linda D. "Jessie Thatcher Olive Bost". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  24. ^ "Obituaries: Horse, Beverly Johnson". Anadarko, Oklahoma: Anadarko Daily News. February 11, 2010. September 24, 1931-February 10, 2010, burial February 11, 2010 Mt. Scott KCA
  25. ^ Hall, Melvin C. "Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  26. ^ "Remembering the life of Lela Foreman".
  27. ^ Everett, Dianna. "Ruthe Blalock Jones". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  28. ^ Armstrong, Connie G. "Anita Hill". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  29. ^ Foster, Toni Annette. "Moscelyne Larkin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  30. ^ Moore, Bill. "Shannon Matilda Wells Lucid". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  31. ^ Decker, Stefanie Lee. "Clara Shepard Luper". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  32. ^ Wilson, Linda D. "Wilma Pearl Mankiller". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  33. ^ Burke, Bob. "Mae Boren Axton". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  34. ^ "Women in Journalism Roundtable". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  35. ^ Straughn, Kay. "Bertha Frank Teague". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  36. ^ Berson (1994), pp. 87-94
  37. ^ Nolan (1997), pp. 219-226
  38. ^ Pittman, Kitty. "Leona Pearl Mitchell". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  39. ^ Wilson, Linda D. "Alma Bell Wilson". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  40. ^ Haskins (1999), pp. 5-6
  41. ^ Martin (1999), p. 2
  42. ^ "June Brooks obituary". The Oklahoman. September 1, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2015.

References

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