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]

Eligibility requirements

• Must be a woman who has either lived in the State of Oklahoma for a major portion of her life or who is easily identified as an Oklahoman;
• Must not be a current member of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women;

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

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Name	Image	Birth–Death	Year	Area of achievement	Ref(s)
Atkins, Hannah DiggsHannah Diggs Atkins		(1923–2010)	1982	First African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1968 – 1980)	[4]
Barnard, KateKate Barnard		(1875–1930)	1982	First woman elected to statewide office by a male-only electorate	[5]
Brooks, JuneJune Brooks		(1924–2010)	1982	Oil lobbyst	[6]
Farley, Gloria StewartGloria Stewart Farley		(1916–2006)	1982	Author, historian	[7]
Larch-Miller, AloysiusAloysius Larch-Miller		(1886–1920)	1982	Suffragist	[7]
Peters, Susan RyanSusan Ryan Peters		(1873–1965)	1982	Founded the Kiowa Indian School of Art	[7]
Salmon, ChristineChristine Salmon		(1916–1985)	1982	Architect	[7]
Wallace, Edyth ThomasEdyth Thomas Wallace		(1880–1975)	1982	Newspaper columnist and radio disc jockey	[7]
Breaux, Zelia N.Zelia N. Breaux		(1880–1956)	1983	Organized the first music department at Oklahoma's Langston University and the school's first orchestra	[7]
Frank, KateKate Frank		(1890–1982)	1983	First woman president of the Oklahoma Education Association	[7]
Mitchell, LeonaLeona Mitchell		(b. 1949)	1983	African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano	[8]
Pitts, JeanJean Pitts		(b. 1945)	1983	Cardiovascular surgeon and medical researcher	[7]
Stout, JuanitaJuanita 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	[7]
Wilson, AlmaAlma Wilson		(1917 –1999)	1983	First woman to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and its first woman as chief justice,	[9]
Debo, AngieAngie Debo		(1890 –1988)	1984	Historian who focused on Native Americans	[10]
Kirkpatrick, JeaneJeane Kirkpatrick		(1926 –2006)	1984	Professor, diplomat, political activist	[11]
Mann, Jewell RussellJewell Russell Mann		(1903 –1987)	1984	Feminist activist who was instrumental in amending the state constitution to allow women to hold elective office in Oklahoma	[7]
Patterson, Zella J.Zella J. Patterson		(1909 –1986)	1984	Head of the Home Economics Department at Langston University	[7]
Axton, Mae BorenMae Boren Axton		(1914 –1997)	1985	The woman who wrote Heartbreak Hotel; songwriter, promoter, mother of Hoyt Axton	[12]
Benson, June TompkinsJune Tompkins Benson		(1915 –1981)	1985	First woman mayor in Oklahoma	[7]
Olson, PamPam Olson			1985	News journalist, CNN White House correspondent	[13]
Price, Betty DurhamBetty Durham Price			1985	Visual arts preservationist	[7]
Teague, Bertha FrankBertha Frank Teague		(1898 –1991)	1985	Basketball coach; She established the first girls' basketball clinic in the Southwest	[14]
Cohen, Sara RuthSara Ruth Cohen		(1920 –1986)	1986	Activist for the arts in the Jewish community	[7]
Cravens, VinitaVinita Cravens		(1909 –1994)	1986	Stage productions promoter	[7]
Hall, Rubye HiblerRubye Hibler Hall		(1912 –2003)	1986	First African-American appointed to the State Regents for Higher Education	[7]
Holmes, Elizabeth Ann McCurdyElizabeth Ann McCurdy Holmes			1986	Continuing Education and Public Service at the University of Oklahoma	[7]
Hudlin, Grace ElizabethGrace Elizabeth Hudlin		(1908 –1995)	1986	Political activist and first woman to head an electric cooperative in Oklahoma	[7]
Mankiller, WilmaWilma Mankiller		(1945 –2010)	1986	First woman elected chief of the Cherokees	[15]
Phelps, Edna MaeEdna Mae Phelps	(1920 –2001)	[7]	1986	First woman to serve on the Oklahoma State Election Board
Pittman, Evelyn La RueEvelyn La Rue Pittman		(1910 –1992)	1986	Author, composer, choral director, producer, and music educator	[7]
Cox, MarieMarie Cox		(d. 1994)	1993	Founded the North American Indian Women's Association	[7]
Hill, AnitaAnita Hill		(b. 1956)	1993	Attorney and academic	[16]
Larkin, MoscelyneMoscelyne Larkin		(1925 –2012)	1993	Native American ballerina	[17]
Longacre, JacqulynJacqulyn Longacre		(b. 1932)	1993	Executive Director of Planned Parenthood	[7]
Lucid, ShannonShannon Lucid		(b. 1943)	1993	Biochemist, astronaut	[18]
Luper, ClaraClara Luper		(1923 –2011)	1993	Civic leader, civil rights activist	[19]
Wadkins, Opaline DeverauxOpaline Deveraux Wadkins		(1912 –2000)	1993	First African American nurse to earn a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma	[7]
Woodrum, PatPat Woodrum			1993	Executive Director of the Tulsa City-County Library System	[7]
Feldman, NancyNancy Feldman		(1922 –2014)	1995	Civil rights activist	[7]
Gardner-Anderson, Barbara J.Barbara J. Gardner-Anderson			1995	First woman to chair the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce	[7]
Jones, Ruthe BlalockRuthe Blalock Jones		(b. 1939)	1995	Delaware-Shawnee Native American artist and Director Emeritus and Associate Professor of Art at Bacone College	[20]
Lambird, Mona SalyerMona 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	[7]
Langdon, Gloria GraceGloria Grace Langdon		(1927 –2003)	1995	Tonkawa News publisher	[7]
Mitchell, BerniceBernice Mitchell		(b. 1939)	1995	First African American woman to be elected as County Commissioner in Payne County, Oklahoma	[7]
Nigh, DonnaDonna Nigh		(b. 1933)	1995	First Lady of the State of Oklahoma	[7]
Boyd, BettyBetty Boyd		(1924 –2011)	1996	Pioneer woman journalist	[7]
Fisher, Ada Lois SipuelAda Lois Sipuel Fisher		(1924 –1995)	1996	Civil rights activist	[21]
Foreman, LelaLela Foreman			1996	Civil rights activist	[7]
Ingraham, SandySandy Ingraham		(b. 1947)	1996	Child Advocate of the Decade	[7]
Males, LorenaLorena Males		(1909 –2006)	1996	Community activist	[7]
Shedrick, BerniceBernice Shedrick		(b. 1940)	1996	Attorney, judge, state legislator	[7]
Wynn, Valree FletcherValree Fletcher Wynn		(b. 1922)	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.	[7]
Baker, Isabel KeithIsabel Keith Baker		(b. 1929)	1997	Oklahoma State University Board of Regents	[7]
Bost, Jessie ThatcherJessie Thatcher Bost		(1875 –1963)	1997	First woman to graduate from a university in Oklahoma	[22]
Eagleton, NormaNorma Eagleton		(b. 1934)	1997	Finance and Revenue Commissioner; Board of Regents for Rogers State College	[7]
Goebel, KayKay Goebel		(b. 1929)	1997	Community activist	[7]
Hardman, RuthRuth Hardman		(1914 –2005)	1997	Philanthropist,	[7]
Horse, BeverlyBeverly Horse			1997	Human rights activist	[7]
McKerson, MazolaMazola 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	[7]
Williams, PennyPenny Williams		(b. 1937)	1997	State legislator	[7]
Askins, JariJari Askins		(b. 1953)	2001	Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma	[23]
Bellmon, ShirleyShirley Bellmon		(1927 –2000)	2001	First Lady of the State of Oklahoma	[7]
DeWitty, Dorothy MosesDorothy Moses DeWitty		(b. 1926)	2001	First African-American woman president of the League of Women Voters	[7]
Garrett, SandySandy Garrett		(b. 1943)	2001	First woman elected Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction	[7]
Jones, LynnLynn Jones			2001	Police woman, developed the first Officers’ Street Survival course in Oklahoma	[7]
Kauger, YvonneYvonne Kauger		(b. 1947)	2001	Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court 1997-1998	[24]
Tarbel, Jill ZinkJill Zink Tarbel		(d. 2009)	2001	Advocate for disabled persons, trustee for the University of Tulsa	[7]
Tiger, DanaDana Tiger		(b. 1961)	2001	Native American artist	[7]
Houser, EstherEsther Houser			2003	State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services	[7]
Miles-LaGrange, VickiVicki Miles-LaGrange		(b. 1953)	2003	First woman U.S. Attorney in Oklahoma	[25]
Morrissey, LindaLinda Morrissey		(b. 1953)	2003	Tulsa County District Judge	[7]
Schusterman, LynnLynn Schusterman		(b. 1939)	2003	Philanthropist, president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation	[7]
Shirley, DonnaDonna Shirley		(b. 1941)	2003	Aerospace engineer, head of the Mars Exploration Program in 1994	[26]
Bass, Wanda L.Wanda L. Bass		(1927 –2008)	2005	Philanthropist	[7]
Coats-Ashley, NancyNancy Coats-Ashley		(b. 1972)	2005	District Court Judge for Oklahoma County	[7]
Fallin, MaryMary Fallin		(n. 1954)	2005	Governor of Oklahoma	[27]
McColgin, Amelia Elizabeth SimisonAmelia Elizabeth Simison McColgin		(1875 –1972)	2005	First woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives	[28]
Rhea, JeanineJeanine Rhea			2005	Professor Emeritus in the Department of Management at Oklahoma State University	[7]
Seymour, Stephanie KulpStephanie Kulp Seymour		(b. 1940)	2005	First female Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit	[7]
Coale, SherriSherri Coale		(b. 1965)	2007	Head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners	[7]
Creveling, GinnyGinny Creveling			2007	Community activist	[7]
Hibler, Joe AnnaJoe Anna Hibler		(b. 1939)	2007	First woman president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University	[7]
Horner, MaxineMaxine Horner		(b. 1933)	2007	One of the first African American women to serve in the Oklahoma State Senate	[7]
Martin, KayKay Martin			2007	Second female Superintendent to lead an Oklahoma Technology Center	[7]
Neese, TerryTerry Neese			2007	Entrepreneur, public policy strategist, women's equality advocate	[7]
Tarrington, ClaudiaClaudia Tarrington		(d. 2003)	2007	Political consultant	[7]
Taylor, Carolyn ThompsonCarolyn Thompson Taylor			2007	State representative, associate professor of political science at Rogers State University	[7]
Warrior, DellaDella Warrior			2007	First and only woman to date to serve as the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe	[7]
Aragon, RitaRita Aragon		(b. 1947)	2009	United States Air National Guard two-star general	[29]
Edmondson, SuzanneSuzanne Edmondson		(b. 1945)	2009	Founder of Friends of Eddie Warrior (FEW) Foundation	[7]
Hennessee, EdnaEdna Hennessee		(1911 –2011)	2009	Entrepreneur	[30]
Henry, KimKim Henry			2009	First Lady of the State of Oklahoma	[7]
Looney, Mirabeau LamarMirabeau Lamar Looney		(1871 –1935)	2009	First woman member of the Oklahoma Senate	[31]
Savage, SusanSusan Savage		(b. 1952)	2009	First woman mayor of Tulsa	[7]
Whitener, CarolynCarolyn Whitener			2009	1970s sexual discrimination lawsuit	[7]
Boyd, LauraLaura Boyd		(b. 1949)	2011	Oklahoma state representative; first woman nominee for Governor of Oklahoma	[32]
Brown, ChloeChloe Brown			2011	Founded The Chloe House transition home for women	[32]
Culbreath, JoyJoy Culbreath			2011	Executive Director of all Choctaw Nation Education Service	[32]
Mitchell, MarciaMarcia 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	[32]
Moore, ArdinaArdina Moore		(b. 1930)	2011	Preservationist for the Quapaw language	[32]
Ross, CindyCindy Ross			2011	First female president of Cameron University	[32]
Taylor, KathyKathy Taylor		(b. 1935)	2011	Mayor of Tulsa	[32]
Thompson, Helen HarrodHelen Harrod Thompson			2011	Co-creator of the Family Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence in Ardmore	[32]
Blackburn, IdaIda Blackburn			2013	Television personality, public relations	[33]
Dodd, ElaineElaine Dodd			2013	Law enforcement	[33]
Kerr, LouLou Kerr			2013	Businesswoman	[33]
Watkins, TerriTerri Watkins			2013	Investigative journalist	[33]
Miller, NancyNancy Miller			2013	Television producer	[33]
Haneborg, LindaLinda Haneborg			2013	Political activist, businesswoman	[33]
Harris, LaDonnaLaDonna Harris		(b. 1931)	2015	Comanche activist	[34]
Mélon, MaryMary Mélon			2015	Newspaper publisher; The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools	[35]
Paden, MarionMarion Paden			2015	Oklahoma Community City College	[35]
Parks, ThelmaThelma Parks			2015	Civil rights	[35]
Paul, RamonaRamona Paul			2015	Education	[35]
Roloff, PattyPatty Roloff			2015	Owner Oklahoma City 89ers	[35]
Scaramucci, AvisAvis Scaramucci			2015	Entrepreneur	[35]

Notes

1. Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame website
2. OCSW website
3. Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Guidelines
4. Haskins (1999), pp. 5-6
5. Martin (1999), p. 2
6. "June Brooks obituary". The Oklahoman. September 1, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
7. "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma State University. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
8. Pittman, Kitty. "Leona Pearl Mitchell". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
9. Wilson, Linda D. "Alma Bell Wilson". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
10. Berson (1994), pp. 87-94
11. Nolan (1997), pp. 219-226
12. Burke, Bob. "Mae Boren Axton". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
13. "Women in Journalism Roundtable". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
14. Straughn, Kay. "Bertha Frank Teague". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
15. Wilson, Linda D. "Wilma Pearl Mankiller". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
16. Armstrong, Connie G. "Anita Hill". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
17. Foster, Toni Annette. "Moscelyne Larkin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
18. Moore, Bill. "Shannon Matilda Wells Lucid". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
19. Decker, Stefanie Lee. "Clara Shepard Luper". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
20. Everett, Dianna. "Ruthe Blalock Jones". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
21. Hall, Melvin C. "Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
22. Wilson, Linda D. "Jessie Thatcher Olive Bost". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
23. "50 Making a Difference Profile: Jari Askins, State of Oklahoma". The Journal Record. Dolan Media Company – via Questia (subscription required) . September 21, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
24. "Justice Yvonne Kauger". The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
25. Decker, Stephanie. "Vicki Miles-LaGrange". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
26. Moore, Bill. "Donna Shirley". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
27. Wilson, Linda D. "Mary Fallin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
28. Pappas, Christine. "Amelia Elizabeth "Bessie" Simison McColgin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
29. "Major General LaRita A. "Rita" Aragon". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
30. Wilson, Linda D. "Edna Miller Hessessee". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
31. Pappas, Christine. "Lamar Looney". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
32. "2011 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. State of Oklahoma. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
33. McNutt, Michael (April 12, 2013). "Six join Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". NewsOK. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
34. Fluharty, Sterling. "LaDonna Vita Tabbytite Harris". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
35. "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony April 9". The Daily Ardmorette. Gatehouse Media, Inc. March 31, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2015.

References

• Berson, Robin Kadison (1994). Marching to a Different Drummer: Unrecognized Heroes of American History. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 0-313-28802-X.
• Haskins, James (1999). Distinguished African American Political and Governmental Leaders. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 1-57356-126-6.
• Martin, Mart (1999). The Almanac of Women and Minorities in American Politics. Boulder, CO: Westview Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 0-8133-6870-7.
• Nolan, Cathal J. (1997). Notable U.S. Ambassadors since 1775: A Biographical Dictionary. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 0-313-29195-0.

External links

• Photo Archive of 2007 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony
• National Women's Hall of Fame, Women of the Hall
• Voices of Oklahoma interview with Lynn Schusterman. First person interview conducted on September 14, 2010 with Lynn Schusterman. Original audio and transcript archived with Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.