Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

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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]

Contents

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

And shall include:

Inductees

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
NameImageBirth–DeathYearArea of achievementRef(s)
Nancy Anthony 2024Executive director of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation [4]
Marilyn Mauer Hugon 2024Member of the board of directors of the Duncan Regional Hospital [4]
Edie Roodman 2024executive director of the Oklahoma Israel Exchange and former executive director of the Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City [4]
Jane Semple Umsted 2024 Choctaw artist [4]
Crystal Stovall 2024Co-founder of the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship [4]
Molly Wehrenberg 2024Nurse and Spanish translator [4]
Mo Anderson (b. 1937)2023 [5]
Patricia Fennell 2023 [5]
Ann Felton Gilliland 2023 [5]
Donna Grabow (b. 1945)2023 [5]
Kim Garrett-Funk 2023 [5]
Cathy Keating (b. 1950)2023Philanthropist, First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [5]
Freddye Harper Williams (1917–2001)2023† [5]
Sue Ann Arnall (b. 1956)2022 [6]
Carleen Burger (b. 1951)2022 [6]
Janice Dobbs 2022 [6]
Wanda Jackson Wanda Jackson.jpg (b. 1937)2022 [6]
Roseline Nsikak 2022 [6]
Kayse Shrum Kayse Shrum (cropped).jpg (b. 1972)2022 [6]
Betty McElderry (1939–2019)2022† [6]
Anna Belle Wiedemann Anna Belle Wiedemann.jpg (b. 1931)2022 [6]
Helen Holmes Helen Freudenberger Holmes 1942.jpg (1915–1997)2019†Journalist, historian, Women's Army Corps officer [7]
Noma Gurich Gurichswearingin (cropped).JPG (b. 1952)2019Jurist [7]
Ollie Starr (b. 1941)2019 [7]
Judy Love (b. 1937)2019Philanthropist [7]
Susan Chambers 2018OB/GYN founding partner of Lakeside Women's Hospital in Oklahoma City [8]
Jane Anne Jayroe Jane Jayroe 2008.png (b. 1946)2018Broadcaster, author, Miss Oklahoma, Miss America [8]
Joan Gilmore (1927–2022)2018Journalist [8]
Willa Johnson (1939–2022)2018City and county office holder [8]
Kay Rhoads 2018Principal Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation [8]
Linda Cavanaugh (b. 1950)2017Journalist [9]
Glenda Love 2017Executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Tulsa [9]
Pat Potts 2017First woman to serve as President of the Oklahoma City School Board [9]
Meg Salyer 2017Volunteerism [9]
Rhonda Walters 2017First Lady of the State of Oklahoma;
Helped create the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women		 [9]
Edith Kinney Gaylord (1916– 2001)2017†Journalist [9]
LaDonna Harris LaDonnaHarris.png (b. 1931)2015Comanche activist [10]
Mary Mélon-Tully 2015Newspaper publisher; The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools [11]
Marion Paden 2015Oklahoma Community City College [11]
Thelma Parks (1923–2019)2015Civil rights [11]
Ramona Paul (1936–2013)2015Education [11]
Patty Roloff 2015Owner Oklahoma City 89ers [11]
Avis Scaramucci 2015Entrepreneur [11]
Ida Blackburn (1929–2016)2013Television personality, public relations [12]
Elaine Dodd 2013Law enforcement [12]
Lou Kerr (1937–2024)2013Businesswoman [12]
Terri Watkins (b. 1954)2013Investigative journalist [12]
Nancy Miller 2013Television producer [12]
Linda Haneborg 2013Political activist, businesswoman [12]
Laura Boyd Laura Boyd.jpg (b. 1949)2011Oklahoma state representative; first woman nominee for Governor of Oklahoma [13]
Chloe Brown (b. 1951)2011Founded The Chloe House transition home for women [13]
Joy Culbreath (b. 1939)2011Executive Director of all Choctaw Nation Education Service [13]
Marcia Mitchell 2011Founded The Little Light House faith-based mission to assist children with a wide range of developmental disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy [13]
Ardina Moore (1930–2022)2011Preservationist for the Quapaw language [13]
Cindy Ross (b. 1950)2011First female president of Cameron University [13]
Kathy Taylor Kathytaylor (cropped).jpg (b. 1955)2011Mayor of Tulsa [13]
Helen Harrod Thompson (b. 1931)2011Co-creator of the Family Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence in Ardmore [13]
Rita Aragon Maj Gen Rita Aragon.jpg (b. 1947)2009United States Air National Guard two-star general [14]
Suzanne Edmondson (b. 1945)2009Founder of Friends of Eddie Warrior (FEW) Foundation [15]
Edna Hennessee (1919–2011)2009Entrepreneur [16]
Kim Henry 2009First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [15]
Mirabeau Lamar Looney (1871–1935)2009†First woman member of the Oklahoma Senate [17]
Susan Savage SecSavageStump.jpg (b. 1952)2009First woman mayor of Tulsa [15]
Carolyn Whitener (b. 1941)2009Filed 1970s sexual discrimination lawsuit Craig v. Boren [15]
Sherri Coale Sherri Coale.JPG (b. 1965)2007Head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners [15]
Ginny Creveling (b. 1946)2007Community activist [15]
Joe Anna Hibler (b. 1939)2007First woman president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University [15]
Maxine Horner Maxine Horner.jpg (1933–2021)2007One of the first African American women to serve in the Oklahoma State Senate [15]
Kay Martin 2007Second female superintendent to lead an Oklahoma technology center [15]
Terry Neese Terry-Neese-IEEW.png (b. 1947)2007Entrepreneur, public policy strategist, women's equality advocate [15]
Claudia Tarrington (1944–2003)2007†Political consultant [15]
Carolyn Thompson Taylor Carolyn Thompson.jpg (b. 1957)2007State representative, associate professor of political science at Rogers State University [15]
Della Warrior (b. 1946)2007First and only woman to date to serve as the chairperson and chief executive officer for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe [15]
Wanda L. Bass (1927–2008)2005Philanthropist [15]
Nancy Coats-Ashley (b. 1939)2005District Court Judge for Oklahoma County [15]
Mary Fallin Governor Mary Fallin May 2015.jpg (b. 1954)2005Governor of Oklahoma [18]
Bessie S. McColgin (1875–1972)2005†First woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives [19]
Jeanine Rhea JNRhea-1.jpg (b. 1938)2005Professor Emeritus in the Department of Management at Oklahoma State University [15]
Stephanie Kulp Seymour (b. 1940)2005First female Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit [15]
Esther Houser (b. 1950)2003State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services [15]
Vicki Miles-LaGrange LaGrange.jpg (b. 1953)2003First woman U.S. Attorney in Oklahoma [20]
Linda Morrissey (b. 1953)2003Tulsa County District Judge [15]
Lynn Schusterman (b. 1939)2003Philanthropist, chair emerita of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies [15]
Donna Shirley Donna Shirley.jpg (b. 1941)2003Aerospace engineer, head of the Mars Exploration Program in 1994 [21]
Jari Askins Jari Askins.jpg (b. 1953)2001Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma [22]
Shirley Bellmon (1927–2000)2001†First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [15]
Dorothy Moses DeWitty (1926–2012)2001First African-American woman president of the League of Women Voters [15]
Sandy Garrett (b. 1943)2001First woman elected Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction [15]
Lynn Jones (b. 1949)2001Police woman, developed the first Officers’ Street Survival course in Oklahoma [15]
Yvonne Kauger (b. 1937)2001Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court 1997-1998 [23]
Jill Zink Tarbel (1924–2009)2001Advocate for disabled persons, trustee for the University of Tulsa [15]
Dana Tiger (b. 1961)2001Native American artist [15]
Isabel Keith Baker (1929–2019)1997Oklahoma State University Board of Regents [15]
Jessie Thatcher Bost (1875–1963)1997First woman to graduate from a university in Oklahoma [24]
Norma Eagleton (b. 1934)1997Finance and Revenue Commissioner; Board of Regents for Rogers State College [15]
Kay Goebel (b. 1929)1997Community activist [15]
Ruth Hardman (1914–2005)1997Philanthropist [15]
Beverly Horse (1931–2010)1997Human rights activist [15] [25]
Mazola McKerson (1921–2014)1997First 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 [15]
Penny Williams Penny Williams.jpg (1937–2018)1997State legislator [15]
Betty Boyd Betty Boyd.jpg (1924–2011)1996Pioneer woman journalist [15]
Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher (1924–1995)1996†Civil rights activist [26]
Lela Foreman (1930–2015)1996Civil rights activist [15] [27]
Sandy Ingraham (b. 1947)1996Child Advocate of the Decade [15]
Lorena Males (1909–2006)1996Community activist [15]
Bernice Shedrick Bernice Shedrick.jpg (b. 1940)1996Attorney, judge, state legislator [15]
Valree Fletcher Wynn (1922–2021)1996Professor 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. [15]
Nancy Feldman (1922–2014)1995Civil rights activist [15]
Barbara J. Gardner-Anderson (b. 1949)1995First woman to chair the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce [15]
Ruthe Blalock Jones Ruthe blalock jones.jpg (b. 1939)1995Delaware-Shawnee Native American artist and Director Emeritus and associate professor of art at Bacone College [28]
Mona Salyer Lambird (1938–1999)1995First woman president of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the first woman elected to the Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association [15]
Gloria Grace Langdon (1927–2003)1995Tonkawa News publisher [15]
Bernice Mitchell (1939–2021)1995First African American woman to be elected as County Commissioner in Payne County, Oklahoma [15]
Donna Nigh (b. 1933)1995First Lady of the State of Oklahoma [15]
Marie C. Cox (1920–2005)1993Founded the North American Indian Women's Association [15]
Anita Hill Anita Hill at Harvard Law School Sep 2014.jpg (b. 1956)1993Attorney and academic [29]
Moscelyne Larkin (1925–2012)1993Native American ballerina [30]
Jacqulyn Longacre (b. 1932)1993Executive Director of Planned Parenthood [15]
Shannon Lucid ShannonLucid.jpeg (b. 1943)1993Biochemist, astronaut [31]
Clara Luper (1923–2011)1993Civic leader, civil rights activist [32]
Opaline Deveraux Wadkins (1912–2000)1993First African American nurse to earn a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma [15]
Pat Woodrum (b. 1941)1993Executive Director of the Tulsa City-County Library System [15]
Sara Ruth Cohen (1920–1986)1986Activist for the arts in the Jewish community [15]
Vinita Cravens (1909–1994)1986Stage productions promoter [15]
Rubye Hibler Hall (1912–2003)1986First African-American appointed to the State Regents for Higher Education [15]
Elizabeth Ann McCurdy Holmes (1927–1983)1986†Continuing Education and Public Service at the University of Oklahoma [15]
Grace Elizabeth Hudlin (1908–1995)1986Political activist and first woman to head an electric cooperative in Oklahoma [15]
Wilma Mankiller Wilma Mankiller 1998 (cropped).jpg (1945–2010)1986First woman elected chief of the Cherokees [33]
Edna Mae Phelps (1920–2001)1986First woman to serve on the Oklahoma State Election Board [15]
Evelyn La Rue Pittman Evelyn La Rue Pittman photographed by Carl Van Vechten.jpg (1910–1992)1986Author, composer, choral director, producer, and music educator [15]
Mae Boren Axton (1914–1997)1985The woman who wrote Heartbreak Hotel ; songwriter, promoter, mother of Hoyt Axton [34]
June Tompkins Benson (1915–1981)1985†First woman mayor in Oklahoma [15]
Pam Olson (b. 1949)1985News journalist, CNN White House correspondent [35]
Betty Durham Price (1931–2023)1985Visual arts preservationist [15]
Bertha Frank Teague (1898–1991)1985Basketball coach; She established the first girls' basketball clinic in the Southwest [36]
Angie Debo (1890–1988)1984Historian who focused on Native Americans [37]
Jeane Kirkpatrick Od jeane-kirkpatrick-official-portrait 1-255x301.jpg (1926–2006)1984Professor, diplomat, political activist [38]
Jewell Russell Mann (1903–1987)1984Feminist activist who was instrumental in amending the state constitution to allow women to hold elective office in Oklahoma [15]
Zella J. Patterson (1909–1986)1984Head of the Home Economics Department at Langston University [15]
Zelia N. Breaux (1880–1956)1983†Organized the first music department at Oklahoma's Langston University and the school's first orchestra [15]
Kate Frank (1890–1982)1983†First woman president of the Oklahoma Education Association [15]
Leona Mitchell (b. 1949)1983African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano [39]
Jean Pitts (b. 1945)1983Cardiovascular surgeon and medical researcher [15]
Juanita Stout (1919–1998)1983First African-American woman elected to any judgeship in the United States and the first to serve on the Supreme Court of any state [15]
Alma Wilson (1917–1999)1983First woman to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and its first woman as chief justice, [40]
Hannah Diggs Atkins (1923–2010)1982First African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1968–1980) [41]
Kate Barnard Katebarnard.jpg (1875–1930)1982†First woman elected to statewide office by a male-only electorate [42]
June Brooks (1924–2010)1982Oil lobbyist [43]
Gloria Stewart Farley (1916–2006)1982Author, historian [15]
Aloysius Larch-Miller Aloysius Larch-Miller.jpg (1886–1920)1982†Suffragist [15]
Susan Ryan Peters (1873–1965)1982†Founded the Kiowa Indian School of Art [15]
Christine Salmon (1916–1985)1982Architect [15]
Edyth Thomas Wallace (1880–1975)1982†Newspaper columnist and radio disc jockey [15]
†Posthumously

Notes

  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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2024 inductees of Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame named". KOKI-TV . August 8, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "OCSW Names 2023 Women's Hall of Fame Inductees". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. April 11, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Late OSU professor inducted into Women's Hall of Fame - Oklahoma State University". news.okstate.edu. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "2018 Inductees". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2017 Inductees". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  10. ↑ Fluharty, Sterling. "LaDonna Vita Tabbytite Harris". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony April 9". The Daily Ardmorette. Gatehouse Media, Inc. March 31, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McNutt, Michael (April 12, 2013). "Six join Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". NewsOK. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2011 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women. State of Oklahoma. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Major General LaRita A. "Rita" Aragon". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 "Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame". Oklahoma State University. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  16. ↑ Wilson, Linda D. "Edna Miller Hessessee". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  17. ↑ Pappas, Christine. "Lamar Looney". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ Wilson, Linda D. "Mary Fallin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  19. ↑ Pappas, Christine. "Amelia Elizabeth "Bessie" Simison McColgin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  20. ↑ Decker, Stephanie. "Vicki Miles-LaGrange". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  21. ↑ Moore, Bill. "Donna Shirley". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  22. ↑ "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.
  23. ↑ "Justice Yvonne Kauger". The Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  24. ↑ Wilson, Linda D. "Jessie Thatcher Olive Bost". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  25. ↑ "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
  26. ↑ Hall, Melvin C. "Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Remembering the life of Lela Foreman".
  28. ↑ Everett, Dianna. "Ruthe Blalock Jones". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  29. ↑ Armstrong, Connie G. "Anita Hill". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  30. ↑ Foster, Toni Annette. "Moscelyne Larkin". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  31. ↑ Moore, Bill. "Shannon Matilda Wells Lucid". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  32. ↑ Decker, Stefanie Lee. "Clara Shepard Luper". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  33. ↑ Wilson, Linda D. "Wilma Pearl Mankiller". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  34. ↑ Burke, Bob. "Mae Boren Axton". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Women in Journalism Roundtable". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  36. ↑ Straughn, Kay. "Bertha Frank Teague". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  37. ↑ Berson (1994), pp. 87-94
  38. ↑ Nolan (1997), pp. 219-226
  39. ↑ Pittman, Kitty. "Leona Pearl Mitchell". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  40. ↑ Wilson, Linda D. "Alma Bell Wilson". Oklahoma Historical Society. Oklahoma History Center. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  41. ↑ Haskins (1999), pp. 5-6
  42. ↑ Martin (1999), p. 2
  43. ↑ "June Brooks obituary". The Oklahoman. September 1, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2015.

References

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