The Texas Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1984 by the Governor's Commission on Women. The honorees are selected biennially from submissions from the public. The honorees must be either native Texans or a resident of Texas at the time of the nomination. [1]
The Texas Women's Hall of Fame Museum is located inside Blagg-Huey Library on the Denton, Texas campus of Texas Woman's University. It houses a permanent exhibit featuring the accomplishments of each of the honorees. [1]
Name | Image | Birth–Death | Year | Area of achievement [2] | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leta Andrews | (b. 1937) | 2023 | Athletics | [3] | |
Val LaMantia | 2023 | Business entrepreneur who helped found the Syars Scholarship Fund | [4] | ||
Mary Horn | 2023 | Public service | [5] | ||
Opal Lee | ![]() | (b. 1926) | 2023 | Activist who worked to make Juneteenth a federally-recognized holiday | [6] |
Lavinia Masters | 2023 | Advocacy/Community Service 1st Surviving African American with a law her Namesake of Texas HB 8 : The Lavinia Masters Act 2019 | [7] | ||
Antonietta Quigg | 2023 | Science/Technology | [8] | ||
Charlotte Sharp | 2023 | Philanthropy | [9] | ||
Elizabeth Suarez | 2023 | Public Service | [10] | ||
Lauren Anderson | (b. 1965) | 2021 | Ballet dancer and a first black principal dancer with the Houston Ballet | [11] | |
Charlye O. Farris | (1929-2010) | 2021 | First African American female lawyer in Texas | [12] | |
Dawn Ferrell | 2021 | Major General (ret.) - Texas Air National Guard | [13] | ||
Kendra Scott | ![]() | (b. 1974) | 2021 | Business entrepreneur | [14] |
Elaine Stolte | 2021 | Community Service | [15] | ||
Ofelia Vasquez-Philo | 2021 | Civic Leadership | [16] | ||
Simone Biles | ![]() | (b. 1997) | 2018 | Olympic gymnast | [17] |
Laura Bush | ![]() | (b. 1946) | 2018 | First Lady of the United States | [18] |
Vikki Carr | ![]() | (b. 1940) | 2018 | Entertainer | [18] |
Susan Dell | 2018 | Philanthropy | [18] | ||
Tammie Jo Shults | (b. 1961) | 2018 | Airline pilot | [18] | |
Elizabeth Anne Sueltenfuss | (1921-2009) | 2018 | Catholic nun with a Ph.D. in microbiology. Past president of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. | [18] | |
Judith Zaffirini | ![]() | (b. 1946) | 2018 | Texas State Senator | [18] |
Emma Carter Browning | (1910–2010) | 2016 | Aviator | [19] | |
Susie Hitchcock-Hall | 2016 | Entrepreneur | [19] | ||
Ginger Kerrick | 2016 | NASA Administrator | [19] | ||
Renu Khator | ![]() | 2016 | Chancellor of the University of Houston System | [19] | |
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez | (1971–1995) | 2016 | Musician | [19] | |
Nandita Berry | 2014 | Texas Secretary of State | [20] | ||
Joanne Herring | (b. 1929) | 2014 | Houston-area socialite, philanthropist, and businesswoman | [21] | |
Kim Olson | (b. 1957) | 2014 | President and CEO of Grace Under Fire | [22] | |
Anita Perry | (b. 1952) | 2014 | First Lady of Texas | [22] | |
Ann Stuart | 2014 | President and Chancellor of Texas Women's University | [23] | ||
Senfronia Thompson | (b. 1939) | 2014 | Texas State Representative | [24] | |
Deborah Tucker | 2014 | Founder of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence | [25] | ||
Carolyn Wright | (b. 1946) | 2014 | Chief Justice for the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas | [26] | |
Barbara Smith Conrad | (1937–2017) | 2012 | Mezzo-soprano | [27] | |
Anne Corn | 2012 | Professor Emerita at Vanderbilt University, educator in the field of visual impairment | [28] | ||
Nina Godiwalla | ![]() | (b. 1975) | 2012 | Author/journalist | [29] |
Harriet O'Neill | (b. 1957) | 2012 | Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas | [30] | |
Mary Saunders | 2012 | Major General, United States Air Force, highest ranking African American woman in the USAF | [31] | ||
Nancy W. Dickey | (b. 1950) | 2010 | Educator | [32] | |
Erma Johnson Hadley | (1942-2015) | 2010 | Educator | [33] | |
Teresa Lozano Long | (1928-2021) | 2010 | Cultural leader founded Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies | [34] | |
Judy Castle Scott | 2010 | American Foundation for the Blind | [35] | ||
Pamela Willeford | ![]() | (1950–) | 2010 | United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein | [36] |
Elsa Murano | (1959–) | 2008 | President, Texas A&M University | [37] | |
Sandra Day O'Connor | ![]() | (1930–2023) | 2008 | First female justice on the United States Supreme Court | [38] |
Carolyn Peterson | 2008 | Architect who helped preserve San Antonio Missions | [39] | ||
Louise Hopkins Underwood | (1919–2017) | 2008 | Patron of the arts | [40] | |
Huda Zoghbi | (1954–) | 2008 | Health research | [41] | |
Amanda Dunbar | (1982–) | 2006 | Artist | [42] | |
Kathleen Foster | 2006 | Children and parents care facilities | [43] | ||
Shirley Neeley | 2006 | Educator | [44] | ||
Ellen Vitetta | 2006 | Microbiologist, cancer research | [45] | ||
Susan Combs | (1945–) | 2004 | Former Texas Comptroller, former Texas Commissioner of Agriculture | [46] | |
Trinidad Mendenhall | 2004 | Businesswoman | [47] | ||
Mary Meyers Rosenfield | (1910–2006) | 2004 | Intellectual disability education | [48] | |
Sheryl Swoopes | ![]() | (1971–) | 2004 | Pro basketball player | [49] |
Karen Hughes | ![]() | (1956–) | 2002 | Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller, political advisor to George W. Bush | [50] |
Mae Jemison | ![]() | (1956–) | 2002 | Astronaut | [51] |
Angela Murdaugh | 2002 | Franciscan Sister of Mary | [52] | ||
Ann Williams | 2002 | Founded Dallas Black Dance Theatre | [53] | ||
Tillie Burgin | 2000 | Educator, missionary | [54] | ||
Carol Dinkins | (1945-) | 2000 | Environmentalist | [55] | |
Anna Maria Farias | 2000 | Housing, politician appointee under Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush | [56] | ||
Juliet V. García | 2000 | President of Texas Southmost College | [57] | ||
Glenna Goodacre | (1939–2020) | 2000 | Sculptor who designed the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. | [58] | |
Wendy Harpham | 2000 | Physician | [59] | ||
Jinger L. Heath | 2000 | Business woman | [60] | ||
Dealey Herndon | (1947-) | 2000 | Historic preservationist | [61] | |
Mamie L. McKnight | 2000 | Family, community development | [62] | ||
Jo Stewart Randel | 2000 | Philanthropist | [63] | ||
Judy Rankin | (1945–) | 2000 | Golf pro | [64] | |
Norma Lea Beasley | (1931–2012) | 1998 | Attorney; founded Trinity Abstract & Title Co. in Waxahachie and Safeco Land Title of Dallas; civic leader, philanthropist | [65] | |
Shirley Thompson Carter | (1935–2001) | 1998 | Founder Texas Girls' Choir | [66] | |
Elizabeth Lyons Ghrist | 1998 | Volunteerism | [67] | ||
Kay Granger | ![]() | (1943–) | 1998 | Member United States House of Representatives | [68] |
Dixie Melillo | 1998 | Physician, founder of The Rose foundation providing free breast cancer screenings, founder The Rose Scholarship Program | [69] | ||
Diana Natalicio | (1939–2021) | 1998 | President, University of Texas at El Paso | [70] | |
Marsha Sharp | ![]() | (1952–) | 1998 | Women's basketball coach, Texas Tech University | [71] |
Ebby Halliday Acers | (1911–2015) | 1996 | Realtor; Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Woman in Business Award and the Dallas Brotherhood/Sisterhood Merit Citation Award | [72] | |
Rita Crocker Clements | (1931–2018) | 1996 | First Lady of Texas, politician | [73] | |
Zina Garrison-Jackson | (1963–) | 1996 | Tennis pro | [74] | |
Sybil Harrington | (1908–1998) | 1996 | Patron of the arts | [75] | |
Kay Bailey Hutchison | ![]() | (1943–) | 1996 | United States Senator | [76] |
Helen Oujesky | (1930–2010) | 1996 | Professor of microbiology | [77] | |
Ruby Lee Piester | (1915–2003) | 1996 | Child welfare | [78] | |
Sonja Eva Singletary | (1952–2015) | 1996 | Breast surgeon | [79] | |
Dian Graves Stai | (1940–) | 1996 | Businesswoman | [80] | |
Rosa Ramírez Guerrero | (1934–) | 1994 | Founder, International Folklorico Dance Group | [81] | |
Vassar Miller | (1924–1998) | 1994 | Writer, poet | [82] | |
Irma Rangel | (1931–2003) | 1994 | State legislator | [83] | |
Mary Beth Rogers | (1940–) | 1994 | Politician, civic worker | [84] | |
Bess Whitehead Scott | (1890–1997) | 1994 | Communications, journalist, editor, poet, writer | [85] | |
Francie Larrieu Smith | (1952–) | 1994 | Olympic athlete, track and field | [86] | |
Hallie Stillwell | (1897–1997) | 1994 | Pioneer rancher, educator, author | [87] | |
Alvia Wardlaw | (1947–) | 1994 | Educator, curator of African American history | [88] | |
Martha Wong | (1939–) | 1994 | First Asian American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives | [89] | |
Eleanor Anne Young | (1925–2007) | 1994 | Scientist, nutritionist educator | [90] | |
Linda Louise Craft | (1938–1993) | 1993 | Master Professional rank LPGA golfer | [91] | |
Ernestine Glossbrenner | (1932–2012) | 1993 | Educator | [92] | |
Gabrielle Kirk McDonald | (1942–) | 1993 | African American jurist | [93] | |
Eleanor Montague | (1926-2018) | 1993 | Pioneered radiation for treatment of breast cancer | [94] | |
Aaronetta Pierce | (1943–) | 1993 | African American patron of the arts and museums | [95] | |
Gloria G. Rodriguez | 1993 | Children and families advocate | [96] | ||
Annette Strauss | (1924–1998) | 1993 | Philanthropist and Mayor of Dallas | [97] | |
Barbara Bush | (1925–2018) | 1989 | First Lady of the United States | [98] | |
Judith Craven | (1946–) | 1989 | Physician, medical field educator | [99] | |
Gussie Nell Davis | (1906–1993) | 1989 | Founded the Kilgore Rangerettes | [100] | |
Margaret Swan Forbes | (1919–2010) | 1989 | Synchronized swimming | [101] | |
L. Ruth Guy | (1913–2006) | 1989 | Professor emeritus in the Department of Pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School | [102] | |
Terry Hershey | (1923–2017) | 1989 | Environmentalist | [103] | |
Lucia Rede Madrid | (1913–2006) | 1989 | Educator | [104] | |
Jane Wetzel | 1989 | Advocate for youth rehabilitation | [105] | ||
Nancy Brinker | ![]() | (1946–) | 1988 | Co-founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure | [106] |
Margaret Pease Harper | (1911–1991) | 1988 | Patron of the arts | [107] | |
Ninfa Laurenzo | (1924–2001) | 1988 | Restaurant entrepreneur | [108] | |
Lane Murray | 1988 | Correctional educator | [109] | ||
Louise Ritter | (1958– ) | 1988 | Olympic gold medalist | [110] | |
Ruth Taubert Seeger | (1924–2014) | 1988 | Deaf athlete, medalist, coach | [111] | |
Bert Kruger Smith | 1988 | Civic involvement | [112] | ||
Eleanor Tinsley | (1926–2009) | 1988 | Community involvement, Eleanor Tinsley Elementary School named for her | [113] | |
Lucy G. Acosta | (1926–2008) | 1987 | Activist and humanitarian | [114] | |
Ruth Sharp Altshuler | (1924–2017) | 1987 | Philanthropist | [115] | |
Margaret Harris Amsler | (1908–2002) | 1987 | Attorney | [116] | |
Johnnie Benson | 1987 | Health care in nursing homes | [117] | ||
Tommie Clack | (1882–1989) | 1987 | Pioneer | [118] | |
Kim Dawson | 1987 | Business woman | [119] | ||
Lillian Dunlap | (1922–2003) | 1987 | Brigadier General, United States Army | [120] | |
Elithe Hamilton Kirkland | (1907–1992) | 1987 | Writer | [121] | |
Donna Lopiano | (1946–) | 1987 | Sports management consultant | [122] | |
Katie Sherrod | 1987 | Journalist | [123] | ||
Donnya Stephens | 1987 | Educator | [124] | ||
Dora Dougherty Strother | (1921–2013) | 1987 | Aviation | [125] | |
Mary Nan West | (1925–2001) | 1987 | Rancher | [126] | |
Anne Armstrong | (1927–2008) | 1986 | American woman ambassador to Great Britain and the Court of St. James's | [127] | |
Mary Kay Ash | ![]() | (1918–2001) | 1986 | Founder Mary Kay Cosmetics | [128] |
Caro Crawford Brown | (1908–2001) | 1986 | Journalist, investigated political corruption of George Berham Parr | [129] | |
Alicia R. Chacón | (1938-) | 1986 | Mexican-American member of El Paso city council, regional director of Small Business Administration under Jimmy Carter | [130] | |
Jody Conradt | ![]() | (1941–) | 1986 | Women's basketball coach at University of Texas at Austin | [131] [132] |
Margaret Cousins | (1905–1996) | 1986 | Managing editor of McCall's Magazine, senior editor of Doubleday and Co., 1986 Women in Communications Lifetime Achievement Award. Poet, essayist, short story writer, author of children's books | [133] | |
Wilhelmina Ruth Delco | (1929–) | 1986 | Texas state legislator | [134] | |
Frances Goff | (1916–1994) | 1986 | Volunteerism | [135] | |
Mary Lavinia Griffith | (1906–1993) | 1986 | Rancher | [136] | |
May Owen | (1892–1988) | 1986 | First woman president of Texas Medical Association | [137] | |
Sally Ride | ![]() | (1951–2012) | 1986 | Astronaut, first American woman in space | [138] |
Ada Simond | ![]() | (1903–1989) | 1986 | African American civic involvement | [139] |
Hermine Tobolowsky | (1921–1995) | 1986 | Proponent of the Equal Rights Amendment | [140] | |
Benjy Frances Brooks | (1918–1998) | 1985 | First Texas pediatric surgeon | [141] | |
Patricia Happ Buffler | (1938–2013) | 1985 | Epidemiology Research | [142] | |
Liz Carpenter | ![]() | (1920–2010) | 1985 | Political speechwriter, media consultant, great-great-granddaughter of Empresario Sterling C. Robertson | [143] |
Grace Woodruff Cartwright | (1908–2003) | 1985 | Agriculture, helped form the Brazos Valley Association | [144] | |
Helen Farabee | (1934–1988) | 1985 | Mental health and human services advocate | [145] | |
María Elena Flood | 1985 | Educator | [146] | ||
Willie Lee Glass | (1910–1999) | 1985 | Civic involvement and leadership | [147] | |
Lydia Mendoza | (1916–2007) | 1985 | Tejano musician | [148] | |
Jenny Lind Porter | 1985 | Poet Laureate of Texas | [149] | ||
Louise Raggio | (1919–2011) | 1985 | Attorney, first female director of the Texas State Bar | [150] | |
Ann Richards | (1933–2006) | 1985 | Governor of Texas | [151] | |
Edna Gardner Whyte | (1902–1992) | 1985 | Aviation pioneer | [152] | |
Christia Adair | (1893–1989) | 1984 | African American suffragist and civil rights activist | [153] | |
Kate Atkinson Bell | (1907–2003) | 1984 | Educator | [154] | |
Vivian Castleberry | (1922–2017) | 1984 | Journalist, editor, author, activist | [155] | |
Lila May Banks Cockrell | (1922–2019) | 1984 | Businesswoman, former Mayor of San Antonio | [156] | |
Clotilde Pérez García | (1917–2003) | 1984 | Author, medical professional | [157] | |
Jeane Porter Hester | (1929–2018) | 1984 | Scientist, physician | [158] | |
Oveta Culp Hobby | ![]() | (1905–1995) | 1984 | Newspaper publisher, first commanding officer of Women's Army Corps, first secretary of Department of Health, Education, and Welfare | [159] |
Mary Evelyn Blagg Huey | (1922–2017) | 1984 | President Texas Woman's University | [160] | |
Sarah Tilghman Hughes | ![]() | (1896–1985) | 1984 | Texas state legislator, United States district judge, administered November 22, 1963, oath of office to Lyndon B. Johnson aboard Air Force One | [161] |
Lady Bird Johnson | ![]() | (1912–2007) | 1984 | First Lady of the United States | [162] |
Barbara Jordan | ![]() | (1936–1996) | 1984 | Politician | [163] |
Amy Freeman Lee | (1909–1997) | 1984 | Artist, writer | [164] | |
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