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Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame facts for kids

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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."

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." Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no inductees in 2020 and 2021.

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.

Inductees

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame
Name Image Birth–Death Year Area of achievement Ref(s)
Anderson, MoMo Anderson 2023
Fennell, PatriciaPatricia Fennell 2023
Gilliland, Ann FeltonAnn Felton Gilliland 2023
Grabow, DonnaDonna Grabow 2023
Funk, Kim GarrettKim Garrett Funk 2023
Keating, CathyCathy Keating 2023
Williams, Freddye HarperFreddye Harper Williams (1917–2001) 2023
Arnall, Sue AnnSue Ann Arnall 2022
Burger, CarleenCarleen Burger 2022
Dobbs, JaniceJanice Dobbs 2022
Jackson, WandaWanda Jackson Wanda Jackson.jpg 2022
Nsikak, RoselineRoseline Nsikak 2022
Shrum, KayseKayse Shrum Kayse Shrum (cropped).jpg 2022
McElderry, BettyBetty McElderry 2022
Wiedemann, Anna BelleAnna Belle Wiedemann Anna Belle Wiedemann.jpg 2022
Holmes, HelenHelen Holmes Helen Freudenberger Holmes 1942.jpg (1915–1997) 2019 Journalist, historian, Women's Army Corps officer
Gurich, NomaNoma Gurich Gurichswearingin (cropped).JPG 2019 Jurist
Starr, OllieOllie Starr 2019
Love, JudyJudy Love 2019 Philanthropist
Chambers, SusanSusan Chambers 2018 OB/GYN founding partner of Lakeside Women's Hospital in Oklahoma City
Jayroe, Jane AnneJane Anne Jayroe Jane Jayroe 2008.png 2018 Broadcaster, author, Miss Oklahoma, Miss America
Gilmore, JoanJoan Gilmore (1927–2022) 2018 Journalist
Johnson, WillaWilla Johnson 2018 City and county office holder
Rhoads, KayKay Rhoads 2018 Principal Chief of the Sac and Fox Nation
Cavanaugh, LindaLinda Cavanaugh 2017 Journalist
Love, GlendaGlenda Love 2017 Executive director of the Ronald McDonald House in Tulsa
Potts, PatPat Potts 2017 First woman to serve as President of the Oklahoma City School Board
Salyer, MegMeg Salyer 2017 Volunteerism
Walters, RhondaRhonda Walters 2017 Helped create /he Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women
Gaylord, Edith KinneyEdith Kinney Gaylord 2017 Journalist
Harris, LaDonnaLaDonna Harris (b. 1931) 2015 Comanche activist
Mélon, MaryMary Mélon 2015 Newspaper publisher; The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools
Paden, MarionMarion Paden 2015 Oklahoma Community City College
Parks, ThelmaThelma Parks 2015 Civil rights
Paul, RamonaRamona Paul 2015 Education
Roloff, PattyPatty Roloff 2015 Owner Oklahoma City 89ers
Scaramucci, AvisAvis Scaramucci 2015 Entrepreneur
Blackburn, IdaIda Blackburn 2013 Television personality, public relations
Dodd, ElaineElaine Dodd 2013 Law enforcement
Kerr, LouLou Kerr 2013 Businesswoman
Watkins, TerriTerri Watkins 2013 Investigative journalist
Miller, NancyNancy Miller 2013 Television producer
Haneborg, LindaLinda Haneborg 2013 Political activist, businesswoman
Boyd, LauraLaura Boyd (b. 1949) 2011 Oklahoma state representative; first woman nominee for Governor of Oklahoma
Brown, ChloeChloe Brown 2011 Founded The Chloe House transition home for women
Culbreath, JoyJoy Culbreath 2011 Executive Director of all Choctaw Nation Education Service
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
Moore, ArdinaArdina Moore (b. 1930) 2011 Preservationist for the Quapaw language
Ross, CindyCindy Ross 2011 First female president of Cameron University
Taylor, KathyKathy Taylor (b. 1955) 2011 Mayor of Tulsa
Thompson, Helen HarrodHelen Harrod Thompson 2011 Co-creator of the Family Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence in Ardmore
Aragon, RitaRita Aragon Maj Gen Rita Aragon.jpg (b. 1947) 2009 United States Air National Guard two-star general
Edmondson, SuzanneSuzanne Edmondson (b. 1945) 2009 Founder of Friends of Eddie Warrior (FEW) Foundation
Hennessee, EdnaEdna Hennessee (1911–2011) 2009 Entrepreneur
Henry, KimKim Henry 2009 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma
Looney, Mirabeau LamarMirabeau Lamar Looney (1871–1935) 2009 First woman member of the Oklahoma Senate
Savage, SusanSusan Savage (b. 1952) 2009 First woman mayor of Tulsa
Whitener, CarolynCarolyn Whitener 2009 1970s sexual discrimination lawsuit
Coale, SherriSherri Coale Sherri Coale.JPG (b. 1965) 2007 Head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners
Creveling, GinnyGinny Creveling 2007 Community activist
Hibler, Joe AnnaJoe Anna Hibler (b. 1939) 2007 First woman president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Horner, MaxineMaxine Horner Maxine Horner.jpg (b. 1933) 2007 One of the first African American women to serve in the Oklahoma State Senate
Martin, KayKay Martin 2007 Second female superintendent to lead an Oklahoma technology center
Neese, TerryTerry Neese 2007 Entrepreneur, public policy strategist, women's equality advocate
Tarrington, ClaudiaClaudia Tarrington (d. 2003) 2007 Political consultant
Taylor, Carolyn ThompsonCarolyn Thompson Taylor Carolyn Thompson.jpg 2007 State representative, associate professor of political science at Rogers State University
Warrior, DellaDella Warrior 2007 First and only woman to date to serve as the chairperson and chief executive officer for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe
Bass, Wanda L.Wanda L. Bass (1927–2008) 2005 Philanthropist
Coats-Ashley, NancyNancy Coats-Ashley (b. 1972) 2005 District Court Judge for Oklahoma County
Fallin, MaryMary Fallin Governor Mary Fallin May 2015.jpg (b. 1954) 2005 Governor of Oklahoma
McColgin, Bessie S.Bessie S. McColgin (1875–1972) 2005 First woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Rhea, JeanineJeanine Rhea 2005 Professor Emeritus in the Department of Management at Oklahoma State University
Seymour, Stephanie KulpStephanie Kulp Seymour (b. 1940) 2005 First female Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit
Houser, EstherEsther Houser 2003 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services
Miles-LaGrange, VickiVicki Miles-LaGrange LaGrange.jpg (b. 1953) 2003 First woman U.S. Attorney in Oklahoma
Morrissey, LindaLinda Morrissey (b. 1953) 2003 Tulsa County District Judge
Schusterman, LynnLynn Schusterman (b. 1939) 2003 Philanthropist, president of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation
Shirley, DonnaDonna Shirley (b. 1941) 2003 Aerospace engineer, head of the Mars Exploration Program in 1994
Askins, JariJari Askins Jari Askins.jpg (b. 1953) 2001 Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
Bellmon, ShirleyShirley Bellmon (1927–2000) 2001 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma
DeWitty, Dorothy MosesDorothy Moses DeWitty (b. 1926) 2001 First African-American woman president of the League of Women Voters
Garrett, SandySandy Garrett (b. 1943) 2001 First woman elected Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jones, LynnLynn Jones 2001 Police woman, developed the first Officers’ Street Survival course in Oklahoma
Kauger, YvonneYvonne Kauger (b. 1947) 2001 Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court 1997-1998
Tarbel, Jill ZinkJill Zink Tarbel (d. 2009) 2001 Advocate for disabled persons, trustee for the University of Tulsa
Tiger, DanaDana Tiger (b. 1961) 2001 Native American artist
Baker, Isabel KeithIsabel Keith Baker (b. 1929) 1997 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents
Bost, Jessie ThatcherJessie Thatcher Bost (1875–1963) 1997 First woman to graduate from a university in Oklahoma
Eagleton, NormaNorma Eagleton (b. 1934) 1997 Finance and Revenue Commissioner; Board of Regents for Rogers State College
Goebel, KayKay Goebel (b. 1929) 1997 Community activist
Hardman, RuthRuth Hardman (1914–2005) 1997 Philanthropist,
Horse, BeverlyBeverly Horse (1931–2010) 1997 Human rights activist
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
Williams, PennyPenny Williams Penny Williams.jpg (b. 1937) 1997 State legislator
Boyd, BettyBetty Boyd Betty Boyd.jpg (1924–2011) 1996 Pioneer woman journalist
Fisher, Ada Lois SipuelAda Lois Sipuel Fisher (1924–1995) 1996 Civil rights activist
Foreman, LelaLela Foreman 1996 Civil rights activist
Ingraham, SandySandy Ingraham (b. 1947) 1996 Child Advocate of the Decade
Males, LorenaLorena Males (1909–2006) 1996 Community activist
Shedrick, BerniceBernice Shedrick Bernice Shedrick.jpg (b. 1940) 1996 Attorney, judge, state legislator
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.
Feldman, NancyNancy Feldman (1922–2014) 1995 Civil rights activist
Gardner-Anderson, Barbara J.Barbara J. Gardner-Anderson 1995 First woman to chair the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce
Jones, Ruthe BlalockRuthe Blalock Jones Ruthe blalock jones.jpg (b. 1939) 1995 Delaware-Shawnee Native American artist and Director Emeritus and associate professor of art at Bacone College
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
Langdon, Gloria GraceGloria Grace Langdon (1927–2003) 1995 Tonkawa News publisher
Mitchell, BerniceBernice Mitchell (b. 1939) 1995 First African American woman to be elected as County Commissioner in Payne County, Oklahoma
Nigh, DonnaDonna Nigh (b. 1933) 1995 First Lady of the State of Oklahoma
Cox, MarieMarie Cox (d. 1994) 1993 Founded the North American Indian Women's Association
Hill, AnitaAnita Hill Anita Hill at Harvard Law School Sep 2014.jpg (b. 1956) 1993 Attorney and academic
Larkin, MoscelyneMoscelyne Larkin (1925–2012) 1993 Native American ballerina
Longacre, JacqulynJacqulyn Longacre (b. 1932) 1993 Executive Director of ... Parenthood
Lucid, ShannonShannon Lucid ShannonLucid.jpeg (b. 1943) 1993 Biochemist, astronaut
Luper, ClaraClara Luper (1923–2011) 1993 Civic leader, civil rights activist
Wadkins, Opaline DeverauxOpaline Deveraux Wadkins (1912–2000) 1993 First African American nurse to earn a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma
Woodrum, PatPat Woodrum 1993 Executive Director of the Tulsa City-County Library System
Cohen, Sara RuthSara Ruth Cohen (1920–1986) 1986 Activist for the arts in the Jewish community
Cravens, VinitaVinita Cravens (1909–1994) 1986 Stage productions promoter
Hall, Rubye HiblerRubye Hibler Hall (1912–2003) 1986 First African-American appointed to the State Regents for Higher Education
Holmes, Elizabeth Ann McCurdyElizabeth Ann McCurdy Holmes 1986 Continuing Education and Public Service at the University of Oklahoma
Hudlin, Grace ElizabethGrace Elizabeth Hudlin (1908–1995) 1986 Political activist and first woman to head an electric cooperative in Oklahoma
Mankiller, WilmaWilma Mankiller Wilma Mankiller 1998 (cropped).jpg (1945–2010) 1986 First woman elected chief of the Cherokees
Phelps, Edna MaeEdna Mae Phelps (1920 –2001) 1986 First woman to serve on the Oklahoma State Election Board
Pittman, Evelyn La RueEvelyn La Rue Pittman Evelyn La Rue Pittman photographed by Carl Van Vechten.jpg (1910–1992) 1986 Author, composer, choral director, producer, and music educator
Axton, Mae BorenMae Boren Axton (1914–1997) 1985 The woman who wrote Heartbreak Hotel; songwriter, promoter, mother of Hoyt Axton
Benson, June TompkinsJune Tompkins Benson (1915–1981) 1985 First woman mayor in Oklahoma
Olson, PamPam Olson 1985 News journalist, CNN White House correspondent
Price, Betty DurhamBetty Durham Price 1985 Visual arts preservationist
Teague, Bertha FrankBertha Frank Teague (1898–1991) 1985 Basketball coach; She established the first girls' basketball clinic in the Southwest
Debo, AngieAngie Debo (1890–1988) 1984 Historian who focused on Native Americans
Kirkpatrick, JeaneJeane Kirkpatrick Od jeane-kirkpatrick-official-portrait 1-255x301.jpg (1926–2006) 1984 Professor, diplomat, political activist
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
Patterson, Zella J.Zella J. Patterson (1909–1986) 1984 Head of the Home Economics Department at Langston University
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
Frank, KateKate Frank (1890–1982) 1983 First woman president of the Oklahoma Education Association
Mitchell, LeonaLeona Mitchell (b. 1949) 1983 African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano
Pitts, JeanJean Pitts (b. 1945) 1983 Cardiovascular surgeon and medical researcher
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
Wilson, AlmaAlma Wilson (1917–1999) 1983 First woman to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and its first woman as chief justice,
Atkins, Hannah DiggsHannah Diggs Atkins (1923–2010) 1982 First African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1968 – 1980)
Barnard, KateKate Barnard Katebarnard.jpg (1875–1930) 1982 First woman elected to statewide office by a male-only electorate
Brooks, JuneJune Brooks (1924–2010) 1982 Oil lobbyist
Farley, Gloria StewartGloria Stewart Farley (1916–2006) 1982 Author, historian
Larch-Miller, AloysiusAloysius Larch-Miller Aloysius Larch-Miller.jpg (1886–1920) 1982 Suffragist
Peters, Susan RyanSusan Ryan Peters (1873–1965) 1982 Founded the Kiowa Indian School of Art
Salmon, ChristineChristine Salmon (1916–1985) 1982 Architect
Wallace, Edyth ThomasEdyth Thomas Wallace (1880–1975) 1982 Newspaper columnist and radio disc jockey
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