Alice Mary Robertson and Marva Ellard Featured

As lay leader and 6th grade Sunday school teacher at my wonderful church, Sundays are full. I leave the house early to pick up snacks for "my kids" and often don't get home until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Some weeks I miss reading the Sunday paper all together. So, as I gathered up old papers today, I was delighted to see The Oklahoman profiled two extraordinary Oklahoma women on Nov 26: one from the past (Alice Mary Robertson) and the other a contemporary (Marva Ellard). Better yet, the stories were written by some of the paper's top writers. Well done.

Lynn Schusterman in Oklahoma Hall of Fame

At the 79th Annual Oklahoma Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony, Lynn Schusterman was inducted into the Hall of Fame. She was the only woman inducted this year although several women introduced inductees. Jill Ker Conway of Massachusetts, the fiirst female president of Smith College, introduced inductee J Philip Kistler; Oklahoma's Jane Jayroe introduced inductee Tom Mcfaniel and Georgian Deborah Lipstadt introduced Schusterman). Maybe best of all, Woody Guthrie's sister and daughter (see right for image on "big screen" at the awards event) spoke on his behalf. Click here to read the Hall of Fame's writeup on Lynn Schusterman.

First Woman: Justice Alma Wilson

The Oklahoman had a nice Oklahoma Heritage piece today honoring Alma Wilson. As it is an ad paid for by BancFirst, Chesapeake, and the Oklahoma Heritage Association, I don't think I can link to it. (If anyone can show me how, please do!) So I will quote:

Alma Wilson was born in Pauls Valley. When she was 8, Wilson decided she wanted to be a lawyer, just like her father, an very unusal aspiration for a little girl in the 1920s.

Women had only just attained the right to vote with the nineteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This was also an unusual time i history because World War I had just ended. Many people said it was the war to end all wars.

Wilson, however, graduated from college and went on to law school. At that time, only 2.4 percent of lawyers in the United States were women. She married a lawyer by the name of Bill Wilson.


In 1983, Gov. George Nigh appointed her as a justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In 1997, she became the Chief Justice. Wilson was the first women to serve as the Chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Guthrie's Own Gloria Parker to Perform

Mezzo-soprano and Broadway star Gloria Parker is performing in her hometown of Guthrie this Saturday, Nov 18. For more information and to purchase tickets ($25 and $35), call 360-2263. Read The Oklahoman article by clicking here.

First Oklahoma Women in Government

Anyone want to correct me? Add another woman to this list?

1907 - Head of Charities and Corrections – Kate Barnard (elected)
1921 - State Senate – Lamar Looney (elected)
1921 - State House of Representatives – Bessie McColgin (elected)
1921 - US House of Representatives – Alice Mary Robertson (elected)
1946 - Secretary of State – Katherine Manton (appointive position)
1963 - State Auditor and Inspector – Imogene Holmes (appointed)
1979 - Corporation Commissioner – Norma Eagleton (initially appointed, then elected)
1982 - Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice - Alma Wilson (appointed)
1985 - Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals - Carol Hansen (appointed)
1991 - Attorney General - Susan Loving (appointed)
1991 - State Insurance Commissioner – Cathy Weatherford (appointed)
1991 - State Treasurer – Claudette Henry (initially appointed?)
1991 - Superintendent of Public Instruction – Sandy Garrett (elected)
1993 - Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals - Reta Strubhar (appointed)
1995 - Commissioner of Labor – Brenda Reneau Wynn (elected)
1995 - Lieutenant Governor – Mary Fallin (elected)

Oklahoma Women Lawyers - retention and promotion rates

The National Association of Women Lawyers recently issued a first of its kind report on women lawyers retention and promotion rates. Women make up 45 % of the associates in law firms yet only 5% of managing partners are women. Hmmm. Read the Journal Record article here.

Malena Lotts founds Athena Institute to benefit women

Edmond author (The Stork Reality), product branding expert and marketing consultant, Malena Lott, recently established the Athena Institute - a professional development company that targets women business owners, working mothers, college women and empowering girls. In addition to her own blog, she offers Athena Knows Workshops, a Godess Chronicles blog and a newsletter. Read the Journal Record article about it by clicking here.

Sue Tate Recommends Mediation Over Trial

Sue Tate, head of Okahoma's Alternative Dispute Resolution system, suggests folks check out the new website if they want to avoid time in court and legal expenses!

Oklahoma's Women College Presidents

Participants at the Oklahoma Women in Higher Education fall conference yesterday at UCO got to hear from our past and present women college presidents. Hats off to (left to right) Janet Cunningham (Northwestern OSU in Alva), JoAnn Haysbert (Langston University), Joe Anna Hibler(former president of Southwestern OSU in Weatherford) and Cindy Ross (Cameron University in Lawton). Click here to read The Oklahoman article entitled "Women leaders urge help for others."

Lou Kerr Receives ACHE National Honor

The Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE) has selected Mrs. Lou C. Kerr as the recipient of its 2006 Special Recognition Award for her many years of distinguished public service and commitment. She received the honor at an awards banquet held yesterday at the 68th Annual Meeting of the ACHE in Los Angeles.

Kerr, president and chair of The Kerr Foundation, Inc., has spent over 20 years committing herself to public service and the advancement of education, women, youth and the arts. For the past 15 years, she has dedicated her time and effort to partnering with OSU’s Spears School of Business to establish and help coordinate the annual Women’s Business Leadership Program for business professionals and students. Most recently, Kerr initiated a campaign to raise funds for the Jeanine Rhea/Oklahoma International Women’s Forum Professorship in the Spears School.