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.

Sharon King Davis Chairs Tulsa Kick-Off of OK Centennial Celebration

Sharon King Davis recently had a nice column in The Oklahoman about Tulsa's Centennial kick off party.

The Wonderful Jean Gumerson Has Died

Farewell to Oklahoma City's most extraordinary civic leader -- Jean Gumerson. She died October 18, 2006 and will be greatly missed by the whole state.

I have been in many meetings where someone said, "What we need to do is just clone Jean Gumerson and our problem will be solved" or "Where can we find some more civic leaders like Jean Gumerson?" From a personal perspective, she was always a wonderfully supportive friend to both Larkin and me. She was one of the first donors of a full scholarship to N.E.W. Leadership; back then, I was just learning how to fundraise and she was amazingly gracious and kind.

Click here to read the Oklahoman story about Jean and also to read her obituary. Her memorial service will be at 11 am on Saturday at Westminister Presbyterian Church in OKC. Rest in peace, Jean.

Lou Kerr to be Honored by OSU

President and chairman of The Kerr Foundation, Lou Kerr, will be honored by the Association for Continuing Higher Education on October 30 for her work with the Women's Business Leadership Program and the Jeanine Rhea/Oklahoma International Women's Forum Chair at Oklahoma State University. Lou has long been an advocate for women. I am personally indebted to The Kerr Foundation for it's early financial assistant to launch Oklahoma's National Education for Women's Leadership program.

Come to Kenya

I am assembling a mission team to travel to Kenya February 1 through 17, 2007. You can read about the project at http://Kenya2007.blogspot.com and you can read about last year's mission trip to Kenya at http://Come2Kenya.blogspot.com/.

If anyone is interested in coming, contact me!

Joy Beaver, Audrey Oaks in Higher Ed Hall of Fame

The following were inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame last night: Marshall Allen (OSU), Don and Joy Beaver (Southere Nazarene University), Charles Butler (OU), David Levy (OU), Audrey Eleanor Oaks (OSU), James Plaxico (OSU), James Ronda (TU) and the late Robert Todd (Oklahoma City Community College). I'll be adding Joy and Audrey soon to the Noteable Women page of my website.

Women's Almanac Garners National Award

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women has received an award for their Oklahoma Women's Almanac. Read the full press release here.

Linda Steele Brown: Interim Superintendent, OKC Schools

This is old news but worth noting. When Bob Moore left last spring, the Oklahoma City Public School District's School Board named Linda Steele Brown as Interim Superintendent. She has worked in the school district since 1974 and done practically everything. We wish her good luck and success until the district's national superintendent search is completed.

UCO Offers Women's (Higher Ed) Leadership Conference

Here is The Journal Record's article which you can also read at http://www.journalrecord.com/viewstory.cfm?recid=71534:

Women’s leadership conference offered at UCO
9/21/2006

EDMOND (JR) – Preparing women to assume leadership positions in higher education administration is the goal of a one-day workshop sponsored by the Oklahoma Women in Higher Education at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The conference – “Maximizing the Leadership in You” – is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 3 at UCO. The cost is $60.

Speakers will include Belle Wheelan, president of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Anne Morgan, a consultant, historian and writer. Topics for sessions include communication skills, mentoring, networking strategies and leadership development.

The Oklahoma Women in Higher Education is part of the American Council on Education’s Network. More information on the conference is available by calling Debbie Blanke at (405) 225-9151. The deadline for registration is Oct. 19.

Oklahoma's Women Attorneys Meet in Tulsa 9-28-06

The Oklahoma Bar Association's Women in Law Conference will be held at the renaissance hotel in Tulsa this Thursday. Women lawyers will take continuing education sessions and hear talks by VIPs including Gail Evans, author of She Wins, You Win: The Most Important Rule Every Businesswoman Needs to Know and Play Like A Man, Win Like a Woman: What Men Know About Success That Women Need to Learn.

Color Purple Music Director Linda Twine

Oklahoman Linda Twine is music director for play "The Color Purple" that has been entertaining sell-out crowds on Broadway since December 2005. Read the Oklahoman article here.

OCU Nursing Honors Seven at Oct 5 Celebration

Oklahoma City University's Kramer School of Nursing honors seven (click for story):
Gwen Dailey, Associate Chief for Nursing Specialty Services, Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, OKC.
Lisa Griffitts, nurse educator, Valley View Regional Hospital, Ada
Tammy Powell, Chief Nursing Officer and VP, St Anthony Hospital, OKC
Paula Price, Director of Health Promotion and Community, Norman Regional Health System
Stacy Robberson, Clinical Nurse Manager, Integris Baptist Medical Center, OKC
David Wilson, Staff Nurse, CHildren's Hospital Urgent Care Center, St Francis Hospital, Tulsa
Stanley Hupfeld, President and CEO, Integris Health, OKC

Christy Gaylord Everest

I actually heard a group of liberal Democrats recently admit that The Oklahoman is a better newspaper since Christy Gaylord Everest was elected president of The Oklahoma Publishing Company in 2002. Imagine that. Go Christy!

Abby Cash is Oklahoma's Argitourism Guru

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture recently appointed Abby Cash as director of Agritourism. She is developing an inventory of agriculture-related products and tourism services.

Mex Frates Dies

I have been out of state so I just discovered that civic leader Mex Frates died in early September at the age of 98. Her family settled in the Heritage Hills section of Oklahoma City in 1911 when she was 3 years old. She was the very first president of Junior League of Oklahoma City (1933), helped found our United Way, served on the boards of many, many civic organizations and was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1969! You can read entries in her Legacy Book here and nice write-ups about her by the Oklahoman.

France Honors Barbara Thompson

Barbara Thompson of Oklahoma City recently was presented France's Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Thompson is the honorary consul of France for Oklahoma and has spent a lifetime teaching students Frence and promoting friendship between France and The United States. Read John Greiner's Oklahoman article by clicking here. TRead more about the French Legion of Honor by clicking here. Thompson is the wife of Judge Ralph G. Thompson.

Linda Hasler-Reid: Oklahoma's 2007 Teacher of the Year

Muskogee teacher Linda Hasler-Reid was named teacher of the year at the State Fair yesterday. Read The Oklahoman article here.

Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Supplement in The Oklahoman

In today's (Sept 17, 2006) The Oklahoman there is a nice 4 page supplement on the life of Oklahoma desegregation pioneer Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher. Sadly, I can't find a link to the story on their website - which is a real shame - so you'll have to pick up a copy of the paper yourself. Sorry!

Susan Winchester Is 2006 Woman of the Year

Congratulations to State Representative Susan Winchester for being selected the Journal Record's 2006 Woman of the Year. Read story here.

(Oklahoma) Women In Charge

The Oklahoman ran a lovely article by Paula Burke Erickson Sept 14, 2006 on a number of Oklahoma women who have made it to the top. Featured were Brooke Murphy (Crowe & Dunlevy law firm), Denise Suttles (Oklahoma City Clinic), Brenda Sanchez (Remington Park Casino), Yvonne Hovell (East Tulsa Dodge dealership), Isabel Chancellor (IngenuitE software consulting firm in Oklahoma City), Cheryl Cohenour (CRC & Associates environmental and hazardous waste consulting firm in Tulsa) , and Dana Weber (Webco Industries). Also featured was Amy Polonchek, Interim Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Click here to read the article.

Linda Edmondson on Advanced Directive

Kudos to Linda Edmondson for informing the public via an article in today's Oklahoman that Oklahoma has a new advanced directive ("living will"). So, if you have none, go get the form and do one; if you have one already, you will want to make an updated version! To download a copy of the new form go to http://okpalliative.nursing.ouhsc.edu/oklaw and click on "Oklahoma Advanced Directive Form" or call 271-1491, ext 49194. Read Linda's article here. And read about Linda here.

Artists/Designers: Show Your Stuff at OKC's The Girlie Show October 20-21

This is a juried art show for Oklahoma women artists and designers.

The show was featured in Oklahoma Today this month.

You can check out their website here.