Oklahoma Author Carolyn Hart

I got to hear author and Oklahoma City native Carolyn Hart speak last winter at Full Circle Bookstore at 50 Penn Place. Hart writes the Death on Demand series set in a mystery bookstore on an idyllic South Carolina sea island and the wider-ranging, harder-edged Henrie O series featuring retired newspaperwoman Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins. If you can read only one of her 38 books, her favorite is Letter from Home - a stand alone novel published by Berkley in 2003. It was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and won the Agatha for Best Mystery Novel of 2003. Click here to read more about Hart.

Denise Bode Resigning From Corporation Commission

Denise Bode was only the second woman ever to serve on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. [Can you name the first? Click here for the answer.] Bode recently announced she is leaving the post to work in Washington, DC. Read more here... and here.

May 13 Terri White Becomes Head of Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Terri White is about to become the new Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. She holds a Bachelor's and master's degree in social work from the University of Oklahoma. Born in Michigan but raised in Edmond, White may be Oklahoma's youngest mental health commissioner at age 33. She has worked at the agency for the past 5 years.

Cheryl Williams Replaces Dana Murphy as OKGOP Vice Chair

Leadership has changed for the Oklahoma Republican Party. Jimmie Martin at viewsok.com reports that Gary Jones won the GOP Chair by a 12 vote margin in a runoff with current GOP Party Chair Tom Daxon and that Cheryl Williams won the Vice Chair position -- defeating current Oklahoma GOP Vice Chair Dana Murphy. Congratulations Dana on 4 years of dedicated service and welcome and good luck, Cheryl!

Natalie Shirley Heads Commerce Department

Blackwell native Natalie Shirley recently was appointed Secretary of Commerce and Tourism. She holds degrees from OSU in psychology and political science and a law degree from OU. For the past 15 years, she has been president of ICI Mutual Insurance Group in Washington, DC. She is married to Russ Harrison and they have three children. She replaces Kathy Taylor who left following her election as mayor of Tulsa.

Gracie Montgomery & Helen Ford Wallace Inducted Into Journalism Hall of Fame

On April 13th Gracie Montgomery and Helen Ford Wallace were inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. They are profiled on the Notable Oklahoma Women Today website page.

Oklahoma's Women College Presidents Include Marlene Strathe at OSU

Oklahoma has another woman college president (albeit an "interim" one).

Marlene Strathe was appointed Interim President in February while Oklahoma State University (OSU) searches for its next president. This makes her the 6th woman to serve as president of a public institution in Oklahoma. Her appointment brings the number of current women college presidents in Oklahoma to four or 16%. Other women currently serving as college presidents are Cindy Ross (Cameron University), JoAnn Haysbert (Langston University), and Janet Cunningham (Northwestern OSU).

The American Council on Education reports 23% of university presidents were female in 2006 and half of the Ivy League schools have a woman at the helm. "Growth in the percentage of presidents who are women or members of ethnic or racial minority groups has been slow, especially over the past 10 years." (Click here to read ACE's findings.)

Oklahoma had the first woman president of a public university in the United States when Kate Galt Zaneis was appointed president of what is now Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant back in the 1930's. Oklahoma's second woman college president was Joe Anna Hibler who served as head of Southwestern OSU at Weatherford from 1990 to 2001.

Source. The Oklahoman, April 9, 2007

Sally Frasier and Lou Kerr Honored by OLA

Sally Frasier and Lou Kerr were honored Monday April 2 by the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) at their annual awards banquet and dinner. Frasier was recognized as one of Oklahoma's 100 Library Legends for the period 1907-2007. This special Centennial year recognition honors those who have done the most to forward Oklahoma's libraries during its first 100 years. Sally was honored for her more than 20 years of involvement as a citizen activist for libraries at the local, state, and national levels. Lou Kerr was recognized for her service on the Oklahoma Library Association's Centennial Endowment Advisory Board and was presented with the OLA Special Projects Award for her service to OLA. Both Sally and Lou have been previous recipients of OLA Awards for their incredible contributions to Oklahoma Libraries. (Thanks to Jennifer Paustenbaugh for bringing this to my attention.)

Oklahoma Author Rilla Askew at Full Circle

Critically acclaimed Oklahoma author Rilla Askew will read and sign her latest novel Harpsong on Thursday, April 5th at 6:30 p.m. at the Full Circle Bookstore in 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City.

All of Askew's books--Strange Business (1992), The Mercy Seat (1997), Fire in Beulah (2001), and her newest, Harpsong--are set in Oklahoma. Fire in Beulah has been selected as the Centennial book for Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma.

Go hear Askew's talk. Enjoy a gourmet snack while you are there. And say "hello" to owner Jim Tolbert and his lovely white buffalo "Pearl."

Catheryn Koss Founds Senior Law Resource Center, Inc.

Catheryn Koss has founded a nonprofit organization committed to working with elders and their caregivers in central Oklahoma. Their attorneys and staff advocate for clients and help them make informed decisions in a wide range of legal areas. The Center's goal is to empower Oklahomans to age with independence, dignity, and security by providing high-quality, affordable legal information, resources, and services. Check out their website here. They have a sliding pay-scale based on ability to pay. As for me, I'm a senior and I intend to ask Catheryn to help us update our very out-of-date wills!

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Tomorrow is the day to induct 9 women into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. Read about it here.

Shirley Cox of Catholic Charities to be Honored

Catholic Charities is celebrating the achievements and accomplishments of Shirley Cox (Associate Director, Advocacy, Outreach, and Legal Services) with a reception on March 26 from 4 to 5:30 pm. She is leaving Catholic Charities to become Legal Services Developer at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. To attend, just RSVP (405.523.3000). A book of remembrances is being created for Shirley. If you wish to send a card or letter, mail it to Nancy Largent, 1501 North Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City, 73106 no later than March 23, 2007.

Brooke Murphy, President - Crowe & Dunlevy

The Journal Record ran a nice piece March 5th on Brooke Murphy, President of Crowe & Dunlevy - Oklahoma's biggest law firm.

I'd link to the article but The Journal Record restricts access to their Internet archives unless you are a paid subscriber who has registered for the service. Today I'm not even able to gain access -- and I'm (supposedly) "registered." Very frustrating... Sorry!

2007 Women's Legislative Day

I am late reporting that this conference on March 7 was outstanding! Kudos to the women's groups (see below) who put it together. Speakers included former State Senator Angela Monson on women's health issues, AAUW Regional Director Shirley Breeze on current women's equity issues, YWCA of Oklahoma City CEO Jan Perry (left) on current legislation for women and children, and much more. The non-partisan coalition that organizes this day each year in made up of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Alliance of Girl Scout Councils, the Oklahoma Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the YWCA of Oklahoma City and the YWCA of Tulsa. They'll host a day at the Capitol again in March of 2008; promise yourself that you'll attend. It is worth it!

Mary Jo Nelson (2)

Ann DeFrange and Steve Lackmeyer both had articles yesterday remembering journalist Mary Jo Nelson. They reminded me again why I admired her so much. In Ann's article (click here to read) she noted that "Mary Jo didn't behave in a very ladylike manner at all, and that's what made her a legendary reporter." (What is the famous quote? "Well behaved women rarely make history.") Steve (click here to read his article) reminds us Mary Jo fought to preserve the city's architectural past - something we should carry forward as a tribute to her.

Diana Smalley Named CEO of Mercy

Nebraska native Diana Smally has been named chief ecxecutive officer of the Mercy Health System of Oklahoma. Click to read article.

Norman Honors Kay Holladay, PFLAG Co-Founder

The Oklahoman has a nice article today about Kay Holladay who, with Jayne Hazelton, co-founded the Norman chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - PFLAG. Kay has been a repeat presenter at Oklahoma's NEW Leadership training because she personifies fearless advocacy. She is pictured here with Sheryl Siddiqui (Tulsa Islamic Society, left), Penny Painter (Resonance, Tulsa) and the wonderful artist/activist Dana Tiger (Penny and Dana are on the right). The City of Norman honored Kay this year with their Human Rights Award. (Does Oklahoma City give out a human rights award?) Click here to read the article.

Rep Lisa Billy to Co-Chair Native American Caucus

Members of the Native American Caucus of the Oklahoma Legislature will be led by a bipartisan duo this year, officials announced today. State Rep. Lisa J. Billy (R-Purcell) and state Rep. Jerry McPeak (D-Warner) have been elected caucus co-chairs for the 51st Legislature.

The Native American Caucus of the Oklahoma Legislature, the first in state history, formed in 2006. The group selected officers this week, based on an organizational framework provided by the National Native American Caucus. In addition to naming Billy and McPeak co-chairs, the group also named the following officers:

* Secretary: state Rep. Anastasia Pittman (D-Oklahoma City)
* Spiritual Counselor: state Rep. Scott BigHorse (D-Pawhuska)
* Advisory Team: BigHorse, state Rep. Shane Jett (R-Tecumseh), state Rep. Ken Luttrell (D-Ponca City), and state Rep. Paul Wesselhöft (R-Moore).

The nonpartisan, 17-member Native American Caucus formed last year to educate the House membership about Native American issues and develop closer relationships with leaders of the state's 39 tribes. The group also holds information luncheons sponsored by various tribes to allow tribal leaders to meet and mingle with state lawmakers.

Source: House of Reps Public Information Office

The Oklahoman Produces Women's History Month Materials

Check your copy of The Oklahoma starting Monday, March 26th. Each day that week, the newspaper will feature a different suggested history lesson on Oklahoma women. The primary target for this initiative is the students attending the approximately 950 schools in Oklahoma who are participating in this Women's History Month project. March 26 through 30, those students will receive their own copy of The Oklahoman plus a 16-page booklet featuring information on a wide range of famous Oklahoma women. Putting this booklet involved deciding which women to feature. Who would YOU have picked? (When the booklet is released, I'll tell you who we included!)

Oklahoma Reporter Mary Jo Nelson Dies

Newspaper reporter Mary Jo Nelson died last Thursday at 80. During her 47-year career, she wrote for both The Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Times and was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1992. Nelson was the first female with The Oklahoman and Times to cover federal courts, the first woman to work at the Capitol Bureau at the State Capitol, and on and on and on. I only met her once when she interviewed me for an article but I liked her very much and greatly admired both her writing and her all-around moxie. Read The Oklahoman article about her here. Rest in peace, MJ.

By the way, this is exactly why I created my Notable Oklahoma Women page. This woman had her work published every day for years and years yet when I Google her - almost nothing. She deserves better. When I find a good bio and better picture than the one I stole from OPUBCO, I'll add her to my Oklahoma Women Pioneers page.

Wanda Jo Peltier Stapleton's New Book = Vowels: Patterns and Sounds

Wanda Jo Stapleton -- who we senior ladies remember as Wanda Jo Peltier when she was actively working to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Oklahoma (a thoroughly thankless task) and later when she served in the Oklahoma Legislature for 10 years (Democrat - South Oklahoma City) -- has authored a book entitled Vowels: Patterns and Sounds. You can read more about it by clicking here. Teachers - check it out!

Remember Baby Katrina Gomez

Three-month old Katrina Gomez died March 4, 2007. Her adoptive father, Gerardo Roldon Cardenas, age 39, is being charged with her death.

While Cardenas was babysitting Katrina in their home in Guymon, OK, he grabbed the baby and threw her on the bed causing her head to bounce off the mattress at least 2 times and then with an open hand struck the baby across the face very hard. The autopsy revealed multiple contusions of the face and forehead, subscalplular, subdural and epidural hemorrhages, fractures of the anterior cranial fossa, pronounced cerebral edema, subdural hemorrhade around spinal cord, clinical history of retinal hemorrhages, hemorrage within extrinis muscles of eye, cause of death, abusive head trauma in the manner of homicide.

According to what he told police, he never meant for the child to be the victim of his anger and he was just mad. He had had an argument with his wife at noon, before she left to go work. Cardenas wife, Ismailia and 2 other children are not cooperating with the police in this case according to Detectives.

A detective reported that Cardenas made the statement while he was being escorted to a police unit, "This country kills four million babies a year in abortions and you make a big deal about this. I don't understand it."

Source. Email from Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

It Is National Women's History Month

In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women's History Week. The week was chosen to coincide with International Women's Day - which is March 8. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women's History Month in March, and the U.S. president has issued a proclamation.
The theme of this year's National Women's History Month is "Generations of Women Moving History Forward." For event and programs please please click on the following link: http://www.nps.gov/ncro/PublicAffairs/Womens_History_Month.html
For educational resources on women's history, please visit the Department of Education's website at http://www.ed.gov/free/w-history.html.
For facts and statistics related to Women's History Month, please visit the Census Bureau's "Facts for Features" webpage on this topic.

Source. www.USA.gov

US Census Bureau Reflects on Women and Women's History Month

Click here to read Census info.

March Is Women's History Month

The ABOUT.com website gives the history of how we got a month! Check it out here.

March 8 is International Women's Day

Check out the website and make plans to celebrate!

Guthrie's Harriet Kennedy

There was a lovely article in The Guthrie News by Rex Hogan on Sunday January 28, 2007 about Harriett Kennedy, an African-American business woman who advanced racial integration in Guthrie. She moved to Guthrie in 1946 and opened a restaurant making her (it is believed) the first African-American woman to open a business in Guthrie. She ran several businesses but the one she is most famous for was the H and A Supper Club on the 400 block of Drexel Street.

Tulsa Author Sue Hinton

So I am featuring Oklahoma women writers to my website and today I added Sue Hinton (July 22, 1948 - ) who writes young adult fiction. Her books including The Outsiders (1967), Rumble Fish (1968), That Was Then, This is Now (1971), Tex (1979) and Taming The Star Runner (1988). She has also written two books for children - Big David, Little David (1995) and The Puppy Sister (1995). She earned her BS degree from the University of Tulsa in 1970.

Dee Porter: 1st Women Administrator of OK Corp Commission

Dee Faircloth Porter was named the first female general administrator to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 2003. She has a long history of service to the community and many awards and honors for her work with Native Americans and persons with disabilities, in particular. She has owned several businesses, managed non-profit organizations and served in state government during her career. She is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma, OU's National Leadership Academy, the Oklahoma Public Health Leadership Institute, and CYA Associates Executive Mentor program. She has received several Governor's Commendations and was named the American Society for Public Administration's 2004 Distinguished Public Service Award recipient as well as named to the 2006 Journal Record's 50 Making a Difference. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from OU with highest honors, she also attended OCU's MBA program. She is considered an expert on state strategic planning and Malcolm Baldrige quality processes and she strives to share her knowledge and experience with women and underserved populations.

Augusta Corson Metcalfe: Oklahoma Artist

At the suggestion of Elaine Warner (Thanks, Elaine), I have added Augusta Corson Metcalfe to my website under Notable Women: Pioneers.

Augusta Corson Metcalfe (1881-1971) came to Oklahoma Territory with her family in 1893, settling on the newly-opened Cheyenne-Arapaho lands. She continued to work the land for 78 years, often alone, but she always took time to draw and paint the scenes around her. Her paintings offer an extensive picture of Oklahoma country life in the early days of statehood. She was almost 70 when nationwide public acclaim came to her work. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1968 and into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1983.