The Okaloosa County Women's Hall of Fame (OCWHOF) is a tribute to women who live or have lived in Okaloosa County, Florida. The Hall of Fame is meant to "recognize and honor women who have helped to improve the community," says Jeanette Debs, a chairwoman of the OCWHOF.[1] The Hall of Fame is largely virtual, with the first physical display set up in 2006 at the Crestview courthouse.[2] Photographs of past inductees are displayed in Crestview and in Niceville.[3] Nominations are accepted from the public in several areas of endeavor.[4]
The OCWHOF was founded in 1995 by the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women (OCCSW).[5] Gayle Melich, a women's rights activist, is considered one of the "Founding Mothers" of the Hall of Fame.[6] Bobelle Sconiers Harrell is one well-known inductee of the OCWHOF.[7]
1995
edit- Ruth Lovejoy
- Sarah Frances Brooks Pryor (1877–1972)
- Addie Lewis
- Dr. Fanny Fern Davis
- Gertrude L'Abbe
- Clair Eken
- Liza Jackson
1996
edit- Doris Berg
- Alice Starkey
- Margaret Gebauer
1997
edit- Camilla Caley
- Christian LaRoche
- Soledad Bennes
1998
edit- Ida Calhoun Burritt
- Rae Ruckle Byrne Williams
1999
edit- Jane Briere
- Zoie Campbell
- Grace Brown
- Nancy Kenaston
- Dr. Mabel Jean Morrison (1927–2005)
- Carolyn Spencer
- Willie Mae Taylor (1914–1999)
2000
edit- Catherine Pierce Berridge
- Shirley Ginzburg
- Mary V. Jones
- Celeste Mapoles (1889–1977)
- Susan Myers
- Pearl Tyner
- Marilyn Joan Young
2001
edit- Caroline Allen
- Gladys Nichols Milton (1924–1999)
- Jane Strickland
- Marnie Tate
2002
edit- Kate Bagley (1914–1994)
- Dr. Diane Barlar
- Agnes Catherine Gerlach (1884–1974)
- Donna Kelly
- Mattie Mae Kelly (1912–1992)
2003
edit- Iris Baughman (1908–2003)
- Ursel Behnken
- Terry Bevino
- Fritz Creswell
- Jessie Alma Edge (1900–1998)
- Paulette Risher
2004
edit- Eileen Arpke
- Lillian Rose Brodeur
- Annette Edwins
- Rachel Godwin
- Jeanette Henderson
- Pat Hollarn
2005
edit- Virginia Glynn Barr
- Peggy May
- Gayle Melich (1937–2005)
- Judy Byrne Riley
2006
edit- Dr. Jennifer Fortune
- Susan Kneller
- Dr. Pamela Meadows
- Jeanne Rief
- Bernadette Sims
2007
edit- Inez Bailey Hall
- Elizabeth Betty Kentosh
- Marty Lackey
- Bettie Robertson (1917–2007)
- Barbara J. Wall
2008
edit- Linda Powell Parker
- Champee Kemp
- Nellie Bogar
2009
edit- Sharlene Cox
- Jean Dutton
- Yvonne Franklin
- Mitzi Prince Henley
- Joyce Sanders
- Lenore Wilson
2010
edit- Doris Day
- Karen Lauer
- Martha Miller
2011
edit- Donna Miller
- Eddie Mae Owens
2012
edit- Mary Stevenson
- Judy Wiseman
- Jean Woo
2013
edit- Mary Burnette
- Rogene Anchors Hasty (1924–2017)
- Sarah "Sam" Seevers
2014
edit- Bobelle Sconiers Harrell (1923–2012)
- Kelly Humphrey
- Aimee Shaffer
- Linda Sumblin
2015
edit- Michelle Anchors
- Kathy Foster
- Lisa Jo Spencer
- Shawnea Tallman
2016
edit- Linda Evanchyk
- Almut Flentge-Parker
- Shirley Piggott
- Alexis Tibbetts
- Elaine Tucker
- Mary Lou Reed
2017
edit- Dr. Naomi Barnes
- Dr. Karyn Combs
- Evie Fox
- Tammy McDaniel
- Brenda Shoffner
- Nancy Weidenhamer (1944–2017)
2018
edit- Dr. Vivian Green
- Carolyn Ketchel
- Gayle Norgaard
- Pam Woodall
2019
edit- Barbara Britt
- Jill Lewis-Daggs
- Nellie Barrows Fleming (1925–2024)
- Kathi Heapy
- Caroline Maney
2020
edit- Vickie Warner
- Bobbie Ponder
- Julie Cotton
- Vickie Edge (1961–2020)
- Teresa Halverson
2021
edit- Carole Byrd
- Charlotte Eschmann
- Kathy Houchins
- Dr. Diane Kelley
- Ginger Bowden Madden
- Dr. Venita Morell
- Terri Harbeson Roberts
- Vicki Tarro
2022
edit- Gloria Battle
- Dr. Elvira Chiccarelli
- Stacey Darhower
- Gloria Frazier
- Delores Noechel
- Julie Porterfield
- Col. Jocelyn Schermerhorn
- Sybil Smith Lebherz (–1993)
- Catherine "Cissy" Wyninegar
2023
edit- Hon. Patricia Grinstead
- Col. Teresa W. Ryan
- Bonnie Barlow
- Cindy Frakes
- Lt. Betty Jo Hunter
2024
edit- Sharon "Shari" Allen
- Col. Allison Black
- Hon. Lacey Powell Clark
- Shawna Crist
- Sierra Elliott
- Lori Kelley
- Joy Makela
- Barbara Henderson Slocumb
References
edit- ^ Mccurdy, Angel (27 August 2009). "6 Women Inducted to Hall". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 14 July 2016. – via EBSCO (subscription required)
- ^ Fike, Leslie (16 June 2006). "Crestview Ceremony Celebrates Women: Hall of Fame Portraits Recognizing Women Who Have Made a Difference Are Unveiled in Courthouse". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 14 July 2016. – via EBSCO (subscription required)
- ^ Toole, Angie (20 August 2006). "Women's Hall of Fame: Class of 2006 Consists of Nine Nominees". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 14 July 2016. – via EBSCO (subscription required)
- ^ "Nominations Open for Women's Hall of Fame". NWF Daily News. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Women's Hall of Fame". OCCSW. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Toole, Angie (23 August 2005). "Four Inducted to Hall of Fame". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 14 July 2016. – via EBSCO (subscription required)
- ^ Davis, Marketta (29 December 2014). "Story Comes Full Circle in Time for Christmans". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 14 July 2016.