Florida Women's Hall of Fame

Zora Neale Hurston beating a Haitian tambour maman or mama drum

The Florida Women's Hall of Fame is an honor roll of women who have contributed to life for citizens of Florida. An awards ceremony for the hall of fame was first held in 1982 and recipient names are displayed in the Florida State Capitol. The program was created by an act of the Florida Legislature and is overseen by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women (FCSW), a nonpartisan board created in 1991 to study and "make recommendations to the Governor, Cabinet and Legislature on issues affecting women". The FCSW also manages the Florida Achievement Award for those who have improved the lives of women and girls in Florida, an award is focused on outstanding volunteerism. FCSW members serve by appointment and the commission is housed at the Office of the Attorney General of Florida.^[1]

History

President John F. Kennedy set up the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) in 1961, and in 1964 Florida Governor Farris Bryant created the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) "to study laws and regulations pertaining to women in Florida and make recommendations to the legislature based on their findings." The Florida Women's Hall of Fame was enacted by the state legislature. Florida Statutes, Title XVIII Public Lands and Property, Chapter 265 Memorials, Museums and Arts and Culture, section 265.001 Florida Women's Hall of Fame, sets the parameters within which the hall of fame operates.^[2] In 1982, the first Florida Women's Hall of Fame ceremony and reception was held by COSW at the Florida Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee.^[3][4]

Overview

The purpose of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame, according to the intention expressed in the actual Florida Statute, is "to recognize and honor those women who, through their works and lives, have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of Florida".^[5]

Each year, women from Florida, or who have adopted it as their home state, are nominated for induction. The governor of Florida decides on the final three nominees from a shortlist of ten nominees.^[6] The rotunda of the Florida State Capitol building has a permanent display of photos of Florida Women's Hall of Fame inductees.^[7]

Several other states have a Hall of Fame for notable women, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio and Texas.^[8] The United States' National Women's Hall of Fame is based in Seneca Falls, New York.

Florida Women's Hall of Fame inductees

Florida Women's Hall of Fame

Name	Image	Birth–Death	Year	Area of achievement	Ref(s)
Barnett, Carol JenkinsCarol Jenkins Barnett		(b. 1956)	2016	President of Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc.	[9]
Ferré, Helen AguirreHelen Aguirre Ferré		(b. 1957)	2016	Journalist	[10]
Leto, Elmira LouiseElmira Louise Leto		(b. 1949)	2016	Founder and CEO of Samuel’s House, Inc., an agency to provide housing to the homeless	[11]
Farrior, Mary LeeMary Lee Farrior		(b. 1937)	2015	Coca-Cola heir from Tampa who gave $1 million to start Mary Lee's House, a center combining facilities for child abuse prevention, assessment, forensics and counseling	[12]
Keiser, Evelyn CahnEvelyn Cahn Keiser		(b. 1924)	2015	Co-founded the Keiser School in 1977	[13]
Maguire, Charlotte E.Charlotte E. Maguire		(1918–2014)	2015	First woman physician in Orlando, founded one of the first pediatric clinics in Florida	[14]
Benton, SusanSusan Benton		(b. 1949)	2014	Sheriff of Highlands County, Florida; 2013 President of the Florida Sheriff’s Association; first female sheriff elected in a general election in Florida history	[15]
Gopher, Louise JonesLouise Jones Gopher		(b. 1945)	2014	First woman from the Seminole Tribe of Florida to earn a college degree	[16]
MacKinnon, Dottie BergerDottie Berger MacKinnon		(1942–2013)	2014	Founder of Joshua House, advocate for women and children	[17]
Frye, Clara C.Clara C. Frye		(1872–1936)	2013	African American nurse in Tampa, Florida who established the Clara Frye Hospital	[18]
MacKenzie, Aleene Pridgen KiddAleene Pridgen Kidd MacKenzie		(1921–2013)	2013	Assistant Director of Development at Florida State University, first Chair of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women	[19]
Voss, Lillie PierceLillie Pierce Voss		(1876–1967)	2013	Writer and early pioneer; interacted with the Seminole Indians as a child, earning the nickname "Sweetheart of the Barefoot Mailmen"	[20]
Alexander, Ruth H.Ruth H. Alexander		(b. 1938)	2012	Established the "Lady Gator Athletic" program	[21]
Burke, Vicki BryantVicki Bryant Burke		(b. 1953)	2012	Social worker, juvenile justice system	[22]
Bell, Elizabeth "Budd"Elizabeth "Budd" Bell		(1915–2009)	2012	Social worker	[23]
Karl, Mary BrennanMary Brennan Karl		(1890–1948)	2011	Education pioneer whose efforts were a foundation of what later became Daytona Beach Junior College	[24]
Rodriguez, Anna I.Anna I. Rodriguez		(b. 1957)	2011	Founder Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking	[25]
Clark, EugenieEugenie Clark		(1922–2015)	2010	Ichthyologist	[26]
Ryce, Claudine DianneClaudine Dianne Ryce		(1943–2009)	2010	Advocate for missing children	[27]
Torres, Dara GraceDara Grace Torres		(b. 1961)	2010	Olympic gold-silver-bronze medalist swimmer	[28]
Courtelis, Louise H.Louise H. Courtelis		(b. 1932)	2009	Philanthropist	[29]
Margolis, GwenGwen Margolis		(b. 1934)	2009	Member of Florida Senate	[30]
Sembler, Betty SchlesingerBetty Schlesinger Sembler		(b. 1931)	2009	Anti-drug activist and wife of Ambassadress Mel Sembler, with whom she co-founded the drug treatment program Straight, Incorporated	[31]
Pariente, Barbara J.Barbara J. Pariente		(b. 1948)	2008	Former Chief Justice Florida Supreme Court	[32]
Patel, PallaviPallavi Patel		(b. 1950)	2008	Pediatrician, philanthropist who with her husband co-founded Carousel Elephants, the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding	[33]
Ros-Lehtinen, IleanaIleana Ros-Lehtinen		(b. 1952)	2008	U.S. RepresentativeHouse Committee on Foreign Affairs	[34]
Peck, Maryly VanLeerMaryly VanLeer Peck		(1930–2011)	2007	President of Polk Community College1982–1997	[35]
Quince, Peggy A.Peggy A. Quince		(b. 1948)	2007	Justice and former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Florida	[36]
Asensio, CaridadCaridad Asensio		(1931–2011)	2006	Farm worker advocate, founder Caridad Asensio Health Clinic, providing free health care for farm workers	[37]
Fowler, Tillie KiddTillie Kidd Fowler		(1942–2005)	2006	United States House of Representatives	[38]
Morgan, Lucy W.Lucy W. Morgan		(b. 1940)	2006	Journalist	[39]
Coletti, Shirley D.Shirley D. Coletti		(b. 1935)	2005	Co-founder of substance abuse program Operation PAR, Inc	[40]
Kersey, JudithJudith Kersey		(b. 1943)	2005	Scientist, worked as an engineer in America's space program	[41]
Hammer, Marion P.Marion P. Hammer		(b. 1939)	2005	First female President of National Rifle Association	[42]
Blocker, Sarah AnnSarah Ann Blocker		(1857–1944)	2003	co-founder of Florida Memorial College	[43]
Estefan, GloriaGloria Estefan		(b. 1957)	2003	Entertainer	[44]
Grizzle, Mary R.Mary R. Grizzle		(1921–2006)	2003	Legislator, advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment; served in both houses of the Florida state legislature. At the end of her career as a representative, she was the longest-serving member of the legislature. She helped pass bills on waste water clean-up and on married women attaining full property rights without a husband's permission.	[45]
Ely, Victoria JoyceVictoria Joyce Ely		(1889–1979)	2002	First licensed midwife in Florida; served in the Army Nurse Corpsduring World War I; pioneer in Florida nursing care	[46]
Jennings, ToniToni Jennings		(b. 1949)	2002	16th (and first female) Lieutenant Governor of Florida	[47]
Langford Stuart, FrancesFrances Langford Stuart		(1913–2005)	2002	Entertainer	[48]
duPont, Jessie BallJessie Ball duPont		(1884–1970)	2001	Philanthropist	[49]
Keever, LyndaLynda Keever		(b. 1947)	2001	Publisher, CEO Florida Trend Magazine	[50]
Nesbitt, Lenore CarreroLenore Carrero Nesbitt		(1932–2001)	2001	Nominated by President Ronald Reaganto a Federal judgeship	[51]
Evert, ChrisChris Evert		(b. 1954)	2000	Tennis pro	[52]
Hawkins, PaulaPaula Hawkins		(1927–2003)	2000	First Florida female elected to the United States Senate	[53]
Mathewson-Chapman, MarianneMarianne Mathewson-Chapman		(b. 1948)	2000	First woman in the Army National Guardto attain rank of Major General	[54]
Gibson, AltheaAlthea Gibson		(1927–2003)	1999	Champion tennis player, a pioneering African-American in the sport	[55]
O'Laughlin, Sister JeanneSister Jeanne O'Laughlin		(b. 1929)	1999	First president of Barry University	[56]
Prescott, Dessie SmithDessie Smith Prescott		(1906–2002)	1999	First licensed female pilot in Florida, served in the Women's Army Corpsin World War II, first female professional guide in Florida	[57]
Davis, HelenHelen Davis		(1926–2015)	1998	Florida state legislator, social activist	[58]
Davis, Mattie BelleMattie Belle Davis		(1910–2004)	1998	Jurist who helped establish the Florida Association of Women Lawyers	[59]
Fulwylie-Bankston, ChristineChristine Fulwylie-Bankston		(1916–1998)	1998	Poet, social activist, civil rights	[60]
Baro, AliciaAlicia Baro		(1918–2012)	1997	Social and political activist	[61]
Corse, Carita DoggettCarita Doggett Corse		(1891–1978)	1997	Florida director of Federal Writers' Project	[62]
Range, M. AthalieM. Athalie Range		(1916–2006)	1997	Political activist, first African-American and second woman elected to the Miami City Council	[63]
Carr, Marjorie HarrisMarjorie Harris Carr		(1915–1998)	1996	Conservationist	[64]
Castor, BettyBetty Castor		(b. 1941)	1996	Former president of USF, member of J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board	[65]
Stranahan, Ivy Julia CromartieIvy Julia Cromartie Stranahan		(1881–1971)	1996	Women's suffrage, social activist, environmental activist, helped Seminole tribe move to the Dania reservation	[66]
Crosslin, Evelyn StockingEvelyn Stocking Crosslin		(1919–1991)	1995	Physician	[67]
Morgan, JoAnn HardinJoAnn Hardin Morgan		(b. 1940)	1995	First female engineer at NASA, first woman senior executive at Kennedy Space Center	[68]
Pryor, Sarah BrooksSarah Brooks Pryor		(1877–1972)	1995	Civic activist, historic preservationist, known affectionately as "Aunt Frances"	[69]
Beare, NikkiNikki Beare		(1928–2014)	1994	Political and social activist, supported the Equal Rights Amendment	[70]
Jumper, Betty Mae TigerBetty Mae Tiger Jumper		(1923–2011)	1994	First female chief of Seminole Tribe of Florida	[71]
Milton, Gladys NicholsGladys Nichols Milton		(1924–1999)	1994	Advocated midwives be recognized as medical practitioners	[72]
Erde, Betty Skelton FrankmanBetty Skelton Frankman Erde		(1926–2011)	1993	Aerobatics championship aviator	[73]
Pedroso, PaulinaPaulina Pedroso		(1845–1925)	1993	Activist in the Cuban War of Independence	[74]
Reno, JanetJanet Reno		(b. 1941)	1993	Former Attorney General of the United States	[75]
Cochran, JacquelineJacqueline Cochran		(1910–1980)	1992	Aviator	[76]
Meek, Carrie P.Carrie P. Meek		(b. 1926)	1992	United States House of Representatives	[77]
Owen, Ruth BryanRuth Bryan Owen		(1885–1954)	1992	Florida's first female in the U.S. Congress, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt; daughter of William Jennings Bryan	[78]
Ackerman, AnnieAnnie Ackerman		(1914–1989)	1986	Political activist	[79]
Barkett, RosemaryRosemary Barkett		(b. 1939)	1986	Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, appointed by President Bill Clinton	[80]
Cherry, GwenGwen Cherry		(1923–1979)	1986	Lawyer and legislator who introduced into the legislature the Equal Rights Amendment, Martin Luther King state holiday	[81]
Dodd, DorothyDorothy Dodd		(1902–1994)	1986	Florida state archivist and state librarian	[82]
Douglas, Marjory StonemanMarjory Stoneman Douglas		(1890–1998)	1986	Evergladespreservationist	[83]
Hare, Elsie JonesElsie Jones Hare		(1903–1985)	1986	Educator	[84]
Johnson, Elizabeth McCulloughElizabeth McCullough Johnson		(1909–1973)	1986	Florida State Representative and Senator	[85]
Kinne, Frances BartlettFrances Bartlett Kinne			1986	Educator, academic	[86]
McCabe, Arva Moore ParksArva Moore Parks McCabe		(b. 1939)	1986	Author, filmmaker	[87]
Rawlings, Marjorie KinnanMarjorie Kinnan Rawlings		(1896–1953)	1986	Author, won the Pulitzer Prize for The Yearling	[88]
Seibert, Florence BarbaraFlorence Barbara Seibert		(1897–1991)	1986	Biochemist, inventor of the standard tuberculosistest	[89]
Smith, Marilyn K.Marilyn K. Smith		(1936–1985)	1986	Volunteerism	[90]
White, Eartha M. M.Eartha M. M. White		(1876–1974)	1986	Humanitarian and educator who founded the Clara White Mission and the Eartha M.M. White Nursing Home	[91]
Bolton, Roxcy O'NealRoxcy O'Neal Bolton		(b. 1926)	1984	Feminist, women's rights, founder Florida chapter of National Organization for Women	[92]
Frye, Barbara LandstreetBarbara Landstreet Frye		(1922–1982)	1984	Capitol Bureau Chief for United Press International	[93]
Hughes, Lena B. SmithersLena B. Smithers Hughes		(1910–1987)	1984	Botanist who developed virus-free strains of the Valencia orange	[94]
Hurston, Zora NealeZora Neale Hurston		(1891–1960)	1984	Folklorist, anthropologist, and author	[95]
Mobley, Sybil CollinsSybil Collins Mobley		(1925–2015)	1984	Dean of the School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University	[96]
Muir, HelenHelen Muir		(1911–2006)	1984	Journalist, author of books on Florida	[97]
Soler, Gladys PumariegaGladys Pumariega Soler		(1930–1993)	1984	Pediatrician	[98]
Tuttle, Julia DeForest SturtevantJulia DeForest Sturtevant Tuttle		(1848–1898)	1984	Business woman, land owner of what became Miami, Florida	[99]
Bethune, Mary McLeodMary McLeod Bethune		(1875–1955)	1982	Civil rights leader	[100]
Coleman, Helene S.Helene S. Coleman		(b. 1925)	1982	President of the National Council of Jewish Women	[101]
Gordon, ElaineElaine Gordon		(1931–2000)	1982	Legislator	[102]
Harvey, Wilhelmina Celeste GoehringWilhelmina Celeste Goehring Harvey		(1912–2005)	1982	Mayor of Key West, Florida	[103]
Milton, Paula MaePaula Mae Milton		(1939–1980)	1982	Creative arts civic leader	[104]
Palmer, Barbara JoBarbara Jo Palmer		(b. 1948)	1982	Florida State University Director of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics	[105]

Footnotes

References

• "History News (Florida Women's Hall of Fame Awards)". The Florida Historical Quarterly. Florida Historical Quarterly. 65 (1): 139. July 1986. JSTOR 30146338. (subscription required (help)). 
• Clark, Donna; Haven, Kendall (1999). 100 Most Popular Scientists for Young Adults: Biographical Sketches and Professional Paths. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 1-56308-674-3. 
• Love, Barbara J.; Cott, Nancy F. (2006). Feminists Who Changed America, 1963–1975. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-03189-2. 
• Patton, Charlie (December 1, 2005). "Hall of Fame Honor for the Late Tillie Fowler; Fowler, Caridad G. Asensio and Lucy W. Morgan Will Be Inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame". The Florida Times Union – via Questia (subscription required) . Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
• Perdue, Theda; Green, Michael D. (2001). The Columbia Guide to American Indians of the Southeast. New York, NY: Columbia University Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 0-231-11570-9. 
• Ware, Susan; Brauckman, Stacy (2005). Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 5. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01488-6. 

Further reading

• Davis, Rose Parkman (1987). Zora Neale Hurston: An Annotated Bibliography and Reference Guide. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 0-313-30387-8. 
• Hanson, Joyce A. (2003). Mary McLeod Bethune & Black Women's Political Activism. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press – via Questia (subscription required) . ISBN 0-8262-1451-7. 

External links

• Official website
• Hall of Fame Brochure includes brief biographies of Hall of Fame inductees