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. The Hall of Fame is largely virtual, with the first physical display set up in 2006 at the Crestview courthouse. Photographs of past inductees are displayed in Crestview and in Niceville. Nominations are accepted from the public in several areas of endeavor.
The OCWHOF was founded in 1995 by the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women (OCCSW). Gayle Melich, a women's rights activist, is considered one of the "Founding Mothers" of the Hall of Fame. Bobelle Sconiers Harrell is one well-known inductee of the OCWHOF.
1995 Ruth Lovejoy Sarah Frances Brooks Pryor (1877–1972) Addie Lewis Dr. Fanny Fern Davis Gertrude L'Abbe Clair Eken Liza Jackson
1996 Doris Berg Alice Starkey Margaret Gebauer
1997 Camilla Caley Christian LaRoche Soledad Bennes
1998 Ida Calhoun Burritt Rae Ruckle Byrne Williams
1999 Jane Briere Zoie Campbell Grace Brown Nancy Kenaston Dr. Mabel Jean Morrison (1927–2005) Carolyn Spencer Willie Mae Taylor (1914–1999)
2000 Catherine Pierce Berridge Shirley Ginzburg Mary V. Jones Celeste Mapoles (1889–1977) Susan Myers Pearl Tyner Marilyn Joan Young
2001 Caroline Allen Gladys Nichols Milton (1924–1999) Jane Strickland Marnie Tate
2002 Kate Bagley (1914–1994) Dr. Diane Barlar Agnes Catherine Gerlach (1884–1974) Donna Kelly Mattie Mae Kelly (1912–1992)
2003 Iris Baughman (1908–2003) Ursel Behnken Terry Bevino Fritz Creswell Jessie Alma Edge (1900–1998) Paulette Risher
2004 Eileen Arpke Lillian Rose Brodeur Annette Edwins Rachel Godwin Jeanette Henderson Pat Hollarn
2005 Virginia Glynn Barr Peggy May Gayle Melich (1937–2005) Judy Byrne Riley
2006 Dr. Jennifer Fortune Susan Kneller Dr. Pamela Meadows Jeanne Rief Bernadette Sims
2007 Inez Bailey Hall Elizabeth Betty Kentosh Marty Lackey Bettie Robertson (1917–2007) Barbara J. Wall
2008 Linda Powell Parker Champee Kemp Nellie Bogar
2009 Sharlene Cox Jean Dutton Yvonne Franklin Mitzi Prince Henley Joyce Sanders Lenore Wilson
2010 Doris Day Karen Lauer Martha Miller
2011 Donna Miller Eddie Mae Owens
2012 Mary Stevenson Judy Wiseman Jean Woo
2013 Mary Burnette Rogene Anchors Hasty (1924–2017) Sarah "Sam" Seevers
2014 Bobelle Sconiers Harrell (1923–2012) Kelly Humphrey Aimee Shaffer Linda Sumblin
2015 Michelle Anchors Kathy Foster Lisa Jo Spencer Shawnea Tallman
2016 Linda Evanchyk Almut Flentge-Parker Shirley Piggott Alexis Tibbetts Elaine Tucker Mary Lou Reed
2017 Dr. Naomi Barnes Dr. Karyn Combs Evie Fox Tammy McDaniel Brenda Shoffner Nancy Weidenhamer (1944–2017)
2018 Dr. Vivian Green Carolyn Ketchel Gayle Norgaard Pam Woodall
2019 Barbara Britt Jill Lewis-Daggs Nellie Barrows Fleming (1925–2024) Kathi Heapy Caroline Maney
2020 Vickie Warner Bobbie Ponder Julie Cotton Vickie Edge (1961–2020) Teresa Halverson
2021 Carole Byrd Charlotte Eschmann Kathy Houchins Dr. Diane Kelley Ginger Bowden Madden Dr. Venita Morell Terri Harbeson Roberts Vicki Tarro
2022 Gloria Battle Dr. Elvira Chiccarelli Stacey Darhower Gloria Frazier Delores Noechel Julie Porterfield Col. Jocelyn Schermerhorn Sybil Smith Lebherz (–1993) Catherine "Cissy" Wyninegar
2023 Hon. Patricia Grinstead Col. Teresa W. Ryan Bonnie Barlow Cindy Frakes Lt. Betty Jo Hunter
2024 Sharon "Shari" Allen Col. Allison Black Hon. Lacey Powell Clark Shawna Crist Sierra Elliott Lori Kelley Joy Makela Barbara Henderson Slocumb
2025 Peggy Brockman Martha “Jenny” Hamilton (1943–2023) Sherry Harlow Helen Harris Kay Rasmussen Eloise Stevens Donna Tashik
2026 Megan Blanco Vanessa D'Aquin Simona Faroni Dr. Cristie Kedroski Christina Larson Heather Ruiz Dr. Linda Smith Dr. MiChele Stevenson
References
External links Official site