# Florida Women's Hall of Fame

The Florida Women's Hall of Fame is an honor roll of women who have contributed to life for citizens of the US state 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.

## History

President John F. Kennedy created 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." In 1992, Governor Lawton Chiles proposed, and the Legislature passed a bill (CSSB 1148) that created a permanent Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Chapter 92-48 of the Laws of Florida now states: "It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and honor those women who, through their works and lives, have made significant improvement of the life for women and for citizens of Florida."
This legislation mandated the inclusion of women who had been honored in the previous decade. Because education is one important purpose of the Hall of Fame, CSSB 1148 provided display space in the Florida Capitol. In 1994, the Commission unveiled plaques that offer a brief biography and photograph of each honoree.
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. 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.

## 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".
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. The rotunda of the Florida State Capitol building has a permanent display of photos of Florida Women's Hall of Fame inductees.
Since 1992, up to three women have been inducted into the Hall each year. Nominations are made between April 1 and July 15 of each year. These nominations are carefully reviewed by members of the FCSW who then propose 10 finalists to the Governor who selects the final inductees each year.
Several other states have a Hall of Fame for notable women, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio and Texas. The United States' National Women's Hall of Fame is based in Seneca Falls, New York.

## Inductees

Florida Women's Hall of Fame :
| Name | Birth–Death | Year | Area of achievement |
| Kathleen Passidomo | (b. 1953) | 2022 | President of the Florida Senate. |
| Lilly Pulitzer | (1931–2013) | 2022 | Fashion designer and entrepreneur. |
| Audrey Schiebler | (1933–2015) | 2022 | Child welfare advocate. |
| Virginia M. Hernandez Covington | (b. 1955) | 2021 | Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida |
| Barbara Nicklaus | (b. 1940) | 2021 | Co-founder of the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, philanthropist |
| Beverly Yeager | (b. 1932) | 2021 | Former Director of the Florida Department of State's Cultural Affairs Division |
| Alice Scott Abbott | (1856–1920) | 2020 | Activist for women's suffrage and other issues |
| Alma Lee Loy | (1929–2020) | 2020 | Civic leader, "First Lady of Vero Beach" |
| E. Thelma Waters | (1939–2021) | 2020 | Advocate for women, children, migrant laborers in Indiantown |
| Doris Mae Barnes | (1927–2010) | 2019 | Sports fishing photographer |
| Judith A. Bense | (b. 1945) | 2019 | Academic and archeologist |
| Mildred Wilborn Gildersleeve | (1858–1950) | 2019 | Nurse, midwife |
| Adela Hernandez Gonzmart | (1920–2001) | 2018 | Restaurateur and patron of the arts in the Ybor City area of Tampa |
| Janet Petro | (b. 1960) | 2018 | Deputy Director of the Kennedy Space Center since 2007, first woman to have that role |
| Lee Bird Leavengood | (b. 1928) | 2018 | Member of first gender-integrated class at the University of Florida; three decades of administration at University of South Florida |
| Mary Lou Baker | (1914–1965) | 2017 | Florida House of Representatives Responsible for the passage of Florida's 1943 women's rights legislation that enabled women to run the family business if the husband entered the military. Elected and served while keeping her maiden name. |
| Kathleen Scott Robertson | (1921–2013) | 2017 | One of the first 7 WAVES to enlist in the United States Navy |
| Katherine Fernandez Rundle | (b. 1950) | 2017 | Florida's first Cuban-American State Attorney |
| Carol Jenkins Barnett | (1956–2021) | 2016 | President of Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc. |
| Helen Aguirre Ferré | (b. 1957) | 2016 | Journalist |
| Elmira Louise Leto | (b. 1949) | 2016 | Founder and CEO of Samuel's House, Inc., an agency to provide housing to the homeless |
| Mary 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 |
| Evelyn Cahn Keiser | (1924–2024) | 2015 | Co-founded the Keiser School in 1977 |
| Charlotte E. Maguire | (1918–2014) | 2015 | First woman physician in Orlando, founded one of the first pediatric clinics in Florida |
| Susan 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 |
| Louise Jones Gopher | (1945–2016) | 2014 | First woman from the Seminole Tribe of Florida to earn a college degree |
| Dottie Berger MacKinnon | (1942–2013) | 2014 | Founder of Joshua House, advocate for women and children |
| Clara C. Frye | (1872–1936) | 2013 | African American nurse in Tampa, Florida who established the Clara Frye Hospital |
| Aleene 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 |
| Lillie 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" |
| Ruth H. Alexander | (1938–2021) | 2012 | Established the "Lady Gator Athletic" program |
| Vicki Bryant Burke | (b. 1953) | 2012 | Social worker, juvenile justice system |
| Elizabeth "Budd" Bell | (1915–2009) | 2012 | Social worker |
| Mary Brennan Karl | (1890–1948) | 2011 | Education pioneer whose efforts were a foundation of what later became Daytona Beach Junior College |
| Anna I. Rodriguez | (b. 1957) | 2011 | Founder Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking |
| Eugenie Clark | (1922–2015) | 2010 | Ichthyologist |
| Claudine Dianne Ryce | (1943–2009) | 2010 | Advocate for missing children |
| Dara Grace Torres | (b. 1967) | 2010 | Olympic gold-silver-bronze medalist swimmer |
| Louise H. Courtelis | (1932–2023) | 2009 | Philanthropist |
| Gwen Margolis | (1934–2020) | 2009 | Member of Florida Senate |
| Betty Schlesinger Sembler | (1931–2022) | 2009 | Anti-drug activist and wife of ambassador Mel Sembler, with whom she co-founded the drug treatment program Straight, Incorporated |
| Barbara J. Pariente | (b. 1948) | 2008 | Former Chief Justice Florida Supreme Court |
| Pallavi Patel | (b. 1950) | 2008 | Pediatrician, philanthropist who with her husband co-founded Carousel Elephants, the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding |
| Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | (b. 1952) | 2008 | U.S. Representative House Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Maryly VanLeer Peck | (1930–2011) | 2007 | First female President of a Florida Community College at Polk Community College and founder of Guam Community College |
| Peggy A. Quince | (b. 1948) | 2007 | Justice and former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Florida |
| Caridad Asensio | (1931–2011) | 2006 | Farm worker advocate, founder Caridad Asensio Health Clinic, providing free health care for farm workers |
| Tillie Kidd Fowler | (1942–2005) | 2006 | United States House of Representatives |
| Lucy W. Morgan | (1940–2023) | 2006 | Journalist |
| Shirley D. Coletti | (b. 1935) | 2005 | Co-founder of substance abuse program Operation PAR, Inc |
| Judith Kersey | (b. 1943) | 2005 | Scientist, worked as an engineer in America's space program |
| Marion P. Hammer | (b. 1939) | 2005 | First female President of National Rifle Association |
| Sarah Ann Blocker | (1857–1944) | 2003 | co-founder of Florida Memorial College |
| Gloria Estefan | (b. 1957) | 2003 | Entertainer |
| 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. |
| Victoria Joyce Ely | (1889–1979) | 2002 | First licensed midwife in Florida; served in the Army Nurse Corpsduring World War I; pioneer in Florida nursing care |
| Toni Jennings | (b. 1949) | 2002 | 16th (and first female) Lieutenant Governor of Florida |
| Frances Langford Stuart | (1913–2005) | 2002 | Entertainer |
| Jessie Ball duPont | (1884–1970) | 2001 | Philanthropist |
| Lynda Keever | (b. 1947) | 2001 | Publisher, CEO Florida Trend Magazine |
| Lenore Carrero Nesbitt | (1932–2001) | 2001 | Nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a Federal judgeship |
| Chris Evert | (b. 1954) | 2000 | Tennis pro |
| Paula Hawkins | (1927–2003) | 2000 | First Florida female elected to the United States Senate |
| Marianne Mathewson-Chapman | (b. 1948) | 2000 | First woman in the Army National Guard to attain rank of Major General |
| Althea Gibson | (1927–2003) | 1999 | Champion tennis player, a pioneering African-American in the sport |
| Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin | (1929–2019) | 1999 | First president of Barry University |
| Dessie Smith Prescott | (1906–2002) | 1999 | First licensed female pilot in Florida, served in the Women's Army Corps in World War II, first female professional guide in Florida |
| Helen Davis | (1926–2015) | 1998 | Florida state legislator, social activist |
| Mattie Belle Davis | (1910–2004) | 1998 | Jurist who helped establish the Florida Association of Women Lawyers |
| Christine Fulwylie-Bankston | (1916–1998) | 1998 | Poet, social activist, civil rights |
| Alicia Baro | (1918–2012) | 1997 | Social and political activist |
| Carita Doggett Corse | (1891–1978) | 1997 | Florida director of Federal Writers' Project |
| M. Athalie Range | (1916–2006) | 1997 | Political activist, first African-American and second woman elected to the Miami City Council |
| Marjorie Harris Carr | (1915–1998) | 1996 | Conservationist |
| Betty Castor | (b. 1941) | 1996 | Former president of USF, member of J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board |
| Ivy Julia Cromartie Stranahan | (1881–1971) | 1996 | Women's suffrage, social activist, environmental activist, helped Seminole tribe move to the Dania reservation |
| Evelyn Stocking Crosslin | (1919–1991) | 1995 | Physician |
| JoAnn Hardin Morgan | (b. 1940) | 1995 | First female engineer at NASA, first woman senior executive at Kennedy Space Center |
| Sarah Brooks Pryor | (1877–1972) | 1995 | Civic activist, historic preservationist, known affectionately as "Aunt Frances" |
| Nikki Beare | (1928–2014) | 1994 | Political and social activist, supported the Equal Rights Amendment |
| Betty Mae Tiger Jumper | (1923–2011) | 1994 | First female chief of Seminole Tribe of Florida |
| Gladys Nichols Milton | (1924–1999) | 1994 | Advocated midwives be recognized as medical practitioners |
| Betty Skelton Frankman Erde | (1926–2011) | 1993 | Aerobatics championship aviator |
| Paulina Pedroso | (1845–1925) | 1993 | Activist in the Cuban War of Independence |
| Janet Reno | (1938–2016) | 1993 | Former Attorney General of the United States |
| Jacqueline Cochran | (1910–1980) | 1992 | Aviator |
| Carrie P. Meek | (1926–2021) | 1992 | United States House of Representatives |
| Ruth 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 |
| Annie Ackerman | (1914–1989) | 1986 | Political activist |
| Rosemary Barkett | (b. 1939) | 1986 | Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, appointed by President Bill Clinton |
| Gwen Cherry | (1923–1979) | 1986 | Lawyer and legislator who introduced into the legislature the Equal Rights Amendment, Martin Luther King state holiday |
| Dorothy Dodd | (1902–1994) | 1986 | Florida state archivist and state librarian |
| Marjory Stoneman Douglas | (1890–1998) | 1986 | Everglades preservationist |
| Elsie Jones Hare | (1903–1985) | 1986 | Educator |
| Elizabeth McCullough Johnson | (1909–1973) | 1986 | Florida State Representative and Senator |
| Frances Bartlett Kinne | (1917–2020) | 1986 | Educator, academic |
| Arva Moore Parks McCabe | (1939–2020) | 1986 | Author, filmmaker |
| Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings | (1896–1953) | 1986 | Author, won the Pulitzer Prize for The Yearling |
| Florence Barbara Seibert | (1897–1991) | 1986 | Biochemist, inventor of the standard tuberculosistest |
| Marilyn K. Smith | (1936–1985) | 1986 | Volunteerism |
| Eartha M. M. White | (1876–1974) | 1986 | Humanitarian and educator who founded the Clara White Mission and the Eartha M.M. White Nursing Home |
| Roxcy O'Neal Bolton | (1926–2017) | 1984 | Feminist, women's rights, founder Florida chapter of National Organization for Women |
| Barbara Landstreet Frye | (1922–1982) | 1984 | Capitol Bureau Chief for United Press International |
| Lena B. Smithers Hughes | (1910–1987) | 1984 | Botanist who developed virus-free strains of the Valencia orange |
| Zora Neale Hurston | (1891–1960) | 1984 | Folklorist, anthropologist, and author |
| Sybil Collins Mobley | (1925–2015) | 1984 | Dean of the School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University |
| Helen Muir | (1911–2006) | 1984 | Journalist, author of books on Florida |
| Gladys Pumariega Soler | (1930–1993) | 1984 | Pediatrician |
| Julia DeForest Sturtevant Tuttle | (1848–1898) | 1984 | Business woman, land owner of what became Miami, Florida |
| Mary McLeod Bethune | (1875–1955) | 1982 | Civil rights leader |
| Helene S. Coleman | (1925–2021) | 1982 | President of the National Council of Jewish Women |
| Elaine Gordon | (1931–2000) | 1982 | Legislator |
| Wilhelmina Celeste Goehring Harvey | (1912–2005) | 1982 | Mayor of Key West, Florida |
| Paula Mae Milton | (1939–1980) | 1982 | Creative arts civic leader |
| Barbara Jo Palmer | (b. 1949) | 1982 | Florida State University Director of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics |