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Women’s Hall of Fame

Holly Fish, chairman of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame EGP, PLLC

Note from Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Chair Holly Fish

If one of these stories creates a spark in a young female mind and leads her to achieve her hopes and dreams, we’ve done our job.

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Maya Angelou, Writer and Activist

Maya Angelou

By the time Dr. Maya Angelou’s words were published in her first book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” the writer, poet, singer, dancer, filmmaker, actor and activist had already put her whole heart into quite a lot in her 42 years of life.

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: June B. Freeman, Advocate for the Arts

June B. Freeman

June Biber Freeman’s lifelong love for the arts led her to become an influential and supportive member of Arkansas’ growing arts scene.

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Dr. Ruth Hawkins, Honoring History and Heritage

Dr. Ruth Hawkins

Ruth Hawkins is a storyteller at heart, and her own tale — like Mark Twain’s — has a river running through it.

Brinda J. Jackson

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Brinda J. Jackson, Groundbreaking Architect

When Brinda J. Jackson became the first African-American valedictorian of Lake Village High School in 1979, a racial slight turned her youth’s crowning achievement into a painful, all-night cry. read more >
Bernice Jones

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Bernice Jones, Philanthropic Leader

Keeping up with the Joneses has a double meaning in northwest Arkansas, where Bernice Jones and her husband Harvey blazed a philanthropic trail that won’t soon be forgotten. read more >
Pat Lile

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Pat Lile, Community Champion

Pat Lile is great with a quote. But when the subject is herself and her career it gives her pause, for there is so much to be summed up about a lifetime of service to others. read more >
Elsijane Trimble Roy from 1936

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Judge Elsijane Trimble Roy, Legal Trailblazer

Judge Elsijane Trimble Roy, as Arkansas’ first female circuit judge, first female supreme court justice and the first female federal judge appointed in Arkansas, left a lasting legacy upon the state, opening many doors for other women in the legal field. read more >
Dr. Joanna Seibert

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Dr. Joanna Seibert, Health Care Pioneer

It’s been almost 50 years since Dr. Joanna Seibert graduated from University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine and almost 20 years since she was ordained an Episcopal deacon. Yet in all that time, she’s never experienced a conflict between science and the sacred. read more >
Dorothy Stuck

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Dorothy Stuck, Force for Equality

Dorothy Stuck used her unique voice to help people, simply because she believed in them, becoming a force for desegregation in the sometimes intertwined fields of politics and journalism. read more >
Olivetan Benedictine Sisters

Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame: Olivetan Benedictine Sisters, Ministry and Medicine

The Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro believes God has called on its members to meet the needs of northeast Arkansas for over a century, and they have risen to the occasion each and every time. read more >
Mitch Bettis

From the Publisher: Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees Inspire All

The goal of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced their communities or state. read more >

Religious Sisters of Mercy of The Americas: Faith and Fortitude

A hearty group of women who answered a call with faith, kindness and learning, helping transform the state and educate its children read more >

Kay Kelley Arnold: Public Servant

Member of former Gov. Bill Clinton’s staff and head of Department of Arkansas Heritage … First Arkansas director of Nature Conservancy field office … former vice president of public affairs at Entergy Corporation, managing foundations, grants and volunteer service … volunteer and member of more than 45 nonprofit and governmental agency advisory boards during nearly 40 years of service … Two-time chair of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission. read more >

Dr. Bettye Caldwell: Education Visionary

Baylor graduate with masters from the University of Iowa and doctorate from Washington University, St. Louis … former director of Children’s Center at Syracuse University … collaborative enrichment program with Dr. Julius Richmond at Syracuse became the foundation for Head Start … principal of Kramer School in Little Rock … longtime faculty member at UALR becoming distinguished professor of early childhood education and distinguished professor emeritus … Ladies Home Journal Woman of the Year, 1978. read more >

Cathy Cunningham: Community Advocate

Historic preservationist … past or current member of several boards and commissions including chair of the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council and founding board member of the Arkansas Main Street Program … first female board member of Arkansas Power & Light (Entergy Arkansas) … Chairman of the development committee of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) Delta … As Community Development Consultant with Southern Bancorp Community Partners and chair of the Helena Advertising & Promotion Commission, Cunningham led the development and implementation of the Civil War Helena project. read more >

Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders: Champion for Medical Equality

Army veteran … former head of the Arkansas Department of Health … Led charge for sweeping changes to statewide K-12 curriculum … Proponent of school-based sex education, substance abuse prevention and self-esteem programs … First African American and second woman to hold the post of U.S. Surgeon General … recipient of numerous awards and honors including National Institutes of Health career development award and past president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers … professor emeritus at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. read more >

Dr. Betty Ann Lowe: Physician and Educator

First woman to graduate top of her class at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences … worked in private practice for 25 years … medical director of Arkansas Children’s Hospital … associate dean of pediatrics at UAMS … namesake of the Betty Ann Lowe M.D. Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Education … winner of numerous awards and a member of multiple boards and committees as well as President Bill Clinton’s task force for healthcare reform … first Arkansan and second woman to become president of the American Academy of Pediatrics read more >

Lottie Holt Shackelford: Political Pioneer

First female and second African-American mayor of Little Rock. … member with leadership positions in a number of organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) … former co-chair and vice chair emeritus of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) ... chair of DNC Women’s Caucus … helped found the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas … member of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. read more >

Patti Upton: Entrepreneur

Business leader … innovator … philanthropist … Member, University of Arkansas Business Hall of Fame … Fortune 500 board member … fashion icon. Honored as Arkansas Business Woman Owner of the Year and her company was named Arkansas Business of the Year. read more >

Pat Walker: Philanthropist

Charitable foundation founder … healthcare advocate … rancher … mother and grandmother … Sunday school teacher … named one of the Most Distinguished Women in Arkansas … multiple award-winner and honorary society member. Her family name appears on theaters, senior centers, medical facilities and education programs. read more >

Betty Bumpers: Champion For Change

Displaying a uniquely Arkansan combination of wit, grit and grace, Betty Bumpers never met a challenge she didn’t like, or a problem she didn’t think she could whip, over a lifetime in the public eye. read more >

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Public Servant

She’s held many titles in her lifetime, many roles of distinction. Over and again, the tag “first” has been attached to her accomplishments, the list of which is staggering. It’s interesting, then, that all it takes is a single first name for half the globe to know exactly who is being talked about: Hillary. read more >

Dr. Mary Good: Standout in Science

The daughter of schoolteachers, Mary Lowe Good’s intellectual curiosity blossomed early. Her first flirtation with science was to create a homemade photo lab in the cellar, complete with chemicals she researched and mixed herself. read more >