[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5244-S5246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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      RECOGNIZING THE 2019 ARKANSAS WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame Class of 2019 inductees and celebrate 
their contributions to our State and our country.
  Founded in 2014, the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame honors women whose 
contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their 
community or the State as a whole. The

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AWHOF recognizes women, contemporary or historical, who have achieved 
prominence within the State. By providing a place for women in the 
State to be admired, the AWHOF inspires future generations of young 
Arkansas women to achieve great things.
  Alice Andrews is a conservationist and a leading voice for 
environmental protection in Arkansas. As a farmer's daughter, Alice 
developed an interest in the environment and protecting land and water 
resources. Alice's conservation efforts began with advocacy work for 
the Buffalo River designation in 1972, which protects the river from 
industrial uses that may change its natural character or surrounding 
habitat. She has continued her efforts by serving on the Arkansas 
Trails Council, being appointed to the Arkansas Scenic Rivers 
Commission and serving as president of the Ozark Society. Alice has 
also been credited with helping preserve the landscape where iconic 
landmarks including the Big Dam Bridge, Two Rivers Bridge, and the 
River Trail, can be found. Her continued support and consultation with 
nonprofits, governments, and local churches have made Arkansas a better 
place for many generations to live, work and play.
  Olivia Myers Farrell is among Arkansas's most influential women in 
media. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock 
before starting her career as part of the advertising department at the 
Arkansas Writers Project at the Arkansas Times. She then cofounded 
Arkansas Business and Southern magazine in the years following. Olivia 
has been honored as a Young Achiever by the National Council of Women 
of the United States--one of only six women selected in 1984 and the 
first Arkansas woman to receive the honor. She then became the CEO and 
principal owner of the Arkansas Business Publishing Group, which has 
received numerous awards for outstanding journalism by its 
publications, including Arkansas Business, Little Rock Family, and 
Little Rock Soiree. In 1998, she cofounded the Arkansas Women's 
Foundation to improve the educational status and skills of Arkansas 
women and girls in STEM fields, promote philanthropy by and for women, 
and enhance the economic viability of emerging leaders in Arkansas. Her 
efforts in the community earned her the Distinguished Citizen Award 
given by former Governor Mike Beebe in 2012.
  Jo Luck attended Hendrix College before graduating from David 
Lipscomb College with a degree in education in 1963. Jo went on to earn 
a master's degree from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of 
Government and served as the assistant director in the Governor's 
Office of Volunteer Services before becoming the first director of the 
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Under Governor Bill 
Clinton, she became the executive director of the Arkansas Department 
of Parks and Tourism. Under Jo's guidance, the economic impact of 
Arkansas' tourism industry more than doubled. In 1992, she became 
president and CEO of Little Rock-based Heifer International--a global 
nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty--where she served 
until 2010. Under her leadership, the organization's state-of-the-art, 
LEED-certified headquarters was designed and built. In 2011, Jo was 
appointed by Barack Obama to serve on the U.S. Agency for International 
Development's Board for International Food and Agricultural 
Development. She has worked throughout her career to improve food 
availability around the globe and promote sustainable agricultural 
practices.
  Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder was born in Tillar, AR, in 1923. When 
she was 16 years old, she enrolled in the University of Arkansas at 
Monticello while also freelance writing for the McGehee Times. She went 
on to become editor of the McGehee Times in October 1944. She and her 
husband Melvin worked at the newspaper for 6 years before purchasing 
the Dumas Clarion, which they owned for more than four decades. 
Although the paper was largely known for local news, Charlotte took an 
editorial stand on many issues, including the desegregation of Central 
High School in Little Rock along with economic and development issues 
in Dumas, AR. Along with being a critical voice in local media, 
Charlotte was a board member of the Dumas Chamber of Commerce and 
served as the first female president of the organization. In 1975, 
Governor David Pryor appointed Charlotte to the Arkansas Board of 
Pardons and Parole, making her the first female to serve on the group's 
board. Charlotte went on to become president of many journalism 
organizations, including Arkansas Press Women, the Little Rock chapter 
of the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Federation of 
Press Women, the Arkansas Press Association, and the National Newspaper 
Association. In 1984, she was elected to the State house of 
representatives where she served until 1999. While in office, she was 
the lead sponsor for several bills, including the expansion of the 
Freedom of Information Act, a bill creating the Arkansas Ethics 
Commission, and the creation of a sales tax for a research center and 
endowed chair at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 
alcohol abuse prevention. Charlotte's consistent efforts to improve her 
community and State are both courageous and groundbreaking.
  Carolyn Witherspoon graduated from the University of Arkansas at 
Little Rock in 1974 and continued her education at the UALR School of 
Law, where she graduated with honors in 1978. Throughout her legal 
career, Carolyn has advocated for promoting a healthy work-life balance 
and supported and founded organizations that serve women. She served as 
the commissioner of the Arkansas Real Estate Commission from 1978 until 
1981, when she became the president of the Arkansas Association of 
Women's Lawyers. Her law practice has centered on representing private 
and public employees in defending employment-related matters, including 
title VII litigation. Her practice has led her to serve as president of 
the Pulaski County Bar Association and the Arkansas Bar Association, 
where she became the first woman to hold that position. As one of the 
top lawyers from Arkansas, she has been honored to serve on the Union 
Internationale des Advocats. Carolyn has also earned recognition from 
the American Psychological Association, the Society for Human Resources 
Management, and the State of Arkansas. Her firm has been honored with 
the WE WORKs Award three times for incorporating flexibility in 
workplace practices. Under her direction, Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon, 
and Galchus is the only firm in the State of Arkansas with 50 percent 
ownership by female attorneys. Her community involvement includes 
serving on the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault and as former 
president of the Women's Foundation of Arkansas, as well as providing 
legal services to low-income people through a program known as VOCALS. 
We can be proud of Carolyn's contributions to the legal community in 
our State, country, and internationally.
  Diane Frances Divers Kincaid Blair was born in Washington, DC in 
1938. She graduated cum laude from Cornell University's Department of 
Government in 1959. When she returned to Washington, she served as an 
analyst for the President's Committee on Government Contracts, a 
research assistant with the Senate Special Committee on Unemployment, 
and legislative secretary and speechwriter for former U.S. Senator 
Stuart Symington of Missouri. After marrying Arkansan Hugh Kincaid, she 
moved to Fayetteville in 1963. Diane completed her master's degree 
through the Department of Political Science at the University of 
Arkansas in 1967. The following year, Kincaid became a part-time 
lecturer in political science at the University of Arkansas at 
Fayetteville and in 1979 became an assistant professor of political 
science. In 1971, Governor Dale Bumpers appointed Diane to chair the 
Governor's Commission on the Status of Women. In 1976, Governor David 
Pryor selected her to chair a commission on public employee rights. In 
1980, she was appointed to the commission for the Arkansas Educational 
Television Networks, where she served until 1993. She also served as an 
advisor for the Clinton-Gore campaign in 1992 and 4 years later worked 
on the President's reelection campaign. President Clinton appointed 
Diane to the board of directors of the U.S. Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting, which she later chaired. Diane authored two books, 
including ``Arkansas Politics and Government: Do the People Rule?'' 
which is used by many Arkansas colleges and

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universities as part of their curriculums. Blair passed away in 2000 of 
lung cancer, but left behind a legacy of service and dedication to the 
State of Arkansas.
  Louise McPhetridge Thaden was born in Bentonville on a small family 
farm and became interested in aviation at an early age. She attended 
the University of Arkansas, but never graduated. Instead, she continued 
to pursue her love of flying, taking her skills to Kansas and 
eventually California and working various jobs until she eventually 
earned her pilot's license. She became the only female pilot to 
simultaneously hold the women's record for speed, altitude, and solo 
endurance, beating out Amelia Earhart and other pilots at the National 
Women's Air Derby in 1929. Together Earhart and Thaden formed the 
Ninety-Nines, an advocacy group for women pilots. Additionally, Louise 
opened a flight school for women at the Penn School of Aviation and 
raised the scholarship money for its first 12 students. In 1932, she 
set a refueling endurance record of 196 hours in the air over Long 
Island. In 1936, Louise became the first woman to win the Bendix 
Transcontinental Air Race from New York to Los Angeles. She was the 
1937 recipient of the Harmon Trophy, which is the highest honor given 
to a female pilot. Her achievements have been honored in numerous ways, 
including by the community of Bentonville, where its airport now bears 
her name, as well as by former Governor David Pryor's declaration of 
August 22 as ``Louise M. Thaden Day.'' She was posthumously inducted 
into the International Aerospace Hall of Fame in 1999. Louise's 
pioneering and competitive spirit will continue to inspire future 
generations of pilots and women for many years to come.
  The final inductee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Beta Pi Omega 
Chapter, was chartered in Little Rock in 1937. It is the oldest 
graduate chapter in the State of Arkansas. The chapter's 265 members 
regularly complete service projects and host health fairs, workshops, 
education programs, voter drive, and fundraisers. The group's members 
use their education, skill, and expertise to make an impact in the 
community. Beta Pi Omega has sponsored the chartering of two new Alpha 
Kappa Alpha chapters in the State, Gamma Alpha Chapter at Philander 
Smith College and Epsilon Phi Chapter at the University of Arkansas at 
Little Rock. Through the years, over 500 High School seniors and 
college students have received scholarships or other assistance from 
Beta Pi Omega. The chapter has been recognized for its programs and 
partnerships with the Little Rock School District, American Heart 
Association, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Lions 
Club International. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Beta Pi Omega chapter 
has demonstrated a true commitment to improving Arkansas for future 
generations of citizens in all corners of the State.
  Congratulations to the 2019 Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame inductees. 
We are grateful for their contributions to our State and the work they 
have done to inspire all Arkansans to achieve great things and help 
their neighbors and fellow citizens through their efforts to uplift and 
improve their communities.

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