Four women will be inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame this morning in a 10 AM ceremony in Des Moines.
Phyllis Peters, of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, says since 1975, four women have been singled out for induction each year.
“We do this every August,” Peters says. “It coincides with the time when Women’s Equality Day is celebrated. It’s an event that helps elevate the achievements of women that have often been pretty amazing, given a lot of different circumstances, but in many ways, have gone unnoticed.”
This is the 38th year for the ceremony and as of last year, 150 women had been inducted. Peters names three of the four women who will be inducted in today’s ceremony.
They include: Dr. Mary Chapman, from Des Moines, an educator at Des Moines Area Community College; Patti Judge, of Albia, a former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and a former Lieutenant Governor, and Dr. Debra Turner, now of Des Moines and formerly of Mason City, a physician.
The fourth inductee died about a year ago so she’ll be honored with a posthumous induction.
Barbara Mack was a lawyer and at a very young age, she was the top lawyer for the Des Moines Register and was a “pioneer in women’s roles in newspaper management and press law,” according to Peters.
She calls these women “leaders and innovators who helped open the doors for more women,” as they were in fields traditionally held by men.
The ceremony will take place at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City