2008 Ohio Womens Hall of Fame Inductees ANNOUNCED
Columbus, OH – The Ohioana Library today announced that thirteen remarkable women will be inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame on September 18, 2008. “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame (OWHF). The 365 current members come from all walks of life, and each has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to excellence, achievement, and service to others.” Said Ohioana Executive Director Linda Hengst, “the thirteen new inductees are no exception, their accomplishments and contributions to our state and nation will inspire Ohioans of all ages.” The 2008 OWHF Induction ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. It is free and open to the public, but reservations are required by Sept. 10 for the reception that will follow the induction. For more information, contact Ohioana at (614) 466-3831 or [email protected].
The new inductees are:
Dorothy Champion Baunach, Cuyahoga County – Among her many accomplishments, Baunach is the President and CEO of NorTech (Northeast Ohio), founding President of Edison BioTechnology Center and treasurer of Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition. Currently she is leading a $2 million campaign for a women’s center in the Cleveland neighborhood where she grew up.
Carrie Nelson Black, Franklin County, (1858-1936) – In 1906, Black founded and became the volunteer Chief Executive of the Columbus Society for the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis (now The Breathing Association). She also launched a visiting nurses program in 1898, which is now the LifeCare Alliance. Black was a Columbus, Ohio native and her legacy lives on in the work of the agencies that she founded more than 100 years ago.
Caro Bayley Bosca, Clark County, (1922-2007) – Bosca was one of the first women to fly during World War II and a former president of the WASP club. She became an International Women’s Aerobatic Champion and set an official altitude record in 1951. She was named 1951’s “Aviation Woman of the Year” by Mademoiselle Magazine. Bosca, a Springfield, Ohio native, was a mother of four children and a role model for many young women.
Yvette McGee Brown, Franklin County – Brown was a leader in creating the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She was the first African American judge in the Franklin County Court of Common Please, Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch. Brown is active on numerous community boards and dedicated to promoting the healthy lives of children and families. She is a native of Columbus, Ohio and a graduate of Columbus City Schools.
Loann Crane, Franklin County – Crane is a dedicated philanthropist and supporter of the arts and equality in Ohio. She helped found the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio and has greatly impacted the Columbus community through her work with The Ohio State University Foundation, CCAD, Columbus Museum of Art, GCAC, and ProMusica. A Martins Ferry, Ohio native, Crane is one of Columbus’ most respected community leaders.
Joan Durgin, Lucas County – Durgin is a force for the support and advancement of young women and girls in Toledo and Northwest Ohio. She developed the School Based Health Clinics in Toledo Public Schools that provide everything from disease prevention to primary health care. In 2003, Durgin founded the Polly Fox Academy, an alternative school for pregnant and parenting teen girls. Joan has lived in Northwest Ohio for most of her life and currently works for Toledo Public Schools.
Carol Gibbs, Hamilton County – Gibbs is the founder of Accountability and Credibility Together, Inc. (ACT), serving poor families with children. She was the president of the Cincinnati Council of PTAs and in 2007 began dedicating time and effort to the prevention of lead poisoning. Born in Dayton and raised in Cincinnati, Gibbs has committed herself to improving the lives of people in her community.
Billie A. Johnson, Lucas County – As Executive Director and CEO of the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Johnson is above all an advocate for the elderly. She established online services for seniors and has been an active member of local and national advocacy groups. Johnson has been happily serving older Ohioans in Northwestern Ohio for more than three decades.
Jih-Fen Lei, Cuyahoga County – Director of Research and Technology Directorate at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Lei is a leader in propulsion, microgravity research, instrumentation and controls, nanotechnology, and bio technology. She has developed sensors and protective coating for aircraft and rocket applications. Lei actively mentors women and minorities in science and research careers.
Elizabeth Stewart Magee, Cuyahoga County, (1889-1972) – An advocate of women’s and children’s rights in the workforce, Magee was Executive Secretary of Ohio’s Commission on Unemployment Insurance and held numerous other national and political position, unusual for a woman of her era. She created the Ohio Plan, the foundation for today’s national unemployment program, and campaigned to prevent child labor and to improve the status of migrant workers.
Kasturi V. Rajadhyaksha, Delaware County – As an advocate working toward equality and understanding for women and Asians in Ohio, Rajadhyaksha has worked in maternal and child health, family planning and the empowerment of women for over 60 years in the United States and India as well as 20 other countries. She founded the Women of Indian Subcontinent Support Group (WISSUG), and co-founded the Asian American Commerce Group (AACG) as well as the Women to Women Mentoring Group.
Julie Salamon, Adams County – An esteemed author and journalist, Salamon has been a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, a movie critic, and weekly columnist. Among her many award-winning books, her novella, The Christmas Tree (1996), became a New York Times Bestseller, has been translated into eight languages, and received an Audie Award for Best Inspirational/Spiritual Book. Salamon is active in organizations that provide care for the homeless who suffer from addiction or mental disease. A native of Seaman, Ohio, she currently resides in New York with her husband and children.
Michele G. Wheatly, Ph.D., Greene County – As Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Wright State University, Wheatly is active in recruiting and ensuring the success of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Since moving to Ohio in 1994, she has been using her expertise to further the involvement of women in science and mathematics in Ohio.
(FOR FULL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF INDUCTEES, CONTACT OHIOANA)
The Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1978 by the Women’s Division of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services (now part of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services) to publicly recognize the many outstanding contributions Ohio women have made to their state and nation. Members of the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame come from all walks of life, but each has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to excellence, achievement and service to others. The Ohio Women’s Hall of
Fame serves as a daily tribute to these women who are an ongoing source of pride and inspiration for all Ohioans - especially our state’s next generation of leaders.
The Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame program is currently administered by the Ohioana Library Association in partnership with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Governor’s Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. Through this partnership, the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame will continue to honor Ohio women who emerge as leaders in their fields, often against great odds, with courage, determination and compassion. By celebrating their accomplishments, their struggles and triumphs, we prepare our children for the choices they must make and the challenges yet to come.
The Friends of the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, a group of private organizations and individuals who provide financial support to the program, has been established to help the program grow. For more information, contact the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame at (614) 466-3831 or write to Ohioana, 274 E. First Ave., Suite 300, Columbus, OH 43201.
Press Release Contact Name: Linda Hengst
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: (614) 466-3831
Organization Name: Ohioana
Website or Link: www.ohioana.org
Organization Address: Columbus, OH