Past 'Outstanding Women of Clinton County' Recipients:

Class of 2025: Outstanding: Corey Cockerill, Carrie Fairchild, Kym Parks, Denise Stryker, and Natalie Youd. Promising: Shelby Boatman, and Elizabeth Huber.
Class of 2024: Rita Butcher, Cherie Dixon, Kathy Gephart, Barbara Hameister, Karen Long, Tari Mabry, and Marsha Snyder
Class of 2023: Buffy Boatman, Eileen Brady, Karen Buckley, Jo Ann Grimshaw, Deanna Liermann, Andrea Tacoronte, and Pauline Taylor
​Class of 2022: Mary Camp, Katie Muchmore Early, Mary Gibson, Joyce Kelly, JoAnne Lindsey, and Frances Sharp
Class of 2021: No class initiation due to COVID-19
​Class of 2020: Andrea Davis, Barbara Davis, Connie Hardie, Lorry Swindler, Marsha Wagstaff, Elizabeth Carter Weaver, Brenda Woods
​​Class of 2019: Sharon Breckel, Lynn Deatherage, Suzanne Madison, Susan Parker, Sandy Pidgeon, Linda Rinehart, Terri Thobaben
Class of 2018: Janet Dixon, Dorothy A. Gurtzweiler, Dr. Angela Mitchell, Mary Ann Raizk, Ann Reno, Linda Ruble, Kim Vandervort
Class of 2017: Minnie Farren, Dr. Janet Gick, Jennifer Hollon, Ethel Marie Medley, Sandra Mongold, Cheryl Roberts, Beverly Sanders, Christine Snyder
​Class of 2016: Susan Henry, Sigrid Solomon, Diane Murphy, Hope Wilson-Belle, Ruby Porter, Avonelle B. Williams, Cindy Camp, Nancy McCormick
​Class of 2015: Dr. Emily Buchanan, Erika Goodwin, Margery Brock Hale, Marcy Hawley, Ruth Johnson, Tara Lydy, Kelley Robbins, Connie Surber, Patricia Swindler, Marjorie Hope Young
Class of 2014:  Jan Blohm, Carole Erdman, Mary Katheryn Hilberg, Barbara Reynolds, Tamara Wilson Rollins, Rosemary Surface, Jane Vandervort
Class of 2013:  Susan Ertel, Esther Farquhar Kamp, Elaine Fife, Muriel Hiatt, Alice Lundblad, Roberta Naylor, Judith Sargent, Evelyn VanDerVoort
​Class of 2012:  Joan Burge, Judy Cowman, Lenna Mae Gara, Diana Henderson, Elizabeth Mitchell, Tammy Shadley, Bonnie Starcher, Marla Stewart
Class of 2011:  Chris Burns-DiBiasio, Belinda Cook, Louise Griffiths, Jama Hayes, Donna Myers, Donna Thorp
​Class of 2010:  Sally Barker, Lucile Hadley, Josephine Harner, Dorothea Kratzer, Elsie McCoy, Frances MacDonald,  Joy Shoemaker, Helen Sparks, Mary Elizabeth Stanfield, Ellen Wright
Class of 2009:  Lois Allen, Ruth Hayes, Judith Kay Johnston, Angela Rackley, Debbie Stamper, Becky Thumma, Jean Holmes
​Class of 2008:  Rose Cooper, Jean Crites, Laura Curliss, Barbara Derrick, Kay McMillan, Judy Schnatz
​Class of 2007:  Kathleen Blake, Mary B. Hackney, Carolyn Matthews, Grace Nichols, Frances Putman, Nina Pettiford Duggar
Class of 2006:  Sara Conti, Polly Countryman, Maxine K. Hamilton, Elizabeth Looney, Maxine Miller, Lori Williams
Class of 2005:  Mary E. Cochran, Shirley A. Colvin, Karen Haley, Margaret Hollon. Patricia M. King, Jo Miller, Lucy Olds
​Class of 2004:  Linda Eichelberger, Judy Gano, Eleanor Harris, Susanne Kenney, Jane Telfair
​Class of 2003:  Barbara Bayless, Lois Boyer, Virgene Peterson, Dessa Hale, Helen McCoy, Garnette (Merle) McKee
Class of 2002:  Joann Chamberlin, Mary Curry, Rosemary Ehlerding, Kathryn Hale, Beulah Hill, Betty Rice, Ellenetta Gibbons, Esther Janes
Class of 2001:  Judith Briggs, Madalyn Loftin, Elizabeth Sharkey, Helen Storer, Aline Taylor, Esther Williams
Class of 2000:  Mary Boyd, Darleen Myers, Virginia Smith, Georgiana Thomas, Elizabeth Williams, Elizabeth Shrieves
* Italic names indicate a posthumous recipient *

Our Organization's History

The Outstanding Women of Clinton County award was established in 2000 to recognize and honor the women of Clinton County who have made important economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian contributions to their communities.

The first honorees were recognized at a luncheon on July 5, 2000. The backdrop for this event was the Wilmington Chautauqua program celebrating the life of Victoria Woodhull, an Ohio native who had immense impact on social, political, and cultural affairs in this country and abroad. Six women were honored - Dr. Mary Boyd, Darleen Myers, Virginia Smith, Georgiana Thomas, Elizabeth Williams, and Elizabeth Shrieves. Jan Hiatt was the key note speaker. Each honoree received a citation, bouquet of flowers, and a medallion on a pink ribbon - traditions which continue today. 

Over 200 women attended the luncheon in the Wilmington High School auditeria. Because of the enthusiastic response from the community and the success of the event, the organizers decided to make this an annual event and established the Outstanding Women Awards Committee, and agreed that future recipients of the award would be honored during Women's History Month - March of each year. The awards committee is made up of women representing the various communities of the county.

Each year in the fall, residents of Clinton County are invited to nominate deserving women for the award. Nominations are reviewed by the awards committee and the selection and announcement of the award recipients is made in February. 

To date, 100+ women have been recognized. Characteristics of those honored include women who have promoted community beautification, quality of life, history and culture, women who have acted as a voice or conscience, touched the lives of children and youth, demonstrated courage and strength of character, women who have shared their talents with their communities, and women who have put others' needs about their own. 

In addition to the women who are recognized for their accomplishments, an important feature of the awards luncheon is the key note speaker. Each year, the awards committee invites a woman who is well known in her field and profession to be the key note speaker. When possible, our speakers are also natives from the area who have excelled in their profession. Key note speakers with local ties have been Jan Hiatt, Ellen Hill, Linda Robinson, Karen Losey Carnahan, Stephanie Hodge, Connie McNeil, Kay Brewer, Marcy Hawley, Beth Ellis, Shelby Boatman, Kay Frances, and Sigrid Solomon. Others have included Laura Pulfer, Ann Hagadorn, Linda Hengst, Connie Schultz, and Valarie Willis. Music has always been an important part of our celebration and, as such, we feature women musicians and musical groups, like the Clintonaires, Joyful Noise, Ann Wolford, Lauren Davis, Susanne Hamilton, Cinnamon Peppo, Trisha Pence, Barbara Dennis, and Liz McAllister. 
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