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National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree Reunion to Highlight 40th Induction Anniversary Celebration
Ceremony to Honor Four New Inductees Nov. 5 in Fort Worth, Texas
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (June 30, 2015) – The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame – the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage in their trailblazing efforts – will celebrate the annual National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Induction Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center Round Up Inn in Fort Worth, Texas. This year’s Induction Luncheon will mark the 40th anniversary of the Hall of Fame and will draw dozens of the over 200 Honorees to the celebration for a special reunion.
The Honorees in the Hall of Fame are the legacy of legends. They are artists and writers, champions and competitive performers, entertainers, ranchers (stewards of land and livestock), trailblazers and pioneers. Confirmed Hall of Fame Honorees to be in attendance at this year’s 40th anniversary celebration include television host Pam Minick, photographer Barbara Van Cleve, and artist Donna Howell-Sickles.
“The Hall of Fame Honorees are a diverse group of remarkable women united by their lasting contributions to the history of the American West,” said Patricia Riley, Executive Director, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. “We are excited to bring together the past Honorees and welcome the new inductees as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Hall of Fame and all the amazing women who are a part of this great institution.”
This year will also honor four new cowgirl inductees to the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame family. The 2015 ceremony will recognize:
• Patricia E. Kelly – Connecticut
A former U.S. marine, award-winning community leader, and equestrian trailblazer, Patricia E. Kelly has been at the helm of the Hartford, CT-based non-profit organization Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. for the past 30+ years. Initially started in 1984 as a cultural and social enrichment organization for female equestrians, Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. serves over 300 youth annually, creating a safe space for local youth to receive mentorship and personal development. Kelly has been a trained equestrian instructor for over 37 years, as well as a certified Master Urban Riding instructor and Equine Husbandry instructor. She also holds a certification in Equine Assisted Growth, Learning, and Therapy as a Horse Specialist via EAGALA-(Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). Kelly has been previously recognized for her trailblazing efforts multiple times, most currently as one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of 2014 and as one of Aetna’s Champions for Change.
• Terri Kelly Moyers – New Mexico
Terri Kelly Moyers grew up with the innate desire to be an artist. As a child in Calgary, Alberta, she was always drawing and experimenting with art subjects, specifically depictions of horses. Her work has been displayed at the Forbes Building in New York and at the Gene Autry Museum in Los Angeles, and is the first exhibition in the new Anne W. Marion Gallery at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Moyers has received several accolades, including two Frederic Remington Awards and the Nona Jean Hulsey Rumsey Buyer’s Choice Award. In 2012, Moyers was the second woman to receive the Prix de West Purchase Award for her piece La Luz de Fe; it had been 34 years since Bettina Steinke won it in 1978.
• Jane Pattie – Texas
Since the publication of her first article in 1958, Jane Pattie has harnessed her passion for the American West as an accomplished freelance writer and photographer who has authored more than 3,000 articles. She has been published in over twenty national and international magazines, including The Quarter Horse Journal, The Paint Horse Journal, Horse & Rider, and Western Horsemen. Her work often focused on iconic cowgirls, such as Mitzi Lucas Riley, Florence Hughes Randolph, and Martha Josey, and the fundamental roles they played in the history of the West. Her work has won multiple awards from organizations such as Western Writers of America, Westerners International, the San Antonio Conservation Society, and the National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration. Aside from writing, Pattie has lived the lifestyle, raising registered Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds in her native Texas until retirement.
• Jo Ann Smith – Florida
Jo Ann Smith has blazed trails for women and championed family-owned farms in the agricultural industry for decades. A rancher alongside her husband in Florida, Smith saw the need for global marketing efforts for farmers to survive financially in the changing world. In 1985, she became the first female president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the largest agricultural organization in the United States. She was the founding chair of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, under which she spearheaded and developed the highly successful Beef Check-off Program. In 1989, she was appointed by President George H. W. Bush as the Assistant Secretary of Marketing and Inspection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. During the 1990s, Smith continued to represent agriculture by serving on corporate boards for Purina Mills, Iowa Beef Producers, and Tyson Foods, Inc., all the while remaining involved in her family’s business.
The ceremony will also honor Double D Ranch of Yoakum, Texas, with the Mary Jane Colter Award. This award, named for 2009 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree, Mary Jane Colter, distinguishes those women who create, design, build, and interpret the traditions of the American West. Double D Ranch was founded in 1989 and is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. The high-end, western lifestyle brand designs, manufactures and distributes upscale apparel and home furnishings inspired by the West. Licensed products include western boots and home textiles.
The annual Induction Luncheon is the largest event for the Hall of Fame, and draws approximately 700-1,000 attendees each year. The 40th anniversary celebration will kick off at 10:00 a.m. Nov. 5, with the opening of holiday shopping vendor booths and a champagne reception followed by the Induction luncheon and ceremony. For ticket information, please contact Emmy Lou Prescott at emmylou@cowgirl.net or call 817-509-8965.
For more news about the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, visit www.cowgirl.net, and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NCMHOF, Twitter at www.twitter.com/cowgirlmuseum, Instagram at www.instagram.com/cowgirlmuseum, Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/cowgirlmuseum, and YouTube at: www.youtube.com/user/cowgirlmuseum.
About the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience, and independence that helped shape the American West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire. The Hall of Fame’s purpose is twofold: to preserve the history and impact of western women living from the mid-1800s to present day, and to foster an appreciation for their ideals and spirit of self-reliance. These women are the legacy of legends — artists and writers, champions and competitive performers, entertainers, ranchers (stewards of land and livestock), trailblazers and pioneers. The Museum is considered an invaluable national educational resource for its exhibits, research library, rare photograph collection, and award-winning distance-learning programs for grades K-12 and adults.
Located at 1720 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, the Cowgirl is open Monday (Memorial Day to Labor Day) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for children ages 3 to 12 and senior citizens (60+) and $10 for adults (ages 13+). For more information, please visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817-476-FAME (3263).
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