2019 Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

From left to right, The Honorable Noma Gurich, Ms. Andrea Holmes Volturo (accepting in memory  of Helen Freudenberger Holmes, Maj (USA, Ret, ) Ms. Ollie Starr, and Ms. Judy Love. The event was held Thursday, October 10, 2019 at the Oklahoma Judicial Center in OKC.  

Inductees and Bios

The Honorable Noma Gurich, Chief Justice, Oklahoma Supreme Court

The Honorable Justice Gurich has uplifted women in the law profession and has been a beacon of strength for women in politics, business and education.  She assumed the office of Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on January 1, 2019, having served as Justice on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma since 2011. She is the third woman in state history to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and has been a member of the Oklahoma Judiciary for over 30 years. Justice Gurich has exemplified strong professionalism and leadership throughout her career and was appointed by four governors to judicial officer positions. In 2011, The Journal Record inducted her into the Circle of Excellence. Justice Gurich inspires women with her character, demeanor and history of wise and emphatic leadership in art, culture and law.

Judy Love

The Honorable Justice Gurich has uplifted women in the law profession and has been a beacon of strength for women in politics, business and education.  She assumed the office of Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court on January 1, 2019, having served as Justice on the Supreme Court of Oklahoma since 2011. She is the third woman in state history to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and has been a member of the Oklahoma Judiciary for over 30 years. Justice Gurich has exemplified strong professionalism and leadership throughout her career and was appointed by four governors to judicial officer positions. In 2011, The Journal Record inducted her into the Circle of Excellence. Justice Gurich inspires women with her character, demeanor and history of wise and emphatic leadership in art, culture and law. 

Ollie Starr

Ollie Starr has a heart for service and is an asset to her community. Starr was instrumental in revitalizing the Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club. Established in 1899, the Club began as a past-time club for native women returning home in the summers from seminaries and colleges. Today, the club remains active in cultural preservation and community service.  She promotes issues for elder Cherokees, securing grant money to enable young women to pursue higher education and helping improve living conditions for Cherokee seniors. In 2017, she received the Cherokee Nation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Helen Freudenberger Holmes, Maj. (USA, Ret.) (Posthumous)  

Major Helen Freudenberger Holmes, born in 1915 near Pleasant Valley, Okla., pioneered women’s role in the military as one of the first women to serve on active duty. In 1942, while serving as the public relations representative of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Oklahoma State University), she was selected for the first class of Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) officer candidates from Oklahoma. During Major Holmes’ service period, she excelled in her military role in public relations and intelligence, working with national media such as The Washington Post, Look and Life magazines.  She received numerous decorations while serving her country with bravery, diligence and integrity and is a shining example of a strong and resilient woman who willingly served our nation during World War II. Following her active duty service, Major Holmes continued her service to her state by becoming the second woman to serve as mayor of Guthrie, serving from 1979-81. After years of serving Oklahoma, Major Holmes passed away in 1997. In 2019, Major Holmes was inducted into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame and the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame.