AWARD WINNERS
Recognizing success and commitment throughout the years.
Award History & Winners
The NFDW Awards were first given in 1986 by President Caroline Wilkins at Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas. Special recognition was given to Federation Founder Rilla Moran Woods; Dorothy Bush, long-time Secretary of the DNC; Betty Bumpers, co-founder of Peace Links and Pamela Harriman, stellar Democratic fundraiser. All four were present to accept their Awards and conducted workshops or served on panels during Convention. Later that year, Caroline, Immediate-Past President Angie Elkins and her daughter Debbie Elkins met and drafted the criteria for three awards: Outstanding NFDW Member; Outstanding Democratic Woman Elected Official; and Humanitarian.
Outstanding NFDW Member
This award is presented to the woman who has contributed to the growth, development and promotion of NFDW over the past year.
The 2021 Award winner is Judy Villa of Connecticut.
1987 - Jane Bullock, AZ
1988 - Agnes Bird, TN
1989 - Rae Small, FL
1990 - Annette Jones, DC
1991 - Angie Elkins, NC
1992 - Caroline Wilkins, OR
1993 - Gwen McFarland, TN
1994 - Anne Mauzy, TX
1995 - Pat Frank, OK
1996 - Onita Hamilin, KS
1997 - Charlotte Coker, WA
1998 - Bernice Bowman, CT
1999 - Laura Comini, OR
2000 - Helen Knetzer, KS
2001 - Corrine Anderson, MS
2002 - Irene Younkman, KS
2003 - Virgie Rollins, MI
2004 - Ruth Rudy, PA
2005 - Dot Mrowka, CT
2006 - No Award
2007 - Barbara Mansfield, LA
2008 - Ardena Matlack, KS
2009 - Joanne LeBeau, CT
2010 - Pat Hobbs, CA
2011 - Jan Paschal, AR
2012 - Judy Baker, NM
2013 - No Winner
2014 - Janice Haynes-Davis, Washington, DC
2015 - Susanna French, KY
2016 - Mary “Cindy” Jenks, MO
2017 - Estell Mathis-Lloyd, DC
2018 - Dorothy Adams, MO
2019 - Elizabeth Duarte, CT
2020 - No Award
2021 - Judy Villa, CT
2022 - Jeanne Marszalek, MS
2023 - Gail Buckner, GA
2024 - TBD
Outstanding Democratic Woman Elected Office
This award is presented to the woman who has made a significant contribution to the Democratic party and its principles over the past year.
1987 - Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow, OH
1988 - State Sen. Frances Farley, UT
1989 - State Sen. Helen Gordon Davis, FL
1990 - Hon. Jolene Unsoeld, MC, WA
1991 - Gov. Joan Finney, KS
1992 - Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher, AR
1993 - Gov. Ann Richards, TX
1994 - Treasurer Martha Whitehead, TX
1995 - Treasurer Sally Thompson, KS
1996 - Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius, KS
1997 - Sheila Jackson Lee, MC, TX
1998 - Asst. Sec. of State Cathy Cox, GA
1999 - Board of Education Janet Waugh, KS
2000 - Treasurer Denise Nappier, CT
2001 - US Sen. Jean Carnahan, MO
2002 - Judge Cynthia Stephens, MI
2003 - Comptroller Nancy Wyman, CT
2004 - State Sec. of State Susan Bysiewicz, CT
2005 - Councilperson Linda Cropp, DC
2006 - No Award
2007 - Nancy Pelosi, MC, CA
2008 - Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, NM
2009 - State Sec. of State Mary Herrera, NM
2010 - State Sec. of State Elaine Marshall, NC
2011 - Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC
2012 - US Senator Claire McCaskill, MO
2013 - No Winner
2014 - No Award
2015 - Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, CT
2016 - State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, FL
2017 - Councilperson Anita Bonds, DC
2018 - Sheriff Sally Hernadez, TX
2019 - State Rep. Kathy Hinkle, KY
2020 - No Award
2021 - State Rep. Sally Toone, ID
2022 - Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, NJ
2023 - Rep. Jahana Hayes, CT
Humanitarian
This award is presented to the person who made a significant contribution to the cause of human and/or civil rights over the past year.
1987 - No Award
1988 - Rosetta Dawson, KS
1989 - Evelyn Hibbs, OK
1990 - Mary Ann Flunder, KS
1991 - Hon. Ralph Yarbrough, former Sen. TX
1992 - Barbara Jordan, former MC, TX
1993 - Tipper Gore, TN
1994 - Alma Carter, KS
1995 - Ruby Gilbert, KS
1996 - Joan Wagnon, KS
1997 - Dorothy Wallace, LA
1998 - Julia Francisco, KS
1999 - Martin Frost, MC, TX
2000 - C. Delores Tucker, DC
2001 - Rep. Barbara Ballard, KS
2002 - Carolyn Campbell, KS
2003 - Julia Clem, KS
2004 - Thelma Adams, OH
2005 - Marge Vaughn, KS
2006 - Ruby Smith, KS
2007 - Fran Lee, KS
2008 - Pam Ray, AR
2009 - Pauline Janes, KS
2010 - Geraldine Flaharty, KS
2011 - No Award
2012 - Virginia C. Hesel, NJ
2013 - Pat Lehman, KS
2014 - Wanda McLane, MO
2015 - Linda Holland Jefferson, DC
2016 - Jasmina Forcan, FL
2017 - Former First Lady Rosalynn Smith Carter, GA
2018 - Sharon Pritchett, FL
2019 - Silvia Kelly, KS
2020 - No Award
2021 - Nellie Duke, GA
2022 - Britney Thornton, TN
2023 - Rita Haggardt, ID