Douglas, Noble To Be Honored By Women

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will present Edmond Mayor Patrice Douglas and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Norma L. Noble with its 2011 Kate Barnard Award at a ceremony and luncheon at the Oklahoma capitol on Thursday, February 24th.

This honorary award is in memory and recognition of Oklahoman Kate Barnard, who in 1907 became the first woman to win a statewide elected office in the United States. She held the office of Commissioner of Charities and Corrections for two terms. She was a key figure in the enactment of a compulsory education law providing for state payments to widows dependent on their children’s earnings, of legislation implementing the constitutional ban on child labor, and the laws aimed at unsafe working conditions.

Beginning in 1998, the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women created the Kate Barnard Award to continue recognition and appreciation of the women that have made a difference in Oklahoma by becoming public servants.

These women are elected or appointed salaried public officials in Oklahoma.

Previous recipients of the award include Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Congresswoman Mary Fallin, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett.

Honoree Patrice Douglas was elected mayor of Edmond, Oklahoma’s fifth largest city, in 2009. Prior to her election as mayor, Douglas served as an elected representative to the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors, elected Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Edmond Economic Development Authority, and on the Board of Directors of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. Governor Frank Keating appointed Douglas to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Board of Commissioners and Governor Brad Henry appointed her to the Oklahoma Commission on Teacher Preparation.

Since 2008, Douglas has served as Executive Vice President of First Fidelity Bank. She was previously President for the Greater OKC Metro Market of Spirit Bank and Vice President and General Counsel for ACP Sheet Metal Company.

Douglas is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bankers Association.

She received her B.A. from Oklahoma Christian University and her J.D. from Oklahoma City University.

Douglas has been recognized as a champion of small business, Edmond’s senior citizens, literacy, stronger partnerships for early childhood education, and encouraging volunteerism among Edmond’s youth.

Honoree Norma L. Noble has served as Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Workforce Development since her appointment by Governor Brad Henry in 2003.

Prior to her appointment as Deputy Secretary, Noble served as Deputy Director for Oklahoma County’s Department of Training & General Assistance and Director of Oklahoma County’s Workforce Investment Board.

Noble is a past president of Workforce Oklahoma Employment and Training and serves on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma City YMCA and the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.

In her private life, Noble is the Youth Music Coordinator for the National Missionary Baptist Congress and the Southwest Regional Youth Convention.

She received her B.A. from Northeastern State University and holds Master’s degrees from Northeastern and the University of Oklahoma.

Noble was named as one of The Journal Record’s “50 Making a Difference” in 2007 and was the recipient of the Economic Development Partner of the Year Award from the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Noble has been recognized for her ability to bring together people from organized labor, business, industry, and education to work towards common goals for the improvement and expansion of jobs and careers for Oklahoma citizens.

The mission of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women is to improve the quality of life for women, families, and children in Oklahoma.

A complete list of previous awardees can be found at: http://www.ok.gov/ocsw/The_Kate_Barnard_Award.

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