WHEREAS, Oklahoma women have made historic contributions to the development, growth, and strength of our state and nation in countless ways; and

WHEREAS, even though women did not yet have the right to vote, in 1907, Kate Barnard became the first woman elected to a statewide office in Oklahoma, and one of the first women elected to a statewide office in the country; and

WHEREAS, in 1933, Angie Debo received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Oklahoma, and though she would never hold a position in a history department at a university because of gender discrimination, she became known as Oklahoma's greatest historian, writing nine history books, particularly focusing on the history of Oklahoma, the Tribal Nations, and the relations between them and the state and federal governments; and

WHEREAS, in 1958, Clara Luper and students from the Oklahoma City NAACP Youth Council staged the nation's first nonviolent lunch counter sit-in at Katz Drug Store; and

WHEREAS, in the 1990s, Oklahoman and NASA Astronaut Shannon Lucid set records for the most time in space by a woman and then for the longest-duration space flight by any U.S. astronaut; and

WHEREAS, Oklahoma women have made significant contributions in other areas as well, including medicine, business, literature, the arts, and more; and

WHEREAS, Oklahoma joins the rest of the country in observation of national Women's History Month during March.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THERIN:

THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature applauds and recognizes the many contributions made by Oklahoma women throughout the nation's history.

THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature recognizes and celebrates March as national Women's History Month.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women.