STATE OFFICIALS

Step into the realm of civic leadership and service as we proudly present the Junior League’s State Officials Showcase. This platform honors the outstanding contributions of our members who have served as appointed and elected officials at the state level. From advocating for change to shaping policy, explore the stories of Junior League women who have made significant impacts on state governance. Join us in recognizing and celebrating the dedication, leadership, and enduring influence of Junior League members in state-level government service.

Junior League of Montgomery, AL

Junior League of Washington, DC

Junior League of Nashville, TN

The Junior League of Tulsa, OK

Junior League of Atlanta, GA

Junior League of Nashville, TN

Deborah Taylor Tate

Junior League of Nashville, TN

Causes/Issue Area(s): Drug Abuse, Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, Children and the Internet

Honors/Achievements: Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts for the Tennessee Supreme Court, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, senior policy advisor to two former Governors, Special Envoy to the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union.

The recipient of the 2006 Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award, Deborah Taylor Tate is the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts for the Tennessee Supreme Court. She serves as Special Envoy to the U.N.'s ITU for Child Online Protection, and is a former U.S. FCC Commissioner, a volunteer, an attorney, and a mother of three. A member of the Junior League of Nashville for more than 17 years, Deborah has made significant contributions toward recognizing, addressing, and improving the health, economic, and social well-being of women and children. Her work has made a lasting impact on local organizations, as she has served as chairperson for countless committees within her League and has held leadership positions on numerous boards in Nashville.

Deborah's membership and leadership in the Junior League of Nashville have made a tremendous difference in the League's ability to serve, improve, and enrich the lives of those in need. She has continually volunteered to take on the difficult issues facing women and children in the community and has succeeded in bringing agencies, professionals, advocates, and volunteers together to create a systemic change with lasting effects. As President of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), she has increased both the funding and programs to inspire a record-breaking number of League volunteers to represent children in court. Deborah has worked tirelessly on behalf of families in recovery from drug abuse, which led her to co-found the Renewal House, Nashville's first, largest, and most comprehensive long-term recovery community for addicted women and children.

Outside of her League work, Deborah served as a practicing attorney and senior policy advisor to former Governor Lamar Alexander and former Governor Don Sundquist as a senior mental health and juvenile justice policy advisor. She was instrumental in the creation and implementation of a statewide plan establishing a Mental Health Revision Commission, which culminated in the passage of an entire new mental health law for Tennessee. She presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Centerstone, the largest behavioral health provider in Tennessee.

In accepting her award, presented at a special luncheon ceremony sponsored by specialty retailer Talbots during the 84th AJLI Annual Conference, Deborah encouraged League members to continue to build partnerships with local leaders and organizations. She also challenged members to use the Junior League to take the first steps toward accomplishing their dreams, and then inspire others in their community to contribute their resources and human power to make an even larger difference.

The Junior League of Sarasota, FL

Junior League of St. Louis, MO

Elizabeth “Betty” Sims

Junior League of St. Louis, MO

Junior League of St. Louis, MO

Missouri State Senator

In office 1995-2002

Causes/Issue Area(s): Women's Health

Honors/Achievements: Missouri State Senator

Senator Elizabeth "Betty" Sims was honored with The League's prestigious Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award, the highest honor bestowed on an individual Junior League. Senator Sims has been a member of the Junior League of St. Louis for more than 48 years and has contributed to the St. Louis community as a volunteer, businesswoman, and state legislator. As the longest standing board member of the Junior League of St. Louis, she has had an enormous impact on the organization.

During Senator Sims's presidential term, the St. Louis League celebrated its 60th Anniversary and expanded its impact through initiatives such as the Mobile Hearing and Speech Unit and the Junior Kindergarten, which served as a model for the national Head Start program. Today, she continues to be a vital force in the League, working tirelessly to train new members, inspire the League's Public Affairs Committee, and raise funds.

Outside of the League, Senator Sims has lent her expertise to numerous organizations, including the nation's largest Girl Scout Council, the local United Way, the Salvation Army, the Arts and Education Council, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and the Repertory Theater. She was President and founder of the St. Louis unit of Girls Inc. and the first woman Vice-President of the local United Way.

As a State Senator, Sims has consistently championed initiatives in support of women's health and well-being, including the Governor's Women's Health Initiative, the creation of the Office on Women's Health, and the MC+ for Kids Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). She is the Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Aging, Families and Mental Health Committee. She also serves as co-chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence. She is a member of the Senate Committees on Public Health and Welfare, Transportation, and Appropriations. She was appointed chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Health Care in September 2001.

Junior League of Minneapolis, MN

Junior League of Indian River, FL

Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA

Junior League of Collin County, TX

Florence Shapiro

Junior League of Collin County, TX

Junior League of Collin County, TX

Texas State Senator

In office 1993 - 2013

Economic Growth, Security, Transportation

Honors/Achievements: State senator; Mayor of Plano; Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas Woman of Courage Award; Law & Order Award from the Texas District & County Attorneys Association; Collin Council on Family Violence Lifetime Achievement Award

Powerhouse, trailblazer, and dynamic reformer Florence Shapiro won the 2013 Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award.

The founder of the Plano Service League, which in 1984 became The Junior League of Plano that is, now known as The Junior League of Collin County, she is admired for the depth and breadth of her expertise, her insight, and the super-human energy she invests in the causes she commits herself to.

Back in the mid-1970s, she recognized the big-city problems that had begun to complicate the quality of life in what was then her small town of Plano—and made a plan to tackle them. At a time when no women’s service organization existed in the area, she recruited 12 civic-minded women with aspirations like her own: to find solutions for needs that were going unaddressed in the community, and to provide a band of volunteers who could help.

With her leadership, this group of women formed the Plano Service League in 1976 and focused on dental care for underprivileged children and supported the Swine Flu Clinic.

Soon she was recognized for her contributions and encouraged to run for an open seat on the Plano City Council. There she ultimately served six terms before being elected Mayor. Simultaneously she served as president of the Texas Municipal League and the North Texas Council of Governments.

In 1993, Florence was elected to the State Senate, where she has served in an array of posts including Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Education and member of the Finance, Transportation, and Homeland Security Committees.

Known as a champion for education, children, security, economic growth, and transportation, Florence counts among her most significant legislative achievements the passage of a bill to provide more money for classroom excellence; raise teachers’ pay; improve college readiness and curb dropouts; and establish the first-ever incentive pay program.

In addition, she spearheaded “Ashley’s Laws,” a legislative package named in honor of a seven-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered in 1993. The laws adjudicate, punish, and track sex offenders and have been used as a national benchmark credited with saving more than 500 children nationally.

Among the countless awards she has received are the Collin County Council on Family Violence Lifetime Achievement Award; the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas Woman of Courage Award; the Texas Legislative Leadership Award from the Nature Conservancy; and the Law & Order Award from the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, among many, many others.

Junior League of Greater Orlando, FL

Glenda E. Hood

Junior League of Greater Orlando, FL

Junior League of Greater Orlando

Mayor of Orlando, FL 1992-2003;

Secretary of State of Florida 2003-2005

Causes/Issue Area(s): Diversity, Historical Preservation

Honors/Achievements: First elected woman Mayor of Orlando, appointed Florida Secretary of State

Glenda E. Hood is a woman committed to making a difference. Not only does she work to create positive change at the governmental level, but she is also a lifelong volunteer and dedicated Junior League leader. It is her history of innovative leadership in the public and private sectors, as well as her many efforts to bring people together to improve communities, that has earned her The League's highest honor: the Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award.

"Glenda has dedicated over 20 years to putting citizens first and providing strong and compassionate leadership to those in the Greater Orlando community," says Betsy Thompson, Talbots Director of Public Relations. "Her hard work and giving spirit have set a wonderful example within the Greater Orlando community and for women volunteers everywhere, and we congratulate her on receiving this year's Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award."

In 1982, Hood became the youngest President of the Junior League of Greater Orlando, Florida, with the Presidential theme, "A Sense of Community." Her community-oriented perspective contributed to the League's role in the award-winning Hospice Project, the historical preservation efforts of the Orlando Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the awareness-building efforts of the League's Diversity Training Network. She served three terms as the first elected woman Mayor of Orlando and was appointed as Florida Secretary of State by Governor Jeb Bush in 2003.

It has been said of Hood's leadership style, "what you see is what you get." It is this authentic and unaffected approach that has made her a successful volunteer and servant leader. In addition to developing a number of important programs in the Orlando community - within and outside the Junior League - she has served as President of the National League of Cities, President of the Florida League of Cities, Chairman of the Board of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and currently as Chair of the Department of Homeland Security Transition Task Force. Her progressive vision and inclusive nature have helped her build partnerships among 34 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean as part of the Free Trade Area of the Americas for the state of Florida. She also has made a lasting impact on the Junior League of Orlando's diversity, effectiveness, and relevance in the community.

Outside of her League and political work, Hood is currently President and CEO of her own business development and consulting firm, Hood Partners LLC. She helped create, and has been a part of, a number of special programs, including the American Council of Young Political Leaders and the Society of International Business Fellows at Georgia State University. She speaks regularly on topics of smart growth, international business, the arts, and women's issues.

Throughout her career, Hood has received many honors, including the American Community Network's Leadership Award for Economic Excellence, the American Red Cross Spotlight Award, the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Humanitarian Award and the National Jewish Fund's Tree of Life award.

"The significant contributions that Glenda Hood has made to The Junior League, our community, our state, nationally and internationally exemplify the value of voluntarism and commitment to community that Mary Harriman championed," says Betsy Culpepper, President of the Junior League of Greater Orlando. "We are so proud that one of our members is being honored with the highest award given within our Association to an individual member, especially during our 60th Anniversary year."

Junior League of Tampa, FL

Junior League of Springfield, MO

The Junior League Orlando, FL

Junior League of Little Rock, AR

Junior League of Wilmington, DE

Margaret Rose Henry

Junior League of Wilmington, DE

Junior League of Wilmington, DE

Delaware State Senate

In office 1994-2019

Visit Margaret's official webpage.

Senator Margaret Rose Henry, a paragon of public service for more than 30 years, displayed the fearless determination, trailblazing spirit and undeniable community impact reflective of Mary Harriman herself.

The following are excerpts from a moving and inspiring tribute to Margaret Rose Henry by Mat Marshall, a communications assistant for the state Senate Democratic Caucus who worked alongside the Senator for the last two years of her Senate career.

I can’t overstate what a joy it’s been to work for her over the past two years, or how sad it is to see her leave the Senate. I have never met someone so humble and self-deprecating despite her role in making history. I have never met anyone so unblinking in their commitment to their values or whose worldview was so fundamentally centered on empathy. I have never met someone so unequivocally progressive and yet so respected on the other side of the aisle. I have never met someone who so clearly understands the importance of promoting others over herself. I’m not sure that I ever will again.

She has always been on the forefront of efforts to reform the criminal justice system and a draconian body of drug policies. She has been an advocate for children, for the working class, for the LGBTQ community, for the homeless, for public schools, for affordable housing and health care and for her constituents. If our Party is searching for its soul, it can end its search with Margaret Rose Henry.

After everything – after all her work, after all the attacks she’s weathered along the way, after 24 years of bee-lining towards children instead of microphones – she would have every right to be a little haughty but she wasn’t. She’s never been anything but self-effacing. Her positions were always clear-cut, honest, and fair.

I’m lucky to be in a field that gives me a firsthand look at public figures’ private selves and it takes restraint not to tell people about all the good deeds that go unpublicized. But, there’s no use in any of us comparing ourselves to Margaret Rose Henry. She is a once-in-a-generation type of leader and I feel lucky just to have shared some time with her.