Wednesday, March 26, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
The honorees will receive certificates in a ceremony at the Eye on Women Expo on April 5 at the Stardust Convention Center.
"Women's History Month provides an opportunity to remember not only the achievements of noted figures in women's history, but also to examine the accomplishments of those who are shaping women's history today," Del Papa said. "These women are receiving the Role Model Award for making a difference in the lives of others through their important contributions."
The winners of the Role Model Award are:
Carol Fitzgerald of Las Vegas, former clerk of the court for the Federal District of Nevada. This award is being given posthumously.
"Carol rose to her position of influence, not by college degree, but by on-the-job training, coupled with an array of God-given talents," Judge Robert Johnston said in his nomination letter. "So great were her abilities that she was assigned to state, circuit and national committees, often at the request of the very judges she served. Her peers, the other 93 clerks of court, elected her president of the Federal Court Clerks Association."
Dena Hoff of Mesquite, a charter member of the Mesquite Arts Council.
"Dena greatly enjoyed the challenge of finding cultural events to bring to the community," Laura Lilienthal wrote in nominating Hoff. "But in 1993, a new type of art came to town, and the battle began. Local citizens organized HOME (Help Our Moral Environment), and Dena was appointed to be president of the committee. Mesquite made history when they maintained a picket line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week in front of the adult bookstore for 31 months, when it closed. In conjunction with her involvement in the fight against pornography, Dena has spoken throughout Southern Utah and Nevada concerning the evils and secondary effects of pornography."
Rhea Johnson of Henderson, a member of the American War Mothers.
"In 1992, the city of Henderson redeveloped the city center. In reconstructing the new city hall and tearing down the old city hall, they accidentally destroyed the monument of the old veterans memorial honoring deceased veterans of Henderson," the Henderson American War Mothers wrote in its nomination letter. "Rhea Johnson, then past president of American War Mothers, became very upset and persistent ... timelessly hounding the city officials to construct a new memorial similar to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.
"Rhea's efforts finally were accomplished. The Memorial Wall was completed in 1994. This is the only Memorial Wall paying tribute to veterans of all wars in the state of Nevada. Rhea has diligently kept track of all veterans in the city of Henderson since 1972, and only her records have made it possible for the Memorial Wall to be built and the names properly identified."
Ruth Annette Mills of Las Vegas, coordinator of the Nevada Health Reform Project.
"Annette has given freely of her time to make the Las Vegas Valley a better place to live," the League of Women Voters of the Las Vegas Valley wrote in its nomination letter. "She has spent countless hours educating the public about the need for health-care reform, the consequences of uncontrolled growth in the valley, the challenges facing our schools, the need for an informed electorate, and many other important issues. She also takes the time to read to the children in the schools, work for her church and spend time with her family."
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