Inez Bailey Hall was recognized as a pioneer inductee. She is a native Floridian who has influenced thousands of lives through her work in education and community leadership. As an early African-American educator in Okaloosa County she taught at Ruckel Junior High, Lewis Junior High School and Niceville High School before transferring to Okaloosa-Walton College, where she worked for twenty-three years as an educator, counselor and administrator. Throughout her career she received numerous awards and held state educational leadership positions and continues her involvement the American Association of University Women and the Institute for Senior Professionals of OWC. 
Receiving the Educational Award was Elizabeth Betty Kentosh who taught science and chemistry in Okaloosa schools for twenty-five years, achieving a number of teaching awards. She encouraged student love and knowledge of science through her promotion and organization of science fairs. During her fifteen years of retirement, she has concentrated on educational, environmental, and civic issues, which often focus on women’s issues and is very involved in the Center for Lifelong Learning as a curriculum coordinator and instructor.
Marty Lackey received the Carolyn Spencer Humanitarian Award. She has been instrumental in raising community awareness of the homeless populations within Okaloosa County during her thirty-four years in Okaloosa County. She has served as both volunteer and executive director of the Okaloosa Coalition on the Homeless and was instrumental in establishing both the Okaloosa-Walton Continuum of Care and the Cold Weather Program, which coordinates the use of church facilities to provide shelter for homeless families and individuals when area temperatures decrease to less than forty degrees. Ms. Lackey’s work in the Southside Kiwanis, area churches, and Sharing and Caring has enabled her to provide community outreach to the area’s homeless populations. 
Induced posthumously was Bettie Robertson who passed away this year but her contributions for the elderly and Alzheimer’s support and organized care will long be remembered. After retiring from the insurance industry, Bettie worked twenty-one years with Elder Services of Okaloosa County increasing its volunteer involvement, communication with clients and family through monthly newsletters, and organization of support groups. Also, Bettie formed the first Alzheimer’s Support Group in our area while also organizing the local Annual Walk for Alzheimer’s, which raised support for caregivers as well as increasing Alzheimer awareness. Additionally, Bettie served as the program director for Retired Seniors Volunteer Program providing training and direction throughout the area. Bettie Robertson was often introduced as the lady whose mother did not teach her to say “no.” 
Barbara J. Wall was recognized as the contemporary inductee. She is a retired tax accountant and an active leader in community and civic affairs. She serves on the Board of Directors of a number of non-profit organizations, including the Youth Village and the Institute for Senior Professionals. She is currently President of the Florida New Federation of Republican Women and serves the National Federation Board as a member of the “Women’s Health Issues” Committee. She also is President of the Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated where she developed programs to provide dictionaries to school children, care packages for the troops and a scholarship fund for women attending OWC to pursue political careers. 

Click here to view the photos of the 2007 Okaloosa County Women's 
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 

2007 Nominees

Bertie Ann Curenton

Nan French

Inez Bailey Hall

Champee Kemp

Betty Kentosh

Marty Lackey

Shaun C. Lampron

Linda Parker

Shirley Piggott

Ida Faye Powell

Bettie Robertson

Joyce Shanahan

Barbara Wall


1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | back