Flaco Guapo Media & Ami Mizell-Flint, contributor

WOD's five represent: distinction, grace, eulogy, one posthumously; and the Workplace of Distinction is JLSA

SAN ANGELO – Three words: distinction, eulogy and grace went hand-in-hand and fit so perfectly to describe the five women honorees at Thursday evening’s 12th annual, Women of Distinction Awards ceremony held on March 7 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the McNease Convention Center. Also, the Workplace of Distinction was warded to Junior League of San Angelo.

That first word, distinction means, “made conspicuous by excellence, dignity, or eminence.” The second one, eulogy is defined as “. . . a set oration in honor of a deceased person; high praise or commendation.” As for grace, it is “elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action:” Interestingly in God’s bible, numbers have a significant meaning. In this case five, represents grace.



All three definitions personified four of the elegant, women who were eulogized while still living: Joanna Alexander, Gay Box, Angela Brooks and Candis Hicks. A fifth W.O.D., Mary Frances Butler Owens, highly praised, esteemed and a woman of dignity long before she received W.O.D. honor, was nominated by her niece, Dudra Butler, posthumously.
These W.O.D. and grace always, always put their families, their community first. Thus they fit the Girl Scouts of Central Texas criteria and the acronym, G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader)™.



This year’s emcee, Mrs. Barbara Rallo, had each presenter who in their own way pay tribute, that is eulogize” their nominee. The first Woman of Distinction recipient to be recognized was Joanna Alexander. Joanna is the daughter of Jack and Beth Auldrige. Alexander emulated her mother, Beth Auldridge, someone who treated everything she did in life as a commitment, not as an experiment,” she stated in an interview with Ami Mizell-Flint.

The second W.O.D recipient was Gay Box, daughter of Allen and Frances Ingrum. Gay who was her daughter, Lindsey Sawyer’s Girl Scout Troop leader. Gay and husband, Bruce have another daughter, Lori. Besides the Box' commitment to raising their children in a Christian home, Gay has spent a lifetime volunteering. “volunteering is her way of being one of God’s disciples by loving and helping others.” Gay's advise to girls is "follow their dreams, love God and love people." she said, to Mizell-Flint.



The third W.O.D honoree was Angela Brooks. Flaco asked Mrs. Brooks what was her reaction when she found out she was nominated? “I was completely shocked.” “First of all, I thought, oh my gosh, I haven’t been around that long enough to have done great things to be honored.” Brooks’ presenter was Robin Kalobbda “This a great event that honors women in our community.” It is a time for women and Girl Scouts to learn about other women and their achievements; hopefully they can set goals and strive for them as well” concluded Brooks.

The fourth Distinction honoree was Candis Hicks whose most personal proud accomplishment is her son, Hunter Rogers Hicks. Candis treats “volunteer work as a requirement, not an option, and finds great joy in doing so." Candice is the founder of "Somebody's Rusty" a ministry for the homeless. 
Hicks, a former Girl Scout, “suggests hard work education, volunteering and immersion in serving others,” she said when interviewed by Mizell-Flint.

Prior to the final W.O.D honoree, Suzy Marshall, announced the Girl Scout Gold Award recipient was Mary-Frances Benes. When Mary-Frances and her mother attended the Global Women’s Economic Forum, nearly three years ago in May, she heard about girls in India who were not going to school due a lack of feminine hygiene products. Once Benes found out “A Day For Girls Organization” was already addressing this issue, she collaborated with the entity to do her part as she implemented a plan and completed an 80-hour sustainable project. Along the way, Mary-Frances gave presentations and raised enough money to fly to Kenya along with 13 other volunteers where they delivered the feminine hygiene products to a ‘Day for Girls” local chapter, wrote Mizelle-Flint.



Benes is in an all Honors classes, received the Presidential Award and is currently on the National Girls Scouts Advisory Board, read Marshall. Camille Yale, Mary-Frances’ troop leader, came forward to pin her. Benes represents the Girl Scouts acronym, G.I.R.L.

The fifth Woman of Distinction, Mrs. Mary Frances Butler-Owens, was posthumously honored by her niece, Miss Butler. The beloved, Mrs. Butler-Owens, was born to Myrle and “Willie” Pennington. “Mary Frances, my aunt, showed us how to give back, how to be a leader.” “I would like to say thank you to my aunt for all that she has met to San Angelo. . . to every person that you have left an imprint on their life” said Butler. Dudra concluded saying that Butler-Owens was a positive force where ever she was.



Accepting the award was Butler-Owens family, her son—Neil D. “Rusty” Butler and granddaughter, Brandy Butler-Walker.





The last recipient honored was a nonprofit, Junior League of San Angelo whose vision is, "Women around the world as catalysts for lasting community change." Accepting the award in behalf of JLSA was President, Berkeley Puckett.
Puckett in a message to the JLSA members stated. "We are expected to carry on the legacy that over 70 years of women’s JLSA has established."  "Because of that expectation, I have selected the theme, “Be the Change” to represent this year and our league as a whole." JLSA in existence since 1946, is a nonprofit whose foundation rests on “Women building better communities.”