Weatherford, OK – The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Alumni Association and the Washita Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) partnered this Fall to honor two outstanding SWOSU graduates with the DAR’s prestigious Women in American History Award: Dr. Joe Anna Hibler and Justice Yvonne Kauger.
The DAR Women in American History Award celebrates women—past and present—whose leadership, service, and educational impact have shaped our local history.
Hibler, ’62, was named to the SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 2003, holds a Master’s Degree from Oklahoma State University and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Oklahoma. She served as SWOSU’s 15th President, the first woman to hold the position, and also served on SWOSU’s governing board as a Regent of the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO). A Leedey native, Hibler has generously established the W.D. & Bess Hibler Endowment at SWOSU in honor of her late parents—both SWOSU alumni—and is a Founder-level donor to the SWOSU Bulldog Angels Fund. She has assisted SWOSU in establishing its planned giving society, SWOSU Tomorrows, and remains an involved and active part of the SWOSU community.
Kauger, ’59, was named to the SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1986, holds a Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University. Kauger is a fourth generation Oklahoman from Colony who practiced law with the firm of Rogers, Travis, and Jordon before becoming the first woman judicial assistant to the Oklahoma Supreme Court for Justice Ralph B. Hodges. On March 14, 1984, she was appointed by Governor George Nigh as only the second woman named to Oklahoma’s highest court. Kauger was the first woman to serve as Vice Chief Justice and Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the last Chief Justice to address a joint session of the Legislature on the state of the judiciary. She directed the implementation of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Network and oversaw the development of the highest court’s official website and universal citation system.
Both Hibler and Kauger are inductees into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.
“We are so very proud of President Joe Anna Hibler and Justice Yvonne Kauger,” said SWOSU Alumni Association Executive Director Mr. Garrett King, ’08 &’18. “The Association is proud to partner with the Washita Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable Southwestern alumni who have made such monumental contributions to our state and society.”
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism across the United States. Since the Society’s founding, more than one million women have found purpose and passion in DAR membership. Learn more at www.DAR.org.
Established in 1949, the SWOSU Alumni Association is a dynamic group of SWOSU graduates who are passionate about giving back to SWOSU and connecting with their fellow Bulldogs. The Association is a subsidiary of the SWOSU Foundation, Inc. An independent, institutionally related charitable entity headquartered on the SWOSU Campus in the historic Burton House, the Foundation was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy, award scholarships and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU. For more information, please contact the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement at 580-774-3267 or visit www.SWOSUAlumni.com.
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