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Inspired by the work taking place throughout the internationally acclaimed Dallas Arts District, from exceptional museum exhibits to extraordinary public performances, The Women’s Board of The Dallas Opera is the guardian of a great, long-standing legacy for excellence in the arts.
Our membership is composed of outstanding and innovative North Texas women who have made a difference to The Dallas Opera through their selfless service and fundraising activities.
You, too, are invited—and encouraged—to join this influential group of women who offer their enthusiasm and support to extend the more than sixty-year heritage of The Dallas Opera and to make this art form available to all.
More Information
Women’s Board Calendar of Events
For more information about the Women’s Board, call 214-443-1052 or e-mail womensboard@dallasopera.org.
Our Mission
The Women’s Board of The Dallas Opera was founded 61 years ago as a volunteer organization, with the primary purpose of providing financial support for The Dallas Opera; a mission that continues today. The organization has contributed more than five million dollars to TDO since first being called to order in 1957, with Vera Hartt Martin as the Board’s founding Chairman.
Juanita and Henry S. Miller Jr. Founders Award
Named for the co-Founders of The Dallas Opera, The Juanita and Henry S. Miller, Jr. Founders’ Award was created in 1991 as a way for The Women’s Board to recognize individuals who have made exceptional volunteer and philanthropic contributions for the benefit of the Opera.
A member of the Miller family presents the Award at the much-anticipated annual Founders’ Award Luncheon, attended by approximately 200 people and featuring vocal artists from a current production. Proceeds from the event are earmarked to support the Hart Institute of Women Conductors within the Opera’s annual operating budget.
Past Recipients
- 1991 Elsa von Seggern
- 1992 Sis and Plack Carr
- 1993 Martha and Frank Pitts
- 1994 Mrs. Bessylee Penland
- 1995 Margot and Bill Winspear
- 1996 Mrs. Somers von Behren
- 1997 Arlene and John Dayton
- 1998 Mrs. Betty Upton Hudson
- 2000 Dorothy and Plato Karayanis
- 2001 Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
- 2003 Patty and Marty Weiland
- 2004 Joyce and C.H. Moore
- 2005 Linda and Bill Custard
- 2006 Diane and Harold Brierley
- 2007 Nancy Hamon
- 2008 Patti and John Cody
- 2009 Ruben Esquivel
- 2010 Marnie and Kern Wildenthal
- 2011 Sara and David Martineau
- 2013 Joy and Ronald Mankoff
- 2014 Carol and Don Glendenning
- 2015 Holly and Tom Mayer
- 2016 Joanna and Peter Townsend
- 2017 Betty and Steve Suellentrop
- 2018 Ellen and Don Winspear
- 2019 Enika and Richard Schulze
2019-2020 Officers, Chairmen and Members-at-Large
Liz Bremond
Board Officers
1st Vice President Sarah Jo Hardin
2nd Vice President Ashley Smith
3rd Vice President Catherine Chiao
Advisory Board Chairman
Therese Rourk
Michelle Allums
Carolyn Bradley
Cindy Feld
Patti Flowers
Mary Joy Hinton
Lisa Laughlin
Rhonda Marcus
Charlotte Matthews
Courtney Mokarow
Tamara Payne
Jennifer Sanders
Anne Stodgill
Jane Stringer
Carla Swenson
Ellen Winspear
Kristina Wrenn
Members at Large
Lisa Cooley
Mollie Crow
Adrianne Culwell
Susan Fisk
Sara Lee Gardner
Jolie Humphrey
Dianne LaRoe
Stacey McCord
Carol Seay
Shirley Sloan
Advisory Board
Nancy Bierman
Dee Cass
Catherine Chiao
Janie Condon
Monica Cooley
Patricia Cowlishaw
Linda Custard
Lissie Donosky
Patsy Donosky
Harriett Gibbs
Carol Hall
Beverly Holmes
Kaki Hopkins
Jolie Humphrey
Connie Klemow
Barbara Lake
Sara Martineau
Dolly Marting
Stacey McCord
Cynthia Melnick
Tincy Miller
Billie Leigh Rippey
Carmen Sabates
Margaret Sloman
Anne Stodgill
Jane Stringer
Tamareh Tuma
Stacie Whitley
Past Presidents
- *Mrs. Vera Hartt Martin 1958 – 1959
- *Mrs. L. Storey Stemmons 1960 – 1961
- *Mrs. Ralph Howell, Jr. 1962 – 1963
- *Mrs. Earl F. Hayes 1964
- *Mrs. Henry S. Miller, Jr. 1965 – 1966
- *Mrs. W. W. Lynch 1967
- Mrs. Jack G. Lawrence 1968
- *Mrs. Betty U. Hudson 1969
- *Mrs. James J. Ling 1970
- Mrs. Daniel W. Varel 1971
- *Mrs. Roscoe DeWitt 1972
- Mrs. William A. McKenzie 1973
- *Mrs. Lloyd Birdwell 1974
- *Mrs. James B. Francis 1975
- *Mrs. Warner H. Lewis 1976
- Mrs. William A. Custard 1977
- Mrs. Marvin S. Sloman 1978
- Mrs. Reuben H. Adams 1979
- Mrs. Willis R. Cowlishaw 1980
- *Mrs. Martin S. Buehler 1981
- Mrs. David Donosky 1982
- Mrs. Lester Melnick 1983
- *Mrs. Charles S. McKamy 1984
- Mrs. William Plack Carr 1985
- Mrs. Frank Cass 1986
- Mrs. David F. Martineau 1987
- *Mrs. Lawrence R. Herkimer 1988
- *Mrs. G. Weldon Tillery 1989
- Mrs. John P. Hall 1990
- Mrs. Vance C. Miller 1992-1993
- Mrs. Neil Marting 1993-1994
- Mrs. Jim S. Lake 1994-1995
- Mrs. C. H. Moore 1995-1996
- Mrs. Shelton G. Hopkins 1996-1997
- Mrs. Robert H. (Bob) Holmes 1997-1998
- Mrs. John E. Ashby 1998-1999
- Mrs. William M. Rippey 1999-2000
- Mrs. Neil W. Marting 2000-2001
- Mrs. William D. Cox, Jr. 2001-2002
- Mrs. Carol Anderson 2002-2003
- Mrs. Jerry R. Klemow 2003-2004
- Mrs. Christopher J. Rourk 2004-2005
- Mrs. Michael Bierman 2005-2006
- Mrs. David N. Condon 2006-2007
- Mrs. Charles R. Gibbs 2007-2008
- Mrs. Carmen Glenn 2008-2009
- Mrs. John E. Tuma 2009-2010
- Mrs. D. Stephen Donosky 2010-2011
- Mrs. Charles Humphrey 2010-2011
- Mrs. Paul Robinson 2011-2012
- Mrs. Harry Hunsicker 2012-2013
- Mrs. Michael Cooley 2013-2014
- Mrs. Bryan Stringer 2014-2015
- Mrs. Catherine Chaio 2014-2015
- Mrs. Mark Whitley 2015-2016
- Mrs. Nicholas McCord 2016-2017
- Mrs. Steven Stodghill 2017-2019
Entitled “Chairmen” through 2007-2008
*Deceased
