The city of San Marcos celebrated the 32nd annual Women’s Hall of Fame at the San Marcos Activity Center Oct. 19 by adding five more women to its esteemed ranks. Created in 1984 by the San Marcos Women’s Commission, the Women’s Hall of Fame honors women who service the needs of the community, are actively involved in the community, and who serve during their own personal time.
Women who are inducted are nominated by past inductees who sit on the WHOF committee..
This year, five more accomplished women were introduced, including Dr. Amy Meeks of the department of psychology at Texas State, Clementine Cantu-Caskey of the San Marcos School Board, D.J. Domstead of the San Marcos Lions Club, Charlotte Evans of the Hands of Hope educational program, and Nancy Smith who helps lead the missions committee at First Baptist Church.
Aside from her work as a professor at Texas State, Amy Meeks is a sponsor of the Young Life student ministry and was an instrumental member at the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center for 10 years.
“When someone recognizes our hard work it’s really appreciated,” Meeks said.
Clementine Cantu-Caskey is a retired teacher and an active member of the San Marcos School Board and Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Cantu-Caskey spends her free time reading to children at Bonham Elementary.
D.J. Domstead is a member of the San Marcos Lions Club, an organization that was instrumental in helping those in need after the flooding in 2015. She also served on the Library Board, helping it double in size, and helps design the annual Christmas tree decorations there.
Charlotte Evans is also a retired teacher and lead coordinator of Hands of Hope, an organization that helps disadvantaged women. She is a well-known member of the First Baptist Church who helps care and transport cancer patients in their time of need.
Nancy Smith helped create a pilot program called School Fuel, that to this day feeds elementary children facing childhood hunger. She is also a member of First Baptist Church who has gone on several mission trips to Mexico and Europe, to help those in need.
“It’s truly a surprise and it’s such a sweet surprise,” Smith said. “This kind of an honor, I think, really comes if you live your life as you feel you should.”
The event was attended by several officials in local government including Mayor John Thomaides, Councilwoman Jane Hughson, and Chamber of Commerce President Jason Mock. The three designated the week of Oct. 15th-21st as “Women in San Marcos Week”.
Also in attendance were dozens of past inductees, of the now 138 added since 1984, including first-year inductees Rose Brooks and Ramona Rodriguez. Margaret Lindsey, who helped establish the WHOF in its inception under the Women’s Commission, also attended.
Another prior WHOF inductee, Shelley Henry, was added in 2011 in recognition of her long service with the San Marcos Academy as its communications director. She described her experience of being inducted in 2011.
“It was a great honor for me to be named to the Hall of Fame in 2011,” Henry said. “So many of the ladies who have been inducted in past years are people I greatly admire.”