OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Alma Bell Wilson ork, work, work. Those was an attorney and served as mayor Wthree words are advice of Pauls Valley in the 1920s, inspired Wilson to be a lawyer. He wanted both Justice Alma Wilson would of his daughters to go to college, and repeat throughout her life, for at least one of them to become a lawyer. At the age of just eight years old, and indeed her career and Wilson announced to her family that was accomplishments reflect her what she would be when she grew up. Today, a little girl dreaming of becoming tenacious work ethic. She was a lawyer is not a far-fetched idea. beloved and celebrated by However, in the 1920s there were few role models for young Wilson. everyone she met, garnering The first woman to become a lawyer in high praise and numerous the United States was Arabella Mansfield in 1869, but she would never actively awards. She was a trailblazer, Courtesy Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives. practice and instead taught at what is inspiring both men and women to now DePauw University. Ten years later, Belva Lockwood became the first woman achieve their greatest potential. lawyer admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court. It was not until Alma Wilson (neé Bell), and her twin 1893 that the first woman would be sister Wilma, were born May 25, 1917 admitted to the Oklahoma Territory Bar, in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to William R. Minerva K. Elliott Lentz. Grace Elmore and Anna Bell. The year she was born Gibson became the first woman to Oklahoma was preparing for its 10th serve in a county or district judgeship in birthday, the United States had entered Oklahoma in 1930, and in 1936 she was World War I, and it would be three more temporarily appointed to the Criminal years before the Nineteenth Amendment Court of Appeals and wrote the first would pass, guaranteeing women the opinion ever written by a female member right to vote in federal elections. Wilson of the court. By 1935, there had only and her sister were raised on Walnut been approximately 100 women lawyers Street in a stucco home with a large licensed in Oklahoma. covered front porch. Their father, who Wilson never lost sight of her goal while growing up in a small Oklahoma Alma Bell Wilson was one of the first women to serve as a federal law clerk in the state of Oklahoma. Courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society. BY MATTIE BARLOW 34