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MCSW celebrate Woman of the Year Recipients

MCSW Woman of the Year

Published July 28, 2023

Mary Grace Pewewardy | Multimedia Specialist

The Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) will present their Woman of the Year awards during Lawton’s 122nd Birthday Celebration on August 3, 2023, at McMahon Memorial Auditorium. Nominations for this award opened in March and closed at the end of April. Since then, MCSW received six applications for outstanding candidates.

The selection process for the applicants was through an independent selection panel that met to review all the applicants. The panel meticulously reviewed all the applicants, ensuring complete anonymity by redacting any information that could reveal the nominees’ identities. After a thorough and thoughtful evaluation, the selection panel informed MCSW of their selections.

Three amazing women will be recognized for their remarkable endeavors and commitment to bettering their communities: Josalyn Wood, Bridget Randle, and Janell A. Harris.

Wood is a dedicated educator, realtor, volunteer firefighter, and founder and president of Ellipsis. Her selfless service and love of learning has led Wood to be heavily involved in her community. She is responsible for adopting two streets for community cleanup, ensuring her neighborhood remains a clean and welcoming environment, planning and executing events such as “Park O Treat,” Community Bonfire with a Twist, and assembling a group to go caroling at retirement homes. Wood’s service extends to numerous committees, including the Executive Board for the Association of the United States Army, the Executive Board for the American Red Cross, and several others. She has also received several accolades for her contributions, including the NASA award for science, the Champion for Children award from Lawton Public Schools, and recognition for her substantial real estate sales volumes.

Randle is the co-owner of Classic Lawton Chevrolet. She strongly supports integrating the business world with the community in which it operates. She is actively involved in our community and serves on the Comanche County Memorial Hospital Foundation Board, Cameron University Foundation Board, and the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber Board. She previously served as treasurer for the FISTA Development Trust Authority. She is the lead coordinator for the Classic Chevrolet Annual Charity Golf Tournament, which raised over $550,000 for local charities over the past seven years. Randle feels strongly about participating in these foundations and organizations and desires to help make this world and our community better for us and future generations.

Harris is the owner of TRIUNE Light, LLC, a professional development interactive training platform for inclusion and diversity training that encapsulates the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She retired from the military in 2018 after serving 24 years and two combat tours to Iraq as a Medical Specialist. She dedicates her time to assisting in multiple community feeding sites around Lawton. This is where her passion grew to serve the community that lacks shelter and the elderly population. Harris is currently serving as the outreach minister for Spread the Word Ministries. In 2022, while feeding a family of six, the ministry was introduced to the four girls aged five and under. The parents requested her to serve as the girls’ Kinship Foster parent. Harris and the children have been inseparable for the last ten months.

The Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women proudly celebrates these extraordinary women who have made a significant impact on their communities through their selflessness, dedication, and remarkable achievements. The Woman of the Year awards are a testament to the power of individual actions in shaping a better and more inclusive society.

The timeline for Lawton’s 122nd Birthday Celebration are as follows –

  • 5:30 p.m. - Reception in the lobby of McMahon Memorial Auditorium. Cake cutting ceremony done by the Oldest Lawtonian. Light refreshments will be served while they last.
  • 6:00 p.m. - Auditorium doors open to an entertaining historical presentation focused on the history of our community.
  • 7:00 p.m. - Mayor Stan Booker will present awards for Outstanding Citizen, Outstanding Organization, and Lawton award in Excellence.
  • 7:30 p.m. - MCSW will present the Woman of the Year awards
  • 7:40 p.m. - Proclamations will be presented to the Pioneer Women and Lawton Rangers promoting Pioneer Days and the Lawton Ranger’s Rodeo