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An immigrant becomes a patriot & nursing research leader!
Meet Belle of Steel #28, Mary Dioise Ramos, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 Mary Dioise Ramos also grew up in Manila in the Philippines. She knew her pathway to life was through nursing. She believes she has been a planner her whole life. Even while a young woman, she set goals, wrote them…
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A Mover & Shaker who took on the Good Ole’ Boys of Dallas County
Meet Belle of Steel # 27 9-5-2026 She went from migrant farmworker to Captain in the U.S. National Guard and federal agent for U.S. Customs. Then, she took on the good ole’ boys network of politics in Dallas County and became the first female and Hispanic Sheriff of Dallas County in ? “I’m very proud…
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She’s not only a record-breaking pilot, she writes about them too!
Meet Belle of Steel # 26 Dr. Penny Hamilton Penny Hamilton was born February 18, 1948 in the state of Pennsylvania. She earned an associate of arts degree in dental hygiene education from Temple University in 1968. Then, she completed her bachelor’s in education from Columbia College in 1976. When Dr. Penny Hamilton was…
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A guru in Texas Women’s History: Ruthe Winegarten
Texas Strong Women? You could have asked Ruthe Winegarten! Belle of Steel #25 8-25-2026 August 26, 1929 – June 14, 2004 Ruthe Lewin Winegarten, was born in 1929 to two Jewish parents, Charles and Celia (Cohen) Lewin in Dallas, Texas. She gave birth to three children. Within her professional career, she was resiliently successful….
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Robin Hutton’s most important work was inspired by a military horse!
Meet Belle of Steel # 24 July 13, 2026 Robin Hutton always dreamed of working in the film industry. But she had an unusual path in getting there. After high school, Robin Hutton attended Ithaca College in 1972. She graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She…
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She’s on Fire! Meet Belle of Steel #23 Sherrie C. Lydick
Sherrie C. Lydick (formerly Wilson), Retired Firefighter-Paramedic Belle of Steel # 23 July 2, 2026 When Sherrie was a little girl, she watched the TV show Emergency. The program centered around heroic first responders of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Squad 51 and the medical professionals at Rampart General Hospital. That show featured…
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Healthcare CEOs that walk the walk!
Amazing leaders in Healthcare We have all had those jobs where shortly after new employee orientation, are questioning, “Why did I agree to work for this manager and this place?” Yikes! As a nurse and nurse educator and writer, the author has certainly had these experiences. One of the author’s most dear friend has…
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Holy mother of music! Meet Sister Mary McLarry – Belle of Steel #22
Born Sept. 13, 1932 – Died June 21, 2018 Imagine that your head feels like it’s on fire. Chemicals put on your straight hair to turn it curly seem to be burning your scalp. “It’s burning,” Mary cried out to the beautician in the Wichita Falls salon. She wiped the tears of pain from her…
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A Moment of Magic! Kylee McGrane-Zarnoch &Margaret “Maggie” McAndrew – Belles #20 & 21
“When you wish upon a star. . . your dreams come true. . .” Who when they hear these classic Disney lyrics can’t help but feel a moment of magic? Belle of Steel Kylee McGrane-Zarnoch certainly does. In December of 2014 Kylee had a dream of helping children. She and her college roommate Maggie decided…
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Sex trafficking? Oh my. . .meet forensic nurse warrior Laurie Charles Belle of Steel #19
Dallas Fort-Worth is one of the largest metroplexes in the U.S.A., yet most residents there have no idea it is also one of the nation’s busiest sex trafficking regions. But nurse educator Laura Charles does. In fact, over the last six years, Laura has made her mission as a nurse to make sure that…
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Mother Henriette Delille bucked the French Creole system and became a candidate for sainthood!
In the traditional Catholic French Creole ways of pre-civil New Orleans, most young women did as their mothers taught them. The expectations were clear. Look your very best and find a suitable husband. But not Henriette Diaz DeLille. Henriette was born in 1813. She was considered an octaroon, her mother was a quadroon, which is…
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Grit and determination, meet Dr. Latanja Divens Belle of Steel #17
Imagine you are a brilliant little Black girl and your Mama is wanting you to go to an upper echelon private school. Mostly white. Latanja’s Mama was at the ironing board making sure her uniform looked just right. No wrinkles allowed. She checked Latanja’s braids one more time, no nappy strays allowed. Latanja quickly…
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“Oh, honey!” Meet Belle of Steel #16 June Simmons Phillips
Born June Phillips never met a stranger in her life. Her attribute, as the penultimate people person, made her one of the most successful women’s wardrobe mavens in Fort Worth, Texas. If one needed the perfect outfit, you called upon June. June loved to work. Her career in women’s wear sales spanned over sixty years…
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A young Texas woman turns tragedy into triumph. Meet Belle of Steel #15 Emily Allen Colbert
It’s the doorbell that no one ever wants to answer. “There’s been a horrific accident,” explained the policemen. “It’s your husband.” Emily, a young wife and mother of two fell to her knees on the floor. There had been a car accident on Highway 66 in Rockwall. “Oh my God,” she cried out through tears….
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You HAVE permission to engage – meet Belle of Steele #14 Vernice “Flygirl” Armour
What does it take to become America’s first African American female combat pilot? For Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, it was going from Zero to Breakthrough! She believes that harnessing the mindset of mission accomplishment no matter what the barriers, or perceived barriers, may be is the breakthrough mentality required to accomplish whatever you set you mind…
