In 2002, the Zonta Club of Jefferson City established the “Mrs. William H. Weldon Lifetime Achievement Award” as a tribute to a women who had a tremendous mark on Jefferson City and beyond through her lifetime of work and service.
Mrs. William H. Weldon contributed much to the success of our community with her passionate commitment not only to her business, The News Tribune, but to children with disabilities. |
In addition to building a strong business, Mrs. Weldon and her husband founded the Goshorn Handicap Center for children with developmental disabilities in 1960, in memory of her parents. That center later merged with another to create The Special Learning Center, which serves pre-school aged children.
Mrs. Weldon served the community in many other ways by providing, for example, the annual Christmas parties for disadvantaged children, helping establish a new shelter for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service and operating a shelter for homeless animals. As a renowned breeder of American Saddlebred Horses on her Callaway Hills Farm, Mrs. Weldon was a national leader in the Saddlebred industry. In the spring of 2002, Mrs. Weldon was featured in a state exhibit of famous Missouri women. Since its inception, the “Mrs. William H. Weldon Lifetime Achievement Award” has been awarded to the following women: |
MRS. WILLIAM H. WELDON AWARD WINNERS
2003 – Rosalie Little
2004 – Aimee Morrow 2005 – Margaret “Billie” Railton 2006 – Florence Guhleman 2007 – Odie Dickens 2008 – Jeanie Moore |
2009 – Shirley Quigg
2010 – Sally Sprague 2011 – Dorothy Lemke 2012 – Sabra Eagan 2013 – Marylyn DeFeo 2014 – Micca Ruffin |
2015 – Peggy Kirkpatrick
2016 – Donna Westhues 2017 – Lorraine Mercurio 2018 – Debbie Hamler 2019 – Betty Jo DeLong |