Rotary Celebrates Women’s History Month by Recognizing Female Leaders

RCB Past Presidents Betsy Holloway and Sheila Blair with President Brenda Hackney

Dr. Sara Crews Finley, Katherine M. McTyeire, and Sheila S. Blair were the first women to join RCB on October 14, 1987.

The Rotary Club of Birmingham celebrated International Women’s Day by honoring its remarkable female members. President Brenda Hackney recognized the first women to join RCB as well as the female leaders who preceded her as president.

“I am honored to stand here today, serving as the fourth female president in the history of this fabulous club. I’m truly in great company. Before me, Sheila Blair, Kate Nielsen and Betsy Holloway also served in this role. I draw inspiration from the first women to join our club.”

Dr. Sara Crews Finley, Co-director of the Laboratory of Medical Genetics at the University of Alabama; Katherine M. McTyeire, President of Iron Art, Inc.; and Sheila S. Blair, Executive Director of Leadership Birmingham, were the first three women welcomed into RCB on October 14, 1987. Maryam B. “Mimi” Head, President of Ram Tool & Supply Company, was introduced soon after.

Sheila Blair, past president of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, was the first female RCB president, serving from 1996 to 1997. Kate Nielsen, past president of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, served as RCB president from 2011 to 2012. Dr. Betsy Holloway, Samford University VP for Marketing and Communication, served as RCB president from 2017 to 2018. Brenda Hackney, President of the Hackney Foundation, is serving as RCB President from 2021 to 2022.