Bartlesville Women’s Network chose Deborah Langley as the 2021 History Maker of the Year. Then Covid happened. Now, in year 2023, we are happy to finally be able to have a celebration honoring Deborah as our “annual” honoree during National Women’s History Month, on  March 23 at 7 pm, at Tri County Tech’s Osage room. Our speaker will be Dr. Karen Neurohr, the OSU professor who is noted for her work with Okie emigrant poet Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel and the statewide ListenOK oral history project – which now includes the 50 local women in WN’s Taproots books. Please join us to celebrate. Refreshments will be served, and the public is invited. 

The History Maker award was initiated in 1990 and over the years has recognized 30 local women for their contributions to the community. Langley was selected for the honor in recognition of her many years of dedicated community volunteer service that furthered the cause of the advancement of women.

The award announcement is part of the group’s National Women’s History Month celebration. A lobby display at BPL will be on view during March.

Langley grew up in Colorado and Nebraska and graduated from Colorado State University. In 1977 she moved to Bartlesville to begin her career with Phillips Petroleum Co. as a Research and Development technician.

Over the past four decades, Langley has been an active volunteer and leader in many local organizations. She was a founding member of both the Women’s Network and Women and Children in Crisis, later known as Family Crisis and Counseling Center.

Langley also played an active role in starting the Bartlesville Farmers Market and has served for many years on the board of directors of the Bartlesville Area League of Women Voters, as well as the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma League of Women Voters.