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Draft:Betty Lee Ongley

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  • Comment: While you are waiting for this to be reviewed, please work to clean it up. There are external links in the article body, which is against WP:EL. Either make them references or move them to an external links section. Please remove your signature from the Elected Office section. Section headings should be in sentence case. There is at least one malformed reference (the last one). UtherSRG (talk) 10:57, 27 September 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: Like the previous reviewers, I'm still not convinced this person is notable. Most of the coverage is superficial and some of it non-independent (both of which can be fine but it doesn't help establish notability). Even if she were notable, I would have decline the submission because of its lack of suitable inline citations. To give one example: it did not seem necessary to include a reference for the information on her spouse whose nick name and death date are given. Please consult WP:BLP. Modussiccandi (talk) 23:19, 15 July 2021 (UTC)
  • Comment: Thanks for creating this draft. There is a lack of evidence of how her achievements meet the general notability guidelines for a biography on Wikipedia; more evidence is needed. Please read the notability guidelines and review. MurielMary (talk) 11:32, 11 September 2020 (UTC)
  • Comment: Based solely on being the mayor of Portage, a relatively small city that is not regionally prominent, and coverage that all appears to be local, Ongley does not appear to merit inclusion in Wikipedia. WikiDan61ChatMe!ReadMe!! 16:00, 4 March 2019 (UTC)

Betty Lee Clara Ongley (born January 25, 1926) is an American activist, community leader, educator and mentor who became the first female mayor in the State of Michigan when she was elected in 1973 in Portage, Michigan, a southwestern Michigan city in Kalamazoo County.[1][2] The Betty Lee Ongley Nature Preserve has been named for Ongley in recognition of her outstanding leadership, mentorships, and service to the city, state and country.[3] In 2023, Ongley was named as recipient of the Michigan Women Forward's Women of Courage and Achievement Award. The organization describes it as follows: This prestigious award celebrates Michigan women who exemplify commitment to community services, have a proven track record as a mentor and role model for others, and that empower and inspire their community.[4][5]

Education[edit]

Originally from Algonac, Michigan, Ongley attended Algonac High School where she was the first female sousaphone player in the school band and first woman in the town's marching band, and graduated in 1943.[6] Ongley attended Western Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Social Science in 1947 and a Master's degree in Social Science in 1958. She also received a designation as an Education Specialist, Counseling and Personnel Study in 1974, a Graduate Certificate in Holistic Health in 1984, and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology in 1991.

Career[edit]

She received Distinguished Service Awards from both the Michigan Association of College Educators and Supervisors (1981) and the Michigan School Counselors Association (1983). The Michigan Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors recognized Ongley in 1990, granting her their Award for Outstanding Contributions to Women and Education. In 1997 the Kalamazoo Area Retired School Personnel issued her their very first "Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to the Community" award. She also received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Western Michigan University's Department of Counselor Education (1987) and the first Holistic Healthcare Outstanding Alumni Award (2002), and the WMU College of Education "Apple" Award in 2011[7]. Ongley had retired from her professional life in school guidance and counseling career in 1986 but continued an active and robust involvement in the community, leading to the numerous awards from educational institutions.

Elected Office[edit]

Local citizens also elected Ongley as a Trustee of the Portage District Library (previously Portage Public Library) in 2007 and again in 2012, where she served two terms as Chair of its Board of Trustees. She was a leader in the original millage campaign to build the library building, as well as reorganizing as a District Library.[8]

Community Engagement[edit]

The American Red Cross honored her more than seventy years of volunteer service with the organization in a January 2021 event.[9][10] Ongley has been an active Red Cross volunteer since 1950, serving on disaster teams for Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew and serving on the Southwest Michigan Board of Directors. She served as chair of the Board of Directors of the Kalamazoo chapter for two terms.

She also served as president of the Regional Council of the Alzheimer's Association of Southwest Michigan, and as president of Area Agency on Aging from 1989 to 1990.

Ongley has been a longtime member of the Ladies' Library Association of Kalamazoo.[11] The Ladies Library Association undertook an extensive renovation with the help of Betty Ongley's guidance and leadership. She served as its president from 2008 to 2010 and has been a member since 1999 and served on its Board until 2020. Her efforts to help preserve the Ladies Library Association Building were instrumental in its preservation and receipt of the State History Award in Historic Restoration.

Ongley cofounded the Kalamazoo Russian Cultural Association and its partnership between Kalamazoo and Pushkin, Saint Petersburg, and served as a member of many delegations to Pushkin.[12]

Ongley served on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy from 2002 to 2018 and as its president for three terms.[13]

The University of Michigan included Ongley in their Michigan Veteran Feminist Oral History Project 2003-2004.[14]

In 2016, the Portage City Council honored Ongley on her 90th birthday.[15]

Other Awards and Honors[edit]

In 1981 the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan State Senate passed House Concurrent Resolution No. 79, Tribute to Berry Lee Ongley, commemorating her outstanding service as Chairperson of the Kalamazoo Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council.

In 1985, Ongley was awarded the YWCA of Kalamazoo's first Lifetime Woman of Achievement Award.[16]

In 2009 Ongley was among eight business people, community leaders and organizations recognized at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.[16]

In 2016, Ongley was awarded the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo's Red Rose Citation.[16]

In 2009 Ongley was awarded the ATHENA International Award, selected by the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce with a Special Tribute issued by the State of Michigan and Governor Jennifer Granholm.[17] [18]

In 2017, undeveloped land was donated to the City of Portage by Claudette Reid and Richard Kraas to establish a preserve in Ongley's honor.[19][20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sparks, Kyle (January 20, 2016). "Michigan's first female Mayor celebrates 90th birthday". WWMT. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Mack, Julie (September 19, 2019). "100 Michigan cities and townships with the highest property tax base". mlive.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Betty Lee Ongley Nature Preserve Map". The City of Portage. February 14, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Meet the 2023 Kalamazoo Honorees". Michigan Women Forward. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Three Women Honored". WWMT. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  6. ^ Vander Weyden, Jane (November 1996). "Energy in Motion: Kalamazoo is the Recipient of Betty Ongley's Vigor". Encore Magazine: 16–20, 54.
  7. ^ "Golden Apple Award Recipients | College of Education and Human Development | Western Michigan University". wmich.edu. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  8. ^ Proclamation for Betty Lee Ongley, Portage District Library, January 25, 2016, signed by Alisha Siebers, Chair and Christy Klien, Director.
  9. ^ "Honoring Betty Lee Ongley for 70+ Years of Service to the American Red Cross on her 95th Birthday". American Red Cross.
  10. ^ Revilla, Manny (January 25, 2021). "American Red Cross helps celebrate long-time volunteer's 95th birthday in Portage". WWMT. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  11. ^ Roe, Rebecca (2011-11-03). "Ladies Library Association will commemorate 160th anniversary with weeklong celebration next spring". mlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
  12. ^ 2014 OSA 2014 Senior Citizen of the Year Award Nomination of Betty Lee Ongley
  13. ^ Editorial. "Betty Lee Ongley's life of public service". MLive.
  14. ^ "Michigan Veteran Feminists Oral Histories Project interviews, 2003-2004". University of Michigan Library.
  15. ^ Haroldson, Tom (2016-01-13). "Portage honors Betty Lee Ongley for her 90th birthday, decades of community service". mlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  16. ^ a b c Jones, Al (2009-03-21). "Five people, three firms receive 2009 Community Awards from the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce". mlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  17. ^ Magyar, Emily L. (January 2021). "Betty Ongley". Women's Lifestyle Greater Kalamazoo. p. 8.
  18. ^ Mapes, Mary Jane (2016). The Unstoppables. Aligned Leader Institute. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-9841609-6-9.
  19. ^ Haroldson, Tom (2017-12-20). "Land donated to Portage for preserve named after Betty Lee Ongley". mlive.com. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  20. ^ "Betty Lee Ongley Nature Preserve".

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