Sharon Edwards’ fascination with politics began long before she was old enough to vote. It began when she found an “I Like Ike” button at the age of nine which she proudly wore and made her feel important. She has been an active volunteer in state and federal campaigns for years, and engaged in several Get-Out-the-Vote efforts. She has held many board positions in Austin Republican Women including the position of President of the club. One of her proudest achievements ..read more

Deborah Wall is a graduate of the University of Louisville where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She is a member of the San Antonio de Bexar Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution and the Military-Civilian Club of San Antonio. She was a military spouse for 25 years with four overseas tours and six stateside assignments that offered ample opportunities to organize activities for military families. Deborah has also been very active with the Texas Federation of Republican Women ..read more

Janet Parker is a native Texan, born and raised in Burnet, Texas. Janet and her husband Chris have been married for 40 years, and together they raised two children, Justin and Claire. Now, every chance they get, they enjoy spending time with their four grandchildren. Janet has served Burnet County as the County Clerk for almost 32 years. She began working in the office in 1983 and ran for office in 1990. Janet was elected and took office January 1st, 1991 ..read more

Cameron County Republican Women (CCRW) is proud to present the TFRW Distinguished Woman for January 2023: Member and State Representative (HD37), Janie Lopez. Janie is a first-born generation from Mexico and she is the first in her extensive family to attend and graduate with honors from college. As a San Benito school board trustee, Janie is working to ensure financial accountability in all aspects of budgeting and projects. She decided to serve because she was tired of the mismanagement and the corrupt ..read more

Mayra Flores is a Texas Congresswoman representing the 34th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She is the first female Mexican-born member of the House. Mayra immigrated here from Mexico legally at the age of 14 and is now not only a conservative Congresswoman, but the supportive wife of a Border Patrol Agent and mother of four children, which she believes is her most important job. She attended South Texas College in the Rio Grande Valley and chaired ..read more

Texas voters elected Justice Jane Bland to the Supreme Court of Texas in 2020 with more than six million votes — the most of any candidate in Texas history. Before Governor Greg Abbott appointed her to the Texas Supreme Court in 2019, Justice Bland served for six years as a state district judge in Houston and for 15 years as a justice on the Texas First Court of Appeals. Justice Bland serves as the Court’s liaison to the Judicial Commission on ..read more

Judy Frey lived in upstate New York, Central Virginia and Southern California before moving to Gregg County, Texas, in 1982. She became the Secretary for Gregg County Republican Party in 1992, and served under four consecutive successive County Chairs until 2014. She then became the Secretary for the Republican Women of Gregg County, her position still today. For Judy, consistent production of high-quality meeting minutes is part science, part art. Some graciously claim she excels at both. Judy graduated college with ..read more

Carol Van De Walle is a sixth-generation Texan, a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and was born and raised in San Antonio where she is a member of Bexar County Republican Women (BCRW). Before getting involved in politics, she was Vice President of United Savings of Texas, then left the banking industry to join her husband Joe’s family business, Van De Walle Farms. “We operated a vegetable farming and produce sales company started by Joe’s grandparents around ..read more

Our November Woman of Distinction is a TFRW treasure and sets an example for all of us to follow. She is a proud lady who was certainly “ahead of her time” in her career paths and forward thinking. Woodie Virginia (she prefers just “V”) Hornburg was born the youngest of four children in Palestine, Texas, on July 7th, 1921. Her father was a conductor on the railroad. She is a fifth generation Texan—her great-grandmother was born here in 1834. Following graduation from ..read more

Our TFRW December Woman of Distinction is Judge Cyndi Wheless, the presiding judge of the 417th District Court in Collin County. Cyndi Wheless currently serves as the presiding judge of the 417th District Court in Collin County, hearing juvenile and child welfare cases. After graduation from Plano Senior High School in 1982, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating cum laude, and received her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of ..read more