Vucanovich joins women’s hall of fame

Tuesday, May 15, 2001 | 8:44 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENO -- Former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich and longtime Reno activist May Shelton were inducted Wednesday into the Nevada Women's Fund's Hall of Fame for their contributions to women and children.

Vucanovich, a Republican who served seven terms in the House from 1983 through 1996, was the first woman to be elected to federal office from Nevada and the first Nevadan to serve in a leadership position in the House.

"What her bio doesn't say is how tirelessly she worked for her constituents," said Charolette McConnell, chairwoman of the Nevada Women's Fund.

She recalled Vucanovich's campaign slogan in 1982 was, "What Congress needs is a tough grandmother."

"She was the first woman in Congress and probably the first woman in federal government with breast cancer to publicly acknowledge what most women were afraid to talk about," McConnell said at the fund's annual awards luncheon at the Reno Hilton.

The fund, established in 1983, is dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in northern Nevada.

Shelton retired last year as director of the Washoe County Social Services Department and has worked as a lobbyist at the state Legislature.