| Established in 1978 at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame provides public recognition of the contributions Ohio women have made to our state, our nation, and our world. Members of the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame come from all walks of life, but each has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to excellence, achievement and service to others.
Each year, the State of Ohio invites nominations for induction into the Hall of Fame. Nominees must have been born in Ohio or lived in Ohio a minimum of five years. They are evaluated on the scope and impact of their achievements and the extent to which they inspired other women. |
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Nanette Ferrall |
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Nearly 400 women have been inducted over the years, including award-winning author Toni Morrison, activist Gloria Steinem, and sharp-shooter Annie Oakley.
Search the Hall of Fame - Database of all members of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame searchable by name, year of induction, field of achievement, county of residence, or keyword.
Nanette Ferrall
World-renowned poet Nanette Ferrall was born on April 15, 1960 in St. Marys, Ohio. She attended St. Marys Memorial High School, excelling in both academics and athletics. She received varsity letters in basketball, gymnastics, and track. She was a member of the choir, the Girls Athletic Association, the M-Club (a local school-based club), Thespians, and Y-Teens, and she was active with the school newspaper, the Blue Print.
On the evening of graduation day, June 4, 1978, on her way home from a graduation party, Ferrall was involved in a tragic automobile accident in which she suffered a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She was not expected to walk again.
Her life turned, but it did not end. With the support of family and friends and with six months of recovery and rehabilitation behind her, Ferrall enrolled at Wright State University, graduating in 1983. While at Wright State, she met Dr. Jerrold Petrofsky, a professor of biomedical engineering and physiology who had developed a computerized electronic system that stimulated muscles with small jolts of electricity in order to enhance muscle tone and increase circulation to a paralyzed limb. Working with Dr. Petrofsky, Ferrall made history. On November 11, 1982, four years after her accident, she took five dramatic steps and became the first paraplegic ever to walk.
For additional information, visit Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.
Contact:
Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
P.O. Box 1618
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1618
Fax: 614-728-8366
Phone: 1-888-296-7541, Option # 0
Email: WIAQNA@jfs.ohio.gov
Last Update 12/13/2011 |
