The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame will welcome Vada Webb Sheid into its ranks on Thursday, honoring her legacy as the first woman to serve in both the Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate. The induction ceremony, marking the hall’s 10th annual event, will take place at the North Little Rock Event Center. The evening begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception, followed by dinner and the program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Vada Sheid Community Development Center, located on the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) campus, encouraged residents of the Twin Lakes Area to tune in to the ceremony, which will be livestreamed on YouTube. A link to the livestream is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/meXGL5Vf2Ns.
A native of Izard County, Sheid passed away in 2008 after a distinguished public service career spanning five decades. She began as Izard County’s welfare director and went on to serve as Baxter County treasurer before being elected to the Arkansas Legislature. Her legislative focus centered on advancing education and critical infrastructure projects. Among her most notable achievements were helping to establish ASUMH and North Arkansas College in Harrison, as well as advocating for road construction and bridges to connect communities across Norfork Lake.
The ASUMH community center that bears her name is a central hub for concerts, plays, graduations, conferences, and local meetings. The center described Sheid as a "trailblazer" and a "tireless advocate for the Ozarks," noting that the building serves as a lasting tribute to her vision and leadership.
Sheid is one of seven women being inducted into the Hall of Fame’s 2023 class. Other historical inductees include Sharon Allen, the first woman president of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield; Phyllis Dillaha Brandon, a journalist who covered the integration crisis at Little Rock’s Central High School and later founded the Arkansas Democrat’s High Profile section; and Dorothy Reddell Caldwell, whose innovations transformed school nutrition programs at state and federal levels.
Contemporary honorees are Cynthia East, founder of Cynthia East Fabrics in Little Rock; Marsha Martin, the Northwest Arkansas entrepreneur behind Onyx Brands Inc.; and Cynthia Nance, dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law.
The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have significantly shaped the state’s public service, education, business, arts, advocacy, or community leadership. Board Chair Stacy Hurst emphasized the organization’s goal to honor women whose contributions leave a lasting mark on Arkansas.
Tickets to the ceremony are available through the Hall of Fame’s website. For those unable to attend in person, the livestream ensures that Sheid’s legacy and the achievements of her fellow inductees can be celebrated statewide.