Established in 1984, the American Legion Auxiliary’s Woman of the Year Award recognized outstanding women who exemplified the values and ideals of the American Legion Auxiliary, particularly those whose contributions advanced the quality of life for America’s military, veterans, and their families. The final Woman of the Year Award was presented at the Auxiliary’s 2019 National Convention.
| Year | Recipient | Title/Organization/Accomplishment | ALA National President |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Marsha Four, Patricia Harris, and Leslie Lightfoot, | Marsha Four, Vietnam Veterans of America
Patricia Harris, Women Veterans Support Service Leslie Lightfoot, Veteran Homestead Inc |
Kathy Dungan |
| 2018 | Elizabeth Mackey | National Veterans Creative Arts Festival | Diane Duscheck |
| 2017 | Cameron Cruse and Lisa Bradley | founders of R. Riveter | Mary Davis |
| 2016 | U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Peggy C. Combs | 2-star general and Chief of Staff, NORAD/USNORTHCOM | Sharon Conatser |
| 2015 | Nesse Godin | Holocaust survivor and educator | Janet Jefford |
| 2014 | Lt. General Michelle Johnson | 3-star general and Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy | Nancy Brown-Park |
| 2013 | Patricia “Patty” Shinseki | Military wife and advocate | Peggy Thomas |
| 2012 | Linda Wieck | Quilt-maker, military mother-in-law, and American Legion Auxiliary member | Kris Nelson |
| 2011 | Melissa Seligman | Co-authored “Simply Green” with her husband and is the co-author of “A Heart Apart,” an interactive book for military children. | Carlene Ashworth |
| 2010 | The Honorable L. Tammy Duckworth | Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs | Rita Navarreté |
| 2009 | Lori Stevens | Patriot PAWS | Desireé Stoy |
| 2008 | Tara Crooks | Military Lifestyle Writer & Talk Radio Host | Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan |
| 2007 | Gale S. Pollock | Deputy Surgeon General for Force Management, U.S. Army | JoAnn Cronin |
| 2006 | Condelezza Rice | Secretary of State | Carol Van Kirk |
| 2005 | Barabra Mandrell* | Country Music Artist | Sandi Dutton |
| 2004 | Audrey Fisher | Fisher House Ambassador | Katherine Morris |
| 2003 | Chely Wright | Country Music Artist | Elsie Bailey |
| 2002 | Kathryn Koob | Foreign Service Officer | Sherry McLaughlin |
| 2001 | Laura Bush | First Lady | Kristine West |
| 2000 | Kay Yow | North Carolina State Women's Basketball Coach | Elizabeth Stewart |
| 1999 | Christine Gregoire | First Female Attorney General | Virginia Hobbs |
| 1998 | Elizabeth B. Walter | Writer of Barefoot in the Rubble | Barbara Kranig |
| 1997 | Kathleen Kennedy Townsend | Lieutenant Governor of Maryland | Phyllis Bachman |
| 1996 | Corinne "Lindy" Claiborne Boggs | Former U.S. Representative of Louisiana | Syble Deshotel |
| 1995 | Christine Todd Whitman | Governor of New Jersey | Linda Newsome |
| 1994 | Beverly Baron | Drug Abuse Prevention | Helen Holcomb |
| 1993 | Patricia Hanges | Child Advocate | Linda Boone |
| 1992 | Kathryn C. Thornton | Astronaut | Margaret Yankovich |
| 1991 | Humorist & Author | Minister | Ruby Paul |
| 1990 | Marilyn Quayle | Wife of Vice President Dan Quayle | Betty Calder |
| 1989 | Margaret Adams | Senior Editor, Good Housekeeping Magazine | Alice Galka |
| 1988 | Susan Sullivan | Actress | Pearl Behrend |
| 1987 | Elizabeth Hanford Dole | U.S. Secretary of Transportation | Evelyn Starr |
| 1986 | Marge Schott | Owner, Cincinnati Reds baseball team | Josie Melgard |
| 1985 | Paula Hawkins | US Senator from Florida | Helen Gardner |
| 1984 | Ensign Kristine Holdereid | First woman Midshipman to graduate at the top of her class at the U.S. Naval Academy | Anna Gear |
*Given as the "Lifetime Achievement Award"
