There are many unrecognized early leaders who were key to establishing the Family and Consumer and Sciences profession as we know it today. One of those early leaders was Lillian Bauer Johnston, high school teacher, school principal, and superintendent of the Lebanon Schools in Lebanon, Kentucky. She was a young teacher just out of Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky when she came to Lebanon High School around 1922. She taught calculus, trigonometry, physics, and chemistry. Since her school had added Domestic Science to their curriculum three years earlier, she also taught these classes. All of her students were drawn to Mrs. Johnston because she had such a profound interest in their education, especially the young women who were beginning to see opportunities for women that had not previously existed for them. While the women's movement during the 1920's undoubtedly contributed to this interest, Mrs. Johnston knew that access to these opportunities would depend on education of women. She not only stressed the importance of education to her students, but her status as an educator and administrator provided a great role model for both men and women students aspiring to achieve a satisfying life. As is the case with most dedicated educators, they may never know the full extent of their influence on their students or the professions they represent. This was the case with Lillian Bauer Johnston. My mother, Alma Lou Whitehouse Ellis, was one of those students who were touched by Mrs. Johnston's dedication to her students in her domestic science class. While my mother was not fortunate enough to continue her education beyond high school, she knew that education was essential for the future of her 11 children. Due to the influence of this teacher/ administrator/ role model, my mother and father were inspired to educate their children. Six of their daughters, earned degrees from the University of Kentucky School of Home Economics and chose careers in Family and Consumer Sciences. Collectively, the six daughters (Jewell Deene Ellis, Shirley Sheperson, Barbara Taylor, Wilma Ewbank, Kaye Thurman, and Karen Marsee) contributed 226 years of work in the profession of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Nominated by:

Barbara E. Taylor