SAN ANTONIO WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME
Shirley Wills was inducted in 2012 for her work in the communications field.
THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES
In 2011, The Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) created an exhibit “Texas Football: In Their Own Words,” to show the impact of high school football on the culture of Texas. As a result of her work with the Thomas Jefferson High School Lasso Alumni Association, Shirley was chosen to be in the exhibit to represent the importance of the pep squad experience to high school girls.
SILVER
SPUR AWARD
The public
relations campaign that Shirley Wills & Associates created and implemented
for the opening of the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi in 1991 won the
covered Silver Spur Award, given by the Texas Public Relations Association to
recognize the best public relations campaigns in the state. The campaign also
won top awards in competitions held by Women in Communications, Inc., and the
International Association of Business Communicators.
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AWARDS
Work by
Shirley Wills & Associates for the Plaza San Antonio Hotel won three Bronze
Awards in the International Golden Bell Public Relations Awards Competition
sponsored by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
GOLD KEY AWARD RECIPIENT
Shirley
Wills & Associates won the Gold Key Award from the Texas Hotel & Motel
Association in 1991 for her work with the Plaza San Antonio. The award
recognizes public relations excellence in the Texas lodging industry.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
LEADERSHIP TEXAS
The
recipient of many awards and honors, Shirley represented the city of San Antonio as a participant in the
Leadership Texas program and currently is a member of the Leadership Texas
Alumni Association. Leadership Texas is a statewide program to groom and
encourage women leaders. Acceptance is
by application. A new class of women is selected
each year representing cities throughout Texas.
ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION
Her
leadership abilities have been recognized by several organizations. She has
received the Headliner Award from
Women in Communications and the Young
Career Woman Award from the Business and Professional Women's Club of San
Antonio
LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC RELATIONS
PROFESSION
An
accredited member of the Public
Relations Society of America, she has served on the PRSA board as well as
on the boards of the Texas Public
Relations Association and the International
Association of Business Communicators. She is a past president of the San
Antonio chapter of Women in Communications.
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Greater San Antonio Chamber of
Commerce
As a
member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Shirley served on the
Marketing Communications Steering Committee and chaired the Executive Newcomer Program. She is a
graduate of the Chamber's Leadership San Antonio program and also served on the
Leadership San Antonio Steering Committee.
The
Oakes Club
Shirley is a past president of the Oakes Club, an organization of business and
professional women. She served on the board in many other capacities.
M.D. News
Member, Editorial Advisory Board
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of
San Antonio, Inc.
Board member and co-chairman of the 2009 Lifetime of Faith and Service Award
Dinner. As chairman, Shirley and her committee raised more funds than had ever
been raised in the eight-year history of the gala.
Thomas Jefferson High School (San
Antonio) Lasso Alumni Association
Board member 2009-2012. This group supports the Lasso pep squad at Thomas
Jefferson High School, an inner city school whose students are challenged
economically. As an officer in the Lasso Alumni Association (LAA), Shirley has
been instrumental in the growth of the Lassos. The LAA raises funds to provide
uniforms for the Lassos, for scholarships and to cover other expenses as
needed. Shirley initiated a fund raiser at Chris Madrid’s that for the last
three years has been highly successful. She also organized an event to honor
Lassos of the 1950s and 1960 that raised funds and resulted in
inter-generational mentoring. A story that Shirley developed and pitched to
media on the event garnered national exposure when it was picked up by the
Associated Press and appeared in newspapers throughout the country, attracting
support from out-of-state Lasso alumni.
Cattle Barons
Gala, American Cancer Society
Co-chair of Marketing and PR Committee for 2010 gala
Assistance League of San Antonio
Advisory board member
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance
Former Board member
American Lung Association
As a member of the board of directors, she was co-chairman of the American Lung
Association's 2000 Research Dinner, honoring San Antonio District Attorney
Susan Reed.
Bexar County Women's Center
Past president
San Antonio Festival
In 1989 she founded the Backstagers, a support group of the
San Antonio Festival (now Arts San Antonio) and served on the Festival board of
directors.
Board Leadership
In addition, she has served on the boards of:
The
Junior League of San Antonio (Community Advisory Board)
Crimestoppers
San
Antonio Food Bank
Arthritis
Foundation
Avance
American
Red Cross
San
Antonio Area Girl Scouts Council
Visiting
Nurses Association
Community
Guidance Center
