About Us
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Omaha Town Hall Lecture Series is committed to enhancing the cultural life of the metropolitan area. We present experts speaking on topics from entertainment to history, politics to art, geography to journalism. Our speakers often aim to teach, sometimes entertain, and always inform.
Our organization began in the summer of 1964 when Dick Walter, Omaha’s impresario, and seven area women decided it was time to initiate a lecture series. Representatives of different lecture bureaus came to Omaha from New York to meet with the board and to describe what they had to offer. The opening speaker in the series was Bennett Cerf.
The idea of presenting speakers of varying backgrounds who had made an impact, often presenting controversial issues, grew, attracting people who enjoyed the stimulation of ideas.
Initially the lectures were held at Peony Park. The usual format for town halls across the country was to hold a morning lecture followed by lunch, a format which our Town Hall series embraced.
The venues for our lectures and luncheons have changed through the years, but the quality of our speakers has remained consistently impressive. As a result, Omaha Town Hall Lecture Series has attracted membership from a large geographic region encompassing both sides of the Missouri River.
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2023-24 Omaha Town Hall Board
President: Bev Westerberg
President-Elect: Stacy Wilson
Secretary: Amy Knuth
Treasurer: Kathy Mrla
VP Board Coordinator: Jennifer Betger
VP Lecture Coordinator: Mary Lynn Reiser
VP Meal: Ann Marie Bausch
VP Membership: Tami Giitter
VP Speaker Selection: Carol Zink
Advisor: Jill Thomsen
Board Assistant: Ashley Horgan
Board Dinners: Joani Mullin & Jennifer Peterson
Book Sales: Jackie Nelson
Courtesy: Maureen Turner
Luncheon Seating: Ann Christiansen
Luncheon Reservations: Elaine Anderson
Membership Assistant: Julie Lyons
Newsletter: Suzan Rohrig
Photographer/Historian: Kathy Johnson
Speaker Selection: Phyllis Choat, Kathi Hesser, Alison Johnson, Lori Pirnie
Sponsorship/Publicity: Jane Pohlman
Ushers/Greeters: Becky Dietle
Virtual Membership Asst.: Beth Wooster
Website/Social Media: Kacey Lempka
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2023-2024 - Bev Westerberg
2022-2023 - Jill Thomsen
2020-2022 - Cydney Koukol
2019-2020 - Susan McGillick
2018-2019 - Sharon Hansen
2017-2018 - Christine Nikunen
2016-2017 - Mary Pat Paul
2015-2016 - Debbie Hedgecock
2014-2015 - Betsy Strain
2013-2014 - Carrie May
2012-2013 - Kathy Martin
2011-2012 - Pat Beebe
2010-2011 - Lyn Stuntz
2009-2010 - Nancy Prauner
2008-2009 - Mary Larsen
2007-2008 - Anne Lieben
2006-2007 - Nancy Whitted
2005-2006 - Deanna Foley
2004-2005 - Carol Dvorak
2003-2004 - Sue Recker
2002-2003 - Jennifer Pansing
2001-2002 - Sharon Emery
2000-2001 - Teri Teutsch
1999-2000 - Lynda Thomas
1998-1999 - Anne Thorne Weaver
1997-1998 - Sue Fisher
1996-1997 - Carole Christ
1995-1996 - Marilyn Thompson
1994-1995 - Marilyn Woodbury
1993-1994 - Paulette Peters
1992-1993 - Betsy Reed
1991-1992 - Virginia Prigeon
1990-1991 - Carolyn Hansen
1989-1990 - Jane Strottman
1988-1989 - Jean Anderson
1987-1988 - Bonnie Chastain
1986-1987 - Shirley Deasey
1985-1986 - Sally Stilwell
1984-1985 - Luann Schropp
1983-1984 - Betty Dunham
1982-1983 - Bette Erickson
1981-1982 - Betty Jacobus
1980-1981 - Joanne Roberts
1979-1980 - Florence Free
1978-1979 - Phyllis Debuse
1977-1978 - Allis Kemper
1976-1977 - Barbara Ford
1975-1976 - Norma Siders
1974-1975 - Jane McGrath Furfey
1973-1974 - Nina Gardner
1972-1973 - Bette Ketzler
1971-1972 - Fran Coe
1970-1971 - Betty Roberts
1969-1970 - Joan Rowe
1968-1969 - June Russell
1967-1968 - Maulfry Fisher Vrana
1966-1967 - Carolyn Magid
1965-1966
1964-1965
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2023-2024
Frank Abagnale
Candice Millard
Jeff Corwin
Molly Bloom2022-2023
Megan Twohey
Derreck Kayongo
Sarah Thomas
Captain Scott Kelley2020-2021
Brad Meltzer
Mary Lou Retton
Lady Fiona Camarvon (r/s)
James Olson (r/s)
Cece Moore
Steve Hartman2019-2020
Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D.
Sarah Parcak
(Coronavirus Outbreak)
Last two lectures re-scheduled for 2020-20212018-2019
Amy Dickinson
Joe Starita
Bridget Kelly Strauss
Dr. Sanjay Gupta2017-2018
Rita Moreno
Robert Ballard
Denise Kiernan
Michael Beschloss2016-2017
Ted Koppel
Evan 0snos
Dr. Gary Moulton
Ruth Reichl2015-2016
Anna Quindlen
Dean Jacobs
Robert Edsel
Henry Winkler2014-2015 (50th Anniversary)
Billie Jean King
Timothy Egan
Howie Franklin
David Gergen2013-2014
Peter Bergen
Alison Levine
Richard Picciotto
Jeffrey Toobin2012-2013
Scott Hamilton
Clayton Anderson
Joel Sartore
Jean Chatzky2011-2012
Lesley Stahl
Chef Roland Mesnier
Laura Ling
Nick Clooney2010-2011
Peggy Noonan
Tom Gouttierre
Cloris Leachman
Frank Deford2009-2010
Jack Hanna
Mia Farrow
Elliot Engel
Mike Leonard2008-2009
Steve Kroft
Kati Marton
Rob Gifford
Peter Greenberg2007-2008
Christopher Buckley
Mary Robinson
Candice Delong
Steve Hartman2006-2007
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Martha Raddatz
Alexander Leaf
Reza Aslan2005-2006
Bob Schieffer
Rick Steves
Elliot Engel
John Davidson2004-2005
Bettina Gregory
F.W. de Klerk
Frank Abagnale
Roger Crawford2003-2004
Carol Higgins Clark
Bill Schustik
Richard Simmons
Dickie Arbiter2002-2003
Claire Shipman
Katie Howard
Dave Barry
Mona Charen2001-2002
Morton Dean
Marci Shimoff
Dr. Will Miller
Henry Haller
Peggy Fleming2000-2001
Bob Woodward
Carol Beck
Kitty Carlisle
Susan Granger
Ed McMahon1999-2000
Terry Anderson
Jane Bryant Quinn
Arianna Huffington
Homer Hickam
Patti Davis1998-1999
Dr. Marianne Legato
P.J. O'Rourke
Peter Vidmar
Shelby White
Richard Preston1997-1998
Bob Keeshan
Dr. Bernie Siegel
Gail Sheehy
John Douglas
Victoria Solonina1996-1997
Harry Wu
Cal Thomas
Anna Mariea Alberghetti
Michael Medved
Dr. Jean Kilbourne1995-1996
Grace Mirabella
Beverly Sills
Thomas Hoving
Judy Lewis
Tweed Roosevelt1994-1995
Marilyn Quayle
Alexandra Stoddard
Dr. Gayle Delaney
Betty Mahmoody
Dan Ruskin1993-1994
Charlton Heston
Jan Scruggs
Bob Beckel
Jerry Parr
Laura Pedersen1992-1993
Abigail VanBuren
Jane Brody
Bob Evans
Louis Uchitelle
Patricia Fripp1991-1992
Art Linkletter
Col. Charles Scott
Judith Viorst
Jack Anderson
Boris Notkin1990-1991
Sarah Brady
Daniel R. White
Mark Russell
Dale Vanatta
Dr. Bob Arnot1989-1990
Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Arthur Frommer
William Buckley, Jr.
Gene Perret
Virginia Graham1988-1989
Frank Vogel
Joan Benny & Maria Cooper
Bill Monroe
Jonathan Miller
Lorna Kelly1987-1988
Yeager & Rutan
Richard Reeves
John Peer Nugent
Muriel Bach
Dr. Alvin Poussaint1986-1987
Dr. Richard Ittner
Jane Powell
Orville Schell
Moya Olsen Lear
Capt. Gerald Coffee
Julie & David Eisenhower1985-1986
Countess Romanones
Lord Cathern
John Stossel
Skitch Henderson
Dr. Paula Moynihan1984-1985
Christine Roussel
Eddie Albert
John Powers
Kaylan Pickford
Sir Freddie Laker1983-1984
Rex Reed
Constance Towers
James Humes
Col. John Cottel
James Reston
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.1982-1983
Norman Cousins
Allison Laland
Arians Stasinapoulos
Lee Radziwill
Susan Bondy1981-1982
Terry Hekker
Fred Newman
Patrice Munsel
Ike Pappas
Malcom Forbes1980-1981
Jack Reynolds
Dr. Richard Mitchell
Patricial Neal
Fred Young
Gerald Terhorst1979-1980
Countess Romanones
Dr. Barbara Brown
Thomas Hoving
Clive David
Charles Kuralt
Hugh Downes1978-1979
Marvella Bayh
P. L. Hayes
Ralph Salerno
Frank Cappiello
Peg Bracken1977-1978
Jack Andersen
Leslie Melville
Jim Thorne
Johnson-Buckley
Nancy Dickerson1976-1977
Mary Stuart
Admiral Zumwalt
Robert Farr
Dr. Joyce Brothers
John D. Callaway1975-1976
Winston Churchill II
Joshua Logan
George Plimpton1974-1975
Gore Vidal
Charles Bartlett
Olivia de Havilland
June Weir
Nila Magidoff1973-1974
Lois Wheeler
Ray Middleton
Madhur Jaffrey
David Niven
Leslie Waller1972-1973
Robert Pierpoint
Lawrence Gichner
Dr. Werner VonBraun
Will Rodgers, Jr.
Irene Kampen1971-1972
Alfred Drake
George Cabot Lodge
Admiral James Clavert
Erma Bombeck
Angie Biddle Duke1970-1971
Vincent Price
Kitty Carlisle
Dr. Roger Hillsman
William Morris
Dr. David Hoy1969-1970
Victor Buono
Mrs. Richard Hughes
Judith Keith
Martin Agronsky1968-1969
Betty White
Dr. Kenneth McFarland
Reid Buckley
Dr. Haim Ginott
Agnes DeMille1967-1968
Hugh Sidey
Lional Wiggam
Virginia Graham
Dorothy Sarnoff
Richard H. Rush1966-1967
Richard Tobin
Norma Garbo
Cleveland Amory
Genevieve Dariaux
Ilka Chase1965-1966
Joseph Dunniger Melville
Greta Keller
Dr. Murray Banks
Robert St. John1964-1965
Bennet Cerf
Francis Robinson
Princess of Siam
John Mason Brown
Montgomery Hyde