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Joanne Breckenridge was a gracious, grand Republican lady. She loved her God, her family, her friends and the Missouri Federation of Republican Women. In June of 1994 in her President’s annual convention message, Joanne Breckenridge reminded the attendees that they are the future of the Republican Party and closed her report with the words, TOMORROW BEGINS TODAY! These are words that Joanne practiced until the end. Her optimism and zest for life inspired countless numbers of people, not only in Missouri, but across the nation, to serve their God and Country through involvement. This ability to inspire and include others, especially newcomers to politics, is considered by all to be an outstanding characteristic of her life. Her positive encouragement has produced many candidates, elected officials and leaders. Joanne Breckenridge was the twenty-fourth president of the Missouri Federation of Republican Women (1992-1995). During her four years as president, Joanne introduced several programs which are still functioning today and expanded existing ones. She brought the National Federation of Republican Women’s “Women of Tribute” event to Missouri in 1994. The “Tribute” provides local units and the MOFRW with the opportunity to honor a member for her service to the Republican Party and the community at a luncheon held expressly for this purpose. She was selected by the MoFRW as its “Woman of Tribute” in 1998. During her term as MoFRW President, she established and fully funded the “Joanne Breckenridge” Legislative Day Scholarship for high school girls in each of Missouri’s nine congressional districts. Each district club selects a scholar, based on a resume which shows involvement in school activities, community services, extra curricular events and political campaigns. The Breckenridge Scholars Program encourages these awardees to become interested in politics and legislation by sponsoring their visit to the State Capitol in Jefferson City where they meet their legislators and elected state officials. It became an excellent complement to the MoFRW annual Legislative Day. And,
she will definitely be remembered for her expansion of the Federation
Friends, Century Club and Millennium Members fundraising effort.
Few people have escaped the persuasiveness of Joanne’s request
for donations. The money raised through her record-breaking efforts
provided much needed funds for the MoFRW. Her last task for the
MoFRW was to send out letters to the Century Club and Millennium
Members. Joanne was deeply involved in church, civic and political activities. She attended Central Methodist College and Florida University and was certified to teach English. She was also a trained musician and art teacher who was certified to teach porcelain, ceramics and stoneware. She was comfortable in any situation--whether on a missionary trip to the Island of St. Lucia, teaching English to people from other countries, building enthusiasm at a political event, encouraging a beginner in politics or convincing a potential donor to contribute to the Century Club. Joanne attended many Republican National Conventions as a delegate or alternate and was Missouri GOP Chairman of Youth for Reagan in 1980. In 1985 she founded the Republican Women’s Club South which is now known as the Reagan Republican Federated Women’s Club. In 2004 she was elected Republican Committeewoman for Concord Township in St. Louis County and served on the 96th Legislative Committee. As a “Career Volunteer” she participated in numerous campaigns as a worker and financial supporter. As
a Regent, Joanne was a financial supporter of the National Federation
of Republican Women. She served the NFRW as Member at Large to
the Executive Committee (1996-1997), 4th Vice President (1998-1999)
and 3rd Vice President (2000-01). |
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