Mary Lee Morhauser Fox

Mary Morhauser Fox, a graduate of the University of Iowa, is being honored by her family on the occasion of her 60th birthday, February 24, 2004. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mary's commitments to family and friends, as well as her long time support of social justice and women's equality issues. Mary turned her support for women's rights into a career when she began to work for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa (then Planned Parenthood of Mid Iowa) in 1972. She was hired as the coordinator of satellite services. In that role, she traveled around the state educating women of all ages about their reproductive health. She also set up clinics in Knoxville, Newton, Ames, Creston, Red Oak, and Spirit Lake (Spencer). In 1987 she became the manager of the Knoxville clinic. She spent 14 years working hard to ensure that the women and men of south central and southeast Iowa had access to accurate reproductive heath care and education. Today Mary continues that mission in her work as the manager of the West Des Moines Planned Parenthood clinic.

As her family, we admire Mary for always being there for us; as an enthusiastic supporter and volunteer for her children's activities, for her role in caring for her parents before their deaths, for her courage in standing up for her beliefs even when they are unpopular, and for her strong work ethic. She has the ability to treat everyone with fairness and compassion and encourages us to make these values an important part of our lives.

Mary and her husband Richard Fox live in Des Moines, Iowa. She is the mother of two children. Ann Fox Davenport, a 1998 graduate of Iowa State, and her husband Brian live in Minneapolis, MN. Andrew Cho Fox attends DMAC and resides in Des Moines, IA

Richard Fox, Ann and Brian Davenport, Andrew C. Fox, Margaret and Carl Shaykewich, John and Kathy Shoesmith, Thomas Shoesmith and Kara and Miles Thomsen. 2/2004