Dorothy Houghton

We’ve done a couple of columns on Dorothy Houghton, but she made the news so often and so deservedly we’ll do one more. The following appeared in The Express on February 4, 1954:

On Jan. 26, at the Greek Embassy in Washington, D.C., Mrs. H.C. Houghton of Red Oak was presented with the Gold Cross of the Royal Order of Beneficence from the Greek government. Presentation was made by Greek Ambassador Politis. A part of his address follows:

“It is a great privilege to present you, Mrs. Hiram Cole Houghton, with the insignia and diploma of the Gold Cross of the Royal Order of Beneficence that His Majesty the King has graciously conferred upon you in recognition of your outstanding service to my country. In 1951 you visited Greece as the head of a delegation of members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, which toured various European countries. During your stay in Greece you were able to grasp our numerous problems, and upon returning to your country you made every effort to familiarize the American public with these problems.

In accepting the honor Mrs. Houghton said, in part: “I am deeply grateful to His Majesty King Paul I of Hellenes, for bestowing upon me the Gold Cross of the Royal Order of Beneficence. . . .”

The Royal Order of Beneficence had five classes, with gold being the highest. The medal that accompanied the award was a five tipped badge of gold containing a blue enameled flower, and we wonder what became of this one.

Mrs. Houghton; world traveler, former president of the Federation of Women’s Clubs, holder of a high level position in the US State Department, confidant and advisor to Dwight Eisenhower, made national news on a regular basis.

A few weeks after the above article another appeared stating she had decided not to run for the office of U.S. Senator from Iowa. She would have been a strong candidate, but felt she had other work more important.

Roy Marshall is a local historian. E-mail him at news@redoakexpress.com.