About Us

  • 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.

  • 2024-2025 Omaha Town Hall Board

    Executive Committee

    President: Stacy Willson

    President-Elect: Ann Marie Bausch

    Secretary: Jennifer Peterson

    Treasurer: Kathy Mrla

    VP Board Coordinator: Suzan Karrer Rohrig

    VP Lecture Coordinator: Carol Zink

    VP Meal: Joani Mullin

    VP Membership: Julie Lyons

    VP Speaker Selection: Kathi Hesser

    Advisor: Bev Westerberg


    Board of Directors

    Board Assistant: Ashley Horgan

    Board Dinners: Ann Christiansen

    Board Dinners: Karen Palmer

    Book Sales & Publicity: Tami Giitter

    Courtesy: Jennifer Bettger

    Luncheon Seating: Sharon DiBiase

    Luncheon Reservations: Elaine Anderson

    Newsletter: Kathy Johnson

    Photographer/Historian: Kim Hord

    Speaker Selection: Rebecca Dietle, Kacey Lempka, Mary Brandon, Betsy McDaniel

    Sponsorship: Jane Pohlman

    Ushers/Greeters: Jackie Austad Nelson

    Virtual Membership Asst.: Beth Wooster

    Website/Social Media: Alison Johnson

  • 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

  • 2024-2025
    Dr. Larry Sabato
    Joan Lunden
    Kate Andersen Brower
    Ken Jennings

    2023-2024
    Frank Abagnale
    Candice Millard
    Jeff Corwin
    Molly Bloom

    2022-2023
    Megan Twohey
    Derreck Kayongo
    Sarah Thomas
    Captain Scott Kelley

    2020-2021
    Brad Meltzer
    Mary Lou Retton
    Lady Fiona Camarvon (r/s)
    James Olson (r/s)
    Cece Moore
    Steve Hartman

    2019-2020
    Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D.
    Sarah Parcak
    (Coronavirus Outbreak)
    Last two lectures re-scheduled for 2020-2021

    2018-2019
    Amy Dickinson
    Joe Starita
    Bridget Kelly Strauss
    Dr. Sanjay Gupta

    2017-2018
    Rita Moreno
    Robert Ballard
    Denise Kiernan
    Michael Beschloss

    2016-2017
    Ted Koppel
    Evan 0snos
    Dr. Gary Moulton
    Ruth Reichl

    2015-2016
    Anna Quindlen
    Dean Jacobs
    Robert Edsel
    Henry Winkler

    2014-2015 (50th Anniversary)
    Billie Jean King
    Timothy Egan
    Howie Franklin
    David Gergen

    2013-2014
    Peter Bergen
    Alison Levine
    Richard Picciotto
    Jeffrey Toobin

    2012-2013
    Scott Hamilton
    Clayton Anderson
    Joel Sartore
    Jean Chatzky

    2011-2012
    Lesley Stahl
    Chef Roland Mesnier
    Laura Ling
    Nick Clooney

    2010-2011
    Peggy Noonan
    Tom Gouttierre
    Cloris Leachman
    Frank Deford

    2009-2010
    Jack Hanna
    Mia Farrow
    Elliot Engel
    Mike Leonard

    2008-2009
    Steve Kroft
    Kati Marton
    Rob Gifford
    Peter Greenberg

    2007-2008
    Christopher Buckley
    Mary Robinson
    Candice Delong
    Steve Hartman

    2006-2007
    Doris Kearns Goodwin
    Martha Raddatz
    Alexander Leaf
    Reza Aslan

    2005-2006
    Bob Schieffer
    Rick Steves
    Elliot Engel
    John Davidson

    2004-2005
    Bettina Gregory
    F.W. de Klerk
    Frank Abagnale
    Roger Crawford

    2003-2004
    Carol Higgins Clark
    Bill Schustik
    Richard Simmons
    Dickie Arbiter

    2002-2003
    Claire Shipman
    Katie Howard
    Dave Barry
    Mona Charen

    2001-2002
    Morton Dean
    Marci Shimoff
    Dr. Will Miller
    Henry Haller
    Peggy Fleming

    2000-2001
    Bob Woodward
    Carol Beck
    Kitty Carlisle
    Susan Granger
    Ed McMahon

    1999-2000
    Terry Anderson
    Jane Bryant Quinn
    Arianna Huffington
    Homer Hickam
    Patti Davis

    1998-1999
    Dr. Marianne Legato
    P.J. O'Rourke
    Peter Vidmar
    Shelby White
    Richard Preston

    1997-1998
    Bob Keeshan
    Dr. Bernie Siegel
    Gail Sheehy
    John Douglas
    Victoria Solonina

    1996-1997
    Harry Wu
    Cal Thomas
    Anna Mariea Alberghetti
    Michael Medved
    Dr. Jean Kilbourne

    1995-1996
    Grace Mirabella
    Beverly Sills
    Thomas Hoving
    Judy Lewis
    Tweed Roosevelt

    1994-1995
    Marilyn Quayle
    Alexandra Stoddard
    Dr. Gayle Delaney
    Betty Mahmoody
    Dan Ruskin

    1993-1994
    Charlton Heston
    Jan Scruggs
    Bob Beckel
    Jerry Parr
    Laura Pedersen

    1992-1993
    Abigail VanBuren
    Jane Brody
    Bob Evans
    Louis Uchitelle
    Patricia Fripp

    1991-1992
    Art Linkletter
    Col. Charles Scott
    Judith Viorst
    Jack Anderson
    Boris Notkin

    1990-1991
    Sarah Brady
    Daniel R. White
    Mark Russell
    Dale Vanatta
    Dr. Bob Arnot

    1989-1990
    Desi Arnaz, Jr.
    Arthur Frommer
    William Buckley, Jr.
    Gene Perret
    Virginia Graham

    1988-1989
    Frank Vogel
    Joan Benny & Maria Cooper
    Bill Monroe
    Jonathan Miller
    Lorna Kelly

    1987-1988
    Yeager & Rutan
    Richard Reeves
    John Peer Nugent
    Muriel Bach
    Dr. Alvin Poussaint

    1986-1987
    Dr. Richard Ittner
    Jane Powell
    Orville Schell
    Moya Olsen Lear
    Capt. Gerald Coffee
    Julie & David Eisenhower

    1985-1986
    Countess Romanones
    Lord Cathern
    John Stossel
    Skitch Henderson
    Dr. Paula Moynihan

    1984-1985
    Christine Roussel
    Eddie Albert
    John Powers
    Kaylan Pickford
    Sir Freddie Laker

    1983-1984
    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 Bondy

    1981-1982
    Terry Hekker
    Fred Newman
    Patrice Munsel
    Ike Pappas
    Malcom Forbes

    1980-1981
    Jack Reynolds
    Dr. Richard Mitchell
    Patricial Neal
    Fred Young
    Gerald Terhorst

    1979-1980
    Countess Romanones
    Dr. Barbara Brown
    Thomas Hoving
    Clive David
    Charles Kuralt
    Hugh Downes

    1978-1979
    Marvella Bayh
    P. L. Hayes
    Ralph Salerno
    Frank Cappiello
    Peg Bracken

    1977-1978
    Jack Andersen
    Leslie Melville
    Jim Thorne
    Johnson-Buckley
    Nancy Dickerson

    1976-1977
    Mary Stuart
    Admiral Zumwalt
    Robert Farr
    Dr. Joyce Brothers
    John D. Callaway

    1975-1976
    Winston Churchill II
    Joshua Logan
    George Plimpton

    1974-1975
    Gore Vidal
    Charles Bartlett
    Olivia de Havilland
    June Weir
    Nila Magidoff

    1973-1974
    Lois Wheeler
    Ray Middleton
    Madhur Jaffrey
    David Niven
    Leslie Waller

    1972-1973
    Robert Pierpoint
    Lawrence Gichner
    Dr. Werner VonBraun
    Will Rodgers, Jr.
    Irene Kampen

    1971-1972
    Alfred Drake
    George Cabot Lodge
    Admiral James Clavert
    Erma Bombeck
    Angie Biddle Duke

    1970-1971
    Vincent Price
    Kitty Carlisle
    Dr. Roger Hillsman
    William Morris
    Dr. David Hoy

    1969-1970
    Victor Buono
    Mrs. Richard Hughes
    Judith Keith
    Martin Agronsky

    1968-1969
    Betty White
    Dr. Kenneth McFarland
    Reid Buckley
    Dr. Haim Ginott
    Agnes DeMille

    1967-1968
    Hugh Sidey
    Lional Wiggam
    Virginia Graham
    Dorothy Sarnoff
    Richard H. Rush

    1966-1967
    Richard Tobin
    Norma Garbo
    Cleveland Amory
    Genevieve Dariaux
    Ilka Chase

    1965-1966
    Joseph Dunniger Melville
    Greta Keller
    Dr. Murray Banks
    Robert St. John

    1964-1965
    Bennet Cerf
    Francis Robinson
    Princess of Siam
    John Mason Brown
    Montgomery Hyde