Vivian Lou Anderson Castleberry

1984 Inductee
Communications
(1922-2017)

Vivian Lou Anderson Castleberry, of Dallas, was women’s editor of the Dallas Times Herald for 28 years. Vivian was the first woman to be named to The Times Herald editorial board, among the first women in the United States to assume an editorial position. Only 10 days after her retirement in 1984, Vivian was on a plane headed to the Soviet Union as a Grassroots Citizen Diplomat.

As a journalist, Castleberry wrote the first story on child abuse ever published in a Dallas newspaper and helped establish both the city’s Rape Crisis Center and Recovery Inc., a support group for incest victims. Her articles have documented the changing roles of women in the workplace and the home. Mrs. Castleberry co-chaired the first Women’s Peace Initiative in Dallas. She won 17 major journalism awards including the State Headliner Award, three United Press International first places, and three Katie awards from the Dallas Press Club.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University, she served on the second Texas Commission on the Status of Women and on the first Dallas Commission on the Status of Women. Castleberry’s community volunteer contributions include being a founder of the Women’s Center of Dallas, of Women’s Issues Network and of the Dallas Women’s Foundation. She served on the advisory board that established the Family Place, Dallas’ shelter for battered women and their children.

In 1987, Castleberry was selected by the Washington, D.C. Press Club Foundation as "a change agent" for coverage of women’s activities. In 1992, the Association of Women Journalists established a scholarship in her name which awards journalists for excellence in reporting and writing. She was honored by the National Association of Women Business Owners with its annual Louise Raggio Award for "opening doors of opportunity to fledgling women business owners." Castleberry was also named Texas Trailblazer of the Year in 2001.