Texas Executive Director Announced 2009 Woman of Distinction
Apr 29th, 2009

Texas Rural Partners Executive Director, Cheryl Hinkley has been recognized by Girl Scouts of Central Texas as a woman of distinction among her community through her individual excellence and high level of achievement. Cheryl acts as a role model for all Girl Scout members, girls and adults alike, showing them that with hard work and preserverance, anything can be accomplished.

Hinckley was appointed executive director of the Texas Rural Development Council by President Bush in 1991 and led the council until her retirement in 2005. Under her leadership the organization received a Best of the Best Practices award from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Involved with rural development at a national level, she was elected to the Executive Board for the National Rural Development Partnership where she served a two year term and for five years co-chaired the National Rural Issues Briefing in Washington D.C. For her commitment to rural issues Hinckley has received numerous awards including becoming the first woman to receive the Ron Shaffer Award for her work with a National Rural Development Partnership agency.

A graduate of Leadership Texas, she is currently a member of Bell County Republican Women and treasurer for The Contemporaries, a fundraising group for the Cultural Activities Center in Temple. Hinckley has three stepdaughters.