Leonard Amari (right), president of the John Marshall Board of Trustees, presents Harriet Hausman with an honorary degree at the May commencement. They are joined by Associate Dean Ralph Ruebner (left) and Dean John E. Corkery.
Harriet Seceley Hausman, an outstanding woman who has dedicated herself to working for the betterment of those less fortunate, received an honorary degree from The John Marshall Law School at the May 18 commencement ceremonies.
Hausman, 90, came to know of the law school through her husband, Marty, a 1937 graduate. But the diploma the law school presented her recognized her outstanding efforts as a trailblazer throughout her life.
A person of great courage and strong convictions, Hausman has stood alongside the downtrodden in our society. Whether it was marching in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement, feeding breakfast to hungry inner-city children, or reading for the blind, Hausman has demonstrated how one person’s actions can strengthen the fabric of society.
She was elected to three terms to the River Forest Township board. She received the River Forest Outstanding Citizen Award, and wrote “Reflections: A History of River Forest” which is included in the Library of Congress collection for local history.
Hausman, through her career as a social worker, touched many lives. Throughout her life she has been a staunch supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union and its numerous efforts to protect the rights of all and received the ACLU-Illinois Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hausman worked side by side with her husband, Martin, who founded Power Parts, Inc. When he died in 1988, she ran the business for several more years and received the U.S. Department of Transportation Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The Hausmans attended John Marshall events and supported the law school throughout Martin’s life, and she continued her husband’s legacy by establishing the Martin C. Hausman Scholarship in 1988. Her support is now given through the Martin C. Hausman Award. Thanks to her generosity, 33 graduates from the Class of 2013 received financial assistance to prepare for the bar exam.