Elizabeth (Liz) Katherine Hawkes was born on Nov. 22, 1905 in Washburn, WI. Washburn is located in far northern Wisconsin. It is “just a little town on the Big Lake,” (Superior) but it was home sweet home to her. Liz graduated from high school at age 15. In the 1920s, she became legislative aid to Congressman Hubert Peavey (WI). While in Washington she attended National Law School. Liz took the Wi Bar Exam in 1937, and became one of the first 150 female attorneys in WI. She also returned to Washburn to set up her law practice, care for an ailing mother, offer parental support to a teen aged nephew and act as sole financial support for the family. In 1942 Liz elected the second woman in WI to become a District Attorney. Liz was the first woman named to the WI Board of Regents, and first woman board president. She was also the first woman to serve on the WI Bar Assn. Board. The poor were regular beneficiaries of her extraordinary legal talent.