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Eagle Forum Honors “Super Patriot” Donna Hearne
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It is with great sorrow we report that longtime Eagle Forum leader and friend, Donna Hearne, entered into her eternal rewards on June 23, 2020.
Donna has been a steadfast cultural warrior for decades. She was appointed Eagle Forum’s first Education Issue Chairman by Phyllis Schlafly. Eagle Forum President Emeritus Eunie Smith, who worked with Donna for more than 40 years stated, “Donna was a happy warrior who was always optimistic. She is a super patriot, always energetic, an encourager of others, determined in all her ways to serve her Lord and Savior.” Smith continued, “Donna steeped herself in God’s Word and provided a how-to for others to read through the Bible each year in her Christmas mailings. She was lovely, gracious, and intellectually stimulating. We will miss her visionary leadership as she equipped us for the culture wars.
"Donna and Mark Hearne were close friends with my parents, Fred and Phyllis Schlafly. Whenever my mother was out of town, my father would telephone Donna for long conversations to get his daily political fix with a like-minded conservative," said Eagle Forum Chairman Anne Cori.
“Although she kept us informed about some of the most disturbing and discouraging issues facing our nation, she always gave us hope with her bright smile and unwavering energy and determination,” said Eagle Forum president Colleen Holcomb. “Donna energized those around her with her passion, and she strengthened and encouraged us with the strength and encouragement she drew from her loving family and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Donna earned a degree in elementary education from Washington University in St. Louis. She was a prolific author, she hosted a radio talk show host for more than thirty years, and she served on a local school board. Donna was appointed by President Reagan to work in the U.S. Department of Education from 1981-1991. Thereafter, she served on several policy-making boards, with an appointment in 1988 to America 2000, the forerunner of Goals 2000.
Donna founded and served as the Executive Director of The Constitutional Coalition, a research organization committed to equipping citizens to understand the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, acknowledging that they contain absolutes that are the basis for our laws, and therefore, recognizing that God is the giver of our freedoms. As Donna explained, “It became important to tell American parents what terrible things were happening in the classroom.”
The Constitutional Coalition disseminates excellent research materials to equip families and grassroots activists to defend freedom. The Constitutional Coalition hosts an annual Education and Policy Conference in St. Louis, which has gathered some of the nation’s foremost speakers and experts on conservative issues.
Donna frequently credited her beloved husband, Mark, with enabling her to so effectively engage in defending America’s founding principles. Mark was awarded Eagle Forum’s 2020 Fred Schlafly Award, which honors husbands who have distinguished themselves by showing extraordinary support and encouragement to enable their wives to pursue faithful conservative activism.
“Eagle Forum sends our love, prayers, and great thanks to Mark, to her children and grandchildren,” said Holcomb. “She is dearly missed, and we will do our best to honor her legacy by moving forward passionately and persistently, fighting to protect our culture and to carry on the great work Donna began.”
Please enjoy this lovely interview with Donna from 2018.
On August 10, 2020, a service celebrating the life of Donna will be at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, 1230 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63021, at 7:00 pm, with a time to visit with family afterward.
Anne Cori will hold a tea reception at 3 pm; RSVP to Julia Warton [email protected].
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