McInnis, Jo Ann (Huene)

Seven years after she graduated at the head of her class, she made history as the first woman ever to be elected to a district judge post in Oklahoma City. After serving a special two year term she was defeated in a bid for re-election and returned to private practice.

Monday, she was shot to death in her downtown Oklahoma City law office at 23 Park Ave. Police theorize she was killed by her second husband, William A. Hennessy, whose body was discovered in the same office. Mrs. McInnis and Hennessy were married for a little more than nine months in 1966. They were married Jan 14, 1966, and in October Hennessy filed a divorce petition against her.

Mrs. McInnis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo L. Huene, was born in Marland where she received her early education. She graduated with honors from Ponca City High School in 1944, then attended Oklahoma City University transferring to the University of Oklahoma where she earned her AB degree in 1949.

Two years later she married Neill P. McInnis. The couple had one child, Marilyn Karen "Minmi" McInnis, who was nine earlier this month. She was divorced from McInnis in 1961.

The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 21, 1967, page 3

BURIAL  IOOF Cemetery, Ponca City
Survivors - daughter, Marilyn "Mimi", mother, Mrs. Hazel V. Huene, a sister, Mrs. L. B. Daniels, Marland and a brother, Bert E. Huene, Newkirk.

Services at First Unitarian Church, NW 13 and Dewey, Smith and Kernke Funeral Home

oklahoman archive
July 2, 1966 page 31

Disbarment action against the husband of Oklahoma's only woman district judge was asked Friday by the oklahoma Bar Associaiton. The bar filed the action in the Oklahoma Supreme Cout against William A. Hennessy, husband of District Judge JoAnn Hennessy. The Oklahoma City attorney is charged with having been convicted of a felony in California. The charge was driving under the influence of alcohol and doing bodily harm to another. [note later article indicate these charges were dismisse

Works Cited

"Article Title Line -- The Article Has No Title." The Daily Oklahoman (Archives        28 Sept. 2007: Setion/Page Nos.

Hall, Russell D. A History of Judges of Oklahoma and Canadian Counties. vol. 1. 2005th ed. OKC, OK: ACE Bookbinding Co. , 04 Oct. 2007. 

Hall, Russell D. A History of Judges of Oklahoma and Canadian Counties. vol. 1. 2005th ed. OKC, OK: ACE Bookbinding Co. , 04 Oct. 2007

Contributed by Marti Graham, August 2007. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

I believe in random acts of kindness and I believe in sharing genealogy. If you have copies of photos, obituaries, wills, biographies, or stories relating to any of these families or other Oklahoma County families, would you consider sending them my way for publication at this site?

I always welcome comments and corrections.

I live outside the Oklahoma City area, I cannot personally do any research for you. However I will try to direct you to someone who may help you if you can't find what you want here. Please understand ALL information on this site was contributed by people like you. If it's not on the site, I don't have it. Thanks