Sarah "Sally" J. Rooke (1843-1908) became the heroine of the Dry Cimarron Flood when, on the night of August 27, 1908, while working as a telephone operator, she received a call that a wall of water was rushing down the Dry Cimarron River toward Folsom. She remained at her switchboard warning of the danger and perished that stormy night, saving countless lives. Telephone operators across the country contributed 4,334 dimes to honor their colleague with a memorial. The New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative was founded in 2005 by members of the New Mexico Women's Forum in a statewide effort to recognize women's contributions to New Mexico history on the state's Official Scenic Historic Markers. The initiative seeks to ensure that women's diverse histories will be remembered and told and will inspire and provide a guide for future generations, and the 2006 Legislature funded the project.