A Tribute to
Deb Houdek Rule,
Web Designer
Several years ago, the
President of The Heinlein Society asked Deb Houdek Rule to take over the
Society’s staid and bland website. Deb brought with her a fine "set of professional
tools" that included a high degree of innovative creativity. Quickly overcoming
many of the problems that had been pestering the progress of the site, she began
by presenting a consistent layout and format for all the pages.
Under the new rule, (pun
intended), the appearance of the site rapidly improved in its observable content
and graphic design, as well as, "under the hood." Deb implemented a coherent
structure and personally created many of the graphics now available. With the
aid of her equally talented husband, "Geo," she improved both the "message"
and the "medium" of our site. Notably, Deb obtained permission to incorporate
M.E. Cowan's brilliant Heinlein Concordance to the site. and provided the
beginnings of a more international appeal to the site through the use of
other-than-English-language content.
Our site has grown to well
in excess of 700 pages that include unique graphic images and easily-accessible
PDF files of interest to THS members and other Heinlein fans worldwide. Recent Google
searches have produced a count of close to 10,000 entries for web pages of all
sorts that contained links or other references to the Society. The status of
our website as a source for Heinlein-related information is due in large measure
to Deb's many hours of diligent work.
In July 2005, Deb asked to
be relieved of her website duties. She had accepted a new, full-time job that
required her to move across the country. She and Geo had also purchased a new "dream
home" and were committed to the process of moving and putting down their
new roots. Sadly, the Board acquiesced.
In thanks and recognition
for her excellent service to the Society and our website, the Board of
Directors has determined to memorialize Deb and her work by designating her Web
Designer Emerita and adding a permanent plaque to the banner at foot of
each web page. It appears below.
We thank you, Deb.
The Heinlein Society Board of Directors
