Clara Odell Lagow was born in Roscoe, Texas on August 28, 1903, one of eight children born to Jesse & Johnnie Lagow.  While still in her youth, Clara’s family moved to Benjamin, Texas and finally to Fort Worth.   

She worked several years as a stenographer before accepting a position as legal secretary with the law firm of Oliver W. Fannin, where she worked for 40 years. 

In 1958, Clara was elected as President of NALS of Texas.  During her two year term as President, she served as chairman of the proposed PLS (Professional Legal Secretary) examination committee.  This important program was the most interesting area of Clara's administration and leadership.  She discussed the procedures with legal secretaries, attorneys, educators, and selected staff members of the Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.  It was determined that two practicing attorneys, two legal secretaries, and two educators would work together in preparing the six-part examination.  She was one of the two “guinea pigs” who took the examination for a trial run. 

Clara was more proud of her efforts on and for the PLS program than any of her many other contributions to NALS. In 1962, honorary certificates were presented to the three members who had helped to prepare the examination: Clara Lagow, Elena Rapp, and Rhoda Polley. 

In 1972, Clara was selected as NALS Legal Secretary of the Year. 

In 1977, Clara attended the Michigan Association of Legal Secretaries’ Annual Meeting, to present the first Clara Lagow PLS Award to the local Michigan Chapter, whose highest percentage of members obtained PLS certification during the previous year.  

Clara died in a Fort Worth Nursing Home on January 4, 1985.  

In 2006, the award was changed to the Clara Lagow Certification Award, to honor the local Michigan Chapter, whose highest percentage of members obtained the combined ALS, PLS, and PP certifications during the previous year.