For more than half a century, Joplin native Ethelmae Humphreys has helped build the family business, Tamko Roofing Products, where she currently serves as chairman. She is president of two family foundations, the E. L. Craig Foundation and the J. P. Humphreys Foundation. She serves on the boards of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation and the Cato Institute, and has served on the boards of the Foundation for Economic Education, the Saint Louis Discussion Club, Wichita Collegiate School and numerous Joplin civic and social organizations. She is the widow of J. P. Humphreys who served for many years on the board of the Institute for Humane Studies. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas.