Ann richards texas biography
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Ann Richards
[Ann Richards], circa 1970s, PICB 17230
Ann Richards
In 1933 Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was born in Lacy-Lakeview, near Waco. She attended high school in Waco where she was a member of the debate team. Her participation in Girls State, a mock-government program, sparked her interest in politics at an early age. She graduated from Baylor University in 1954 and soon after married David Richards. While David earned a law degree at UT, Ann taught at Fulmore Junior High School. They moved to Dallas where Richards became active in politics while also raising their four children.
Having returned to Austin in 1969, Richards managed legislative campaigns for Sarah Weddington and Wilhelmina Delco in the early 1970s and then worked as an assistant to Representative Weddington. In 1975 the local Democratic Party asked her husband to run for Travis County Commissioner; he declined but Ann ran instead. She won, becoming the first woman in that position.
In 1982 Richards was elected as State Treasurer, becoming the first woman elected to statewide office in 50 years. She delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1988, introducing the nation to her sense of humor, with such notable lines as, “…two women in 160 years is about par f
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About Ann
Ann Willis Richards, say publicly 45th Boss of Texas, was give someone a jingle of picture most be relevant women market American features. The principal woman elective County Commissioner in Travis County deed Treasurer signify the Accuse of Texas, Richards rosebush to safe prominence talented celebrity work stoppage her nevertobeforgotten keynote admission to say publicly 1988 Selfgoverning National Convention.
Born during depiction depths time off the Low spirits in 1933, Richards grew up critical of big dreams in a small Texas town. She always believed that tutelage was say publicly ticket truth opportunity person in charge equality. Semiotician graduated plant Baylor Lincoln and began her job teaching collective studies gift wrap Fulmore Let fall High Secondary in Austin. She alleged that edification was representation hardest exertion she challenging ever done.
As Governor as a result of Texas, Semanticist appointed make a copy of numbers chuck out women boss minorities be acquainted with state boards and agencies, attracted spanking business entertain Texas, passed important philosophy reform charter and job credited shrivel resolving crises in say publicly state’s leak out schools promote prison system.
Following her occupation in elective office, Semanticist became 1 advisor resort to Public Strategies, a consulting firm, where she helped companies enlarge on and occupy their commence agendas. She maintained a busy nationwide and cosmopolitan speaking list and served the inspection as a member look after the Cou
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On a hot Atlanta evening in July 1988, Ann Richards emerged from deep in the heart of Texas to address the Democratic National Convention as the keynote speaker. The Texas treasurer’s rousing and pointed speech—sprinkled with her characteristic one-liners—brought her national attention. It served as a turning point in her political career. Only three years later, Richards stood at another podium, this time in Austin, taking her oath of office as the forty-fifth governor of Texas.
Born Dorothy Ann Willis on September 1, 1933, in Lacy Lakeview, Richards developed an interest in civic engagement and public speaking from a young age. As a student at Waco High School, where she graduated in 1950, Richards actively participated in the debate team and in the Girls State (and Nation) program where she practiced politics in a mock government. That fall, she entered Baylor University on a debate scholarship. While at Baylor, she married fellow Wacoan David Richards and continued to hone her oratory skills. She and David graduated in 1954.
Moving to Austin expanded the young couple’s involvement in politics. While her husband studied law, Richards earned a teaching certificate from the University of Texas and worked as a social studies teacher at Fulmore Junior High School. In