Ann Richards

Ann Richards, one of the most colorful individuals elected governor in Texas was born Dorothy Ann Willis on September 1, 1933, in Lakeview, Texas (Biography Pp). She graduated from Waco High School in 1950 and attended Baylor University on a debate scholarship and after graduating, earned her teaching certificate from the University of Texas at Austin (Biography Pp). She taught social studies and history at Fulmore Junior High School in Austin from 1955-1956 (Biography Pp). Richards married her high school sweetheart, David Richards, and had two daughters and two sons (Texas Pp).

It was at the University of Texas where Richards first became politically active and has continued throughout her life volunteering in local and statewide campaigns and working for critical social causes (Biography Pp). Richards campaigned for candidates such as Henry B. Gonzalez, Ralph Yarborough, and Sarah Weddington (Texas Pp). She eventually entered politics herself by becoming the first female commissioner of Travis County in 1977 (Texas Pp). This triumph coincided with perhaps the most painful period of Richards' life, the break up of her marriage and confronting her alcoholism (Texas Pp).

Always the keen wit, she later commented, "I smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish" (Texas Pp). In 1982, Richards was elected state treasurer, making her the first woman to hold the Texas office in some fifty years and was re-elected in 1986 without opposition (Texas Pp).

Her wit and folksy speaking style made her a national figure when she gave the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic Convention calling for unification and offering a memorable salute to the achievements of women, reminding her worldwide audience, "Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels" (Biography Pp).

Two years later, combining her command as a speaker with years of achievement as Texas state treasurer and a Travis County commissioner, teacher and activist, Richards entered the 1990 gubernatorial campaign and was elected the 45th governor of Texas (Biography Pp). During Richard's tenure as governor, Texas instituted site-based decision-making in its public schools, increased prison space, introduced a nationally respected substance-abuse program in its prisons and also became the nation's leader in the creation of new manufacturing facilities and new or expanded corporate facilities (Biography Pp).

Being a longtime advocate of civil rights and economic justice, Richards created the most representative and inclusive administration in Texas history (Biography Pp). Using her common sense approach to government, Richards authorized audits that saved the state $6 billion (Biography Pp). She basically oversaw a revival of the state's economic fortunes and stressed government efficiency by authorizing comprehensive audits of every state agency (Texas Pp).

Education was also a priority for Richards, introducing site-based management that put more power in the hands of the parents and teachers at the campus-school level (Texas Pp). In the area of law enforcement, Richards not only increased prison space, but cut the release of violent offenders as well (Texas Pp). She also introduced a substance abuse program in Texas prisons, and opposed the sale of assault weapons and 'cop-killer' bullets (Texas Pp). "Richards was also noted for her unprecedented appointments of women and minorities to important posts" (Texas Pp).

During her tenure as governor, a state lottery was approved and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was passed (Texas Pp). As the first woman to be elected Texas governor on her own merits, Governor Richards appointed more women, blacks, and Hispanics to office than any previous administration (Texas Pp). "She worked with the legislature to achieve insurance reform, new ethics rules for lobbyists, better hazardous waste management, and restructuring of public school financing" (Texas Pp).

Among Richards' other initiatives included job creation, site-based management for public schools, increased prison space, and governmental efficiency (Texas Pp). Richards has always been a straight talker. When asked why more women were not in politics, she said, "I think the biggest [reason] is that [women] now.. are achieving great things in any profession they choose... turned off by the way politics and government are portrayed. There is nothing positive said, ever, about public service.

So who would want to go into that" (Clayton Pp)? Her advice to young women is "to go into a profession where you can make a lot of money. Now. Then you can afford to be in politics without worrying about it" (Clayton Pp). She added, "I'm just not going to go along with the fantasy that desire and good intentions will overcome the need for money - because they won't" (Clayton Pp).

When asked on CNN's Larry King about the 2003 California recall, Richards quipped, "It's really, really pretty sad and pretty crazy. I said when I found out there were 200 people running, well, one thing, they're not going to have a debate.. In fact, Larry, I didn't know tonight when you got on the television.