Ann Richards was one of the best-known and beloved governors in
Texas history, the only woman to be elected to that office on her own
merits. But she was also a controversial figure, having been elected
after admitting to struggling with alcoholism and divorce, and being a
Democrat in a Republican state to boot.
Dorothy Ann Willis was a native Texan, born near Waco in 1933.
She experienced a typical childhood for a girl in central Texas in the
time—a state champion debater who was nevertheless expected to
prepare for a career as housewife.
That vision came to pass when she married David Richards while
they were both still in college. The couple eventually had four
children. After graduation from law school, David became a lawyer
in Austin. Both David and Ann began to dabble in politics. Sarah
Weddington, a candidate for the Texas legislature, recruited Ann to
help run her campaign in 1971. After Weddington's victory, Ann
decided to run for office herself and won election as one of four
Travis County (Austin) Commissioners. The job, and other things,
placed so much strain on her private life that she and David divorced.
Next she ran for State Treasurer and won again. This office was the
springboard for her successful race for Texas governor in 1990.
During her four-year term as governor, Ann brought many
corporations and funds to Texas. She instituted the state lottery, a
drug rehabilitation program for prison inmates, and an ethics advisory
position to the governor's list of counselors. Though she was a
popular governor, she lost her bid for re-election in 1994 to a rising
political star named George W. Bush. She became a prominent figure
in Democratic politics but never ran for office again. Ann Richards
died of throat cancer in 2006.
Ann Richards: "A Woman's Place is in the Dome" is the sixth
title in the Stars of Texas Series, aimed at fourth graders
studying for the Texas history section of the TAKS test. The first
three books in the series, Henrietta King: Rancher and
Philanthropist, Mirabeau B. Lamar: Second President of Texas,
and Miriam "Ma" Ferguson: First Woman Governor of Texas, have
been chosen for the Accelerated Reader program, and Henrietta King
was a Spur Award finalist. Free workbooks for all Stars of Texas
Series books are available on-line.
_________________________________________________________
APRIL D. STUMPFF earned a degree in Education from McMurry
University after her service in the United States Air force. She is the
co-author of Frontier Fun: A Children's Activity Book and the
recipent of the 2005 Walden Freeman Award in History. She lives
with her family in Abilene, Texas.
Number Six: Stars of Texas Series
What people are saying about this book
"A much needed text for teaching the TEKS in Texas."—Leslie
Woolsey, Region XI ESC on Mirabeau B. Lamar
"An excellent series."—The Manhattan Mercury
"The kids will love the book, not realizing that it's 'good for them.'"
—Round-up Magazine on Henrietta King
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