Goodnight, Gov: RIP Ann Richards
It's a sad day for Texas, especially for Texas women. Ann Richards, of blessed bouffant, died tonight in Austin. She was 73 years old.
Richards is the only woman governor of Texas to be elected in her own right; Ma Ferguson was elected only after her husband got booted out. Richards was the source of so many firsts: the first African-American on the UT Board of Regents, the first African-American and female Texas Rangers (the law enforcement, not the baseball team), the first disabled member of the human services commission. She herself was the first woman to be elected to statewide office in more than fifty years.
We've lost an amazing woman, a bright star in our political galaxy, a sharp wit and a big heart crowned by that fabulous Texas-sized hair. Our thoughts are with her family. Raise a glass of cold iced tea in her honor, folks, and remember her fighting spirit, her deep compassion, and her sense of fun.
We'll miss you, Ann Richards. Godspeed.