This article is about the American politician/teacher, for the Australian-American actress, see Ann Richards (actress). For the American jazz singer, see Ann Richards (singer). Ann Richards (December 13, 1917 – August 25, 2006) was an Australian-American actress. ... Ann Richards (October 1, 1935 - April 1, 1982) was an American jazz singer. ...

Dorothy Ann Willis Richards (September 1, 1933 – September 13, 2006) was an American politician and teacher from Texas. She first came to national attention as the Texas state treasurer, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995 and was defeated for re-election in 1994. Born during the start of the Depression in rural Texas, she died in Austin from esophageal cancer at the age of 73. ^[1] In politics, Governor of Texas is the title given to the chief executive of the state of Texas. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Lieutenant Governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in state government. ... Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock Bob Bullock (July 10, 1929 - June 18, 1999) was an American politician from Texas. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lacy-Lakeview is a city located in McLennan County, Texas. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... For university teachers, see professor. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      Politics of the United States takes place in a framework of a presidential... For university teachers, see professor. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Look up Treasurer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The 1988 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia from July 18–21, 1988 to select a candidate for the 1988 United States presidential election. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. ...

Two public memorial services ^[2] for Ann Richards were held on September 16 and 18, 2006, in Austin, Texas; and on September 18, 2006, she was laid to rest in the Texas State Cemetery during a private burial service. is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about 22 acres (9 hectares) just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. ...

Early life

Dorothy Ann Willis was born in Lakeview (now part of Lacy-Lakeview), McLennan County, the only child of Robert Cecil Willis and Mildred Iona Warren. She grew up in Waco, participated in Girls State, and graduated from Waco High School in 1950. She attended Baylor University on a debate scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree. After marrying high school sweetheart David "Dave" Richards, she moved to Austin, where she earned a teaching certificate from the University of Texas. David and Ann Richards had four children: Cecile, Daniel, Clark, and Ellen. Lacy-Lakeview is a city located in McLennan County, Texas. ... McLennan County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... For the Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas, see Waco Siege. ... Boys State and Girls State are summertime programs geared towards leadership and citizenship training sponsored by the American Legion for High School students between their junior and senior years. ... Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ... Debate (North American English) or debating (British English) is a formal method of interactive and position representational which is givin by ralph arbons arguments. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... University of Texas redirects here. ... Cecile Richards has been president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America since 2006. ...

Richards taught social studies and history at Fulmore Junior High School in Austin from 1955 to 1956. She campaigned for Texas liberals and progressives such as Henry B. Gonzalez, Ralph Yarborough, and Sarah T. Hughes. Social studies is a term used to describe the broad study of the various fields which involve past and current human behavior and interactions. ... History studies time in human terms. ... American liberalism—that is, liberalism in the United States of America—is a broad political and philosophical mindset, favoring individual liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty, whether they come from established religion, from government regulation, from the existing class structure, or from multi-national corporations. ... This article is about Progressivism. ... Henry Barbosa Gonzalez (May 3, 1916 - November 28, 2000) was a Democratic politician from the state of Texas. ... Texas politician Ralph Yarborough Ralph Webster Yarborough (June 8, 1903 – January 27, 1996) was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate (1957 until 1971) and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of the Democratic Party in Texas in his many races for statewide... Sarah Tilghman Hughes (August 2, 1896 – April 23, 1985) was the United States District Court judge who swore Lyndon Johnson into office on Air Force One after the Kennedy assassination, becoming the first (& as of 2006 only) woman in U.S. history to swear in a Chief Executive. ...

Political career

By the 1970s, Richards was an accomplished political worker, having worked to elect liberal Democrats Sarah Weddington and Wilhelmina Delco to the Texas Legislature, and having presented training sessions throughout the state on campaign techniques for women candidates and managers. She supported ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, presenting the amendment to the delegates of the National Women's Conference, held in Houston (1977). (The amendment was never ratified by enough states to become part of the Constitution.) Roes attorney, Sarah R. Weddington. ... Texas Senate in session The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. ... The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that was intended to guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ...

In 1976, Richards ran against and defeated a three-term incumbent on the four-member Travis County, Texas Commissioners' Court; she took 81.4 percent of the vote against Libertarian opponent Laurel Freeman to win re-election in 1980. During this time, her marriage ended, in part because of the strain of politics on the relationship. Richards' drinking became more pronounced, and she sought and completed treatment for alcoholism in 1980. David Richards is a prominent civil rights attorney in California. Travis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ...

After the incumbent state treasurer, Warren G. Harding (no relation to the former U.S. president of the same name), became mired in legal troubles in 1982, Richards won the Democratic nomination for that post. Winning election against a Republican opponent in November that year, Richards became the first woman elected to statewide office in more than 50 years. In 1986, she was re-elected treasurer without opposition. Richards was a popular and proactive treasurer who worked to maximize the return of Texas state investments. Richards said that when she took office, the Treasury Department was run something like a 1930s country bank, with deposits that didn't earn interest. At the 1984 Democratic National Convention, Richards delivered one of the nominating speeches for nominee Walter Mondale, and she campaigned actively for the Mondale/Ferraro ticket in Texas, even though President Ronald Reagan enjoyed great popularity in her state. Walter Frederick Fritz Mondale (born January 5, 1928) is an American politician and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (largely established by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey). ... “Reagan” redirects here. ...

Ann Richards' official portrait as Governor of Texas (excerpt),
painted by James E. Tennison^[3][4]

Image File history File links AnnRichards. ... Image File history File links AnnRichards. ...

1988 Democratic National Convention

Richards's keynote address to the 1988 Democratic National Convention put her in the national spotlight when she uttered her famous line about the wealthy, then-Vice President George H. W. Bush: "Poor George, he can't help it...He was born with a silver foot in his mouth." ^[5] The speech set the tone for her political future; she was a real Texan who established herself as a candidate who appealed to suburban voters as well as to the traditional Democratic base that included African Americans and Hispanics. In 1989, with co-author Peter Knobler, she wrote her autobiography, "Straight from the Heart: My Life in Politics and Other Places". Featured at the Democratic National Convention are speeches by prominent party figures. ... The Vice President of the United States (sometimes referred to as VPOTUS)[1] is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President. ... George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Hispanic flag, not widely used. ...

Governorship

In 1990, Texas' Republican governor, Bill Clements, decided not to run for re-election. Richards painted herself as a sensible progressive, and won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination against Attorney General (and former congressman) James Albon "Jim" Mattox of Dallas and former Governor Mark White. Mattox ran a particularly abrasive campaign against Richards, accusing her of having had drug problems beyond alcoholism. The Republicans nominated multi-millionaire rancher Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. After a brutal campaign and a series of legendary gaffes by Williams in the final weeks before the election, Richards narrowly won on November 6, 1990 by a margin of 49-47 percent; she was inaugurated governor the following January. ^[3] The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... James Albon Jim Mattox (born August 29, 1943) is a Dallas lawyer and Texas Democratic politician who served three terms in the U.S. Congress and two terms as attorney general but lost high profile races for governor in 1990 and the U.S. Senate in 1994. ... Mark Wells White (born 1940) is an American lawyer, who served as the forty-fourth Governor of Texas from 1983 to 1987. ... Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

She was a "minority governor" because her popular vote was below 50 percent. Although officially she was the second woman to hold Texas's top office, Richards is considered the first woman elected governor in her own right, since twice-elected Miriam "Ma" Ferguson is often discounted as having been a proxy for impeached governor James E. "Pa" Ferguson, her husband. Miriam Amanda Wallace “Ma” Ferguson (June 13, 1875–June 25, 1961) became the first female Governor of Texas in 1924, and the second female state governor in the United States. ... James Edward Pa Ferguson (August 31, 1871 - September 21, 1944) was a controversial United States politician from the state of Texas. ...

The Texas economy had been in a slump since the mid-1980s, compounded by a downturn in the U.S. economy. Richards responded with a program of economic revitalization, yielding growth in 1991 of 2 percent when the U.S. economy as a whole shrank. Richards also attempted to streamline Texas's government and regulatory institutions for business and the public; her efforts in the former helped to revitalize Texas's corporate infrastructure for its explosive economic growth later in the decade, and her audits on the state bureaucracy saved $6 billion. The economy of Texas is a dominant force in the economy of the United States. ... The United States economy has the worlds largest gross domestic product (GDP), $13. ...

As governor, Richards reformed the Texas prison system, establishing a substance abuse program for inmates, reducing the number of violent offenders released, and increasing prison space to deal with a growing prison population (from less than 60,000 in 1992 to more than 80,000 in 1994). She backed proposals to reduce the sale of semi-automatic firearms and "cop-killer" bullets in the state. Also see Alcoholism and Drug addiction. ... Walther P99, a semi-automatic pistol from the late 1990s A semi-automatic firearm is a gun that requires only a trigger pull for each round that is fired, unlike a single-action revolver, a pump-action firearm, a bolt-action firearm, or a lever-action firearm, which require the...

During her first term, she signed into law the amendment of the Texas Financial Responsibility Law where renewal of a motor vehicle's registration (also covers initial registration of a motor vehicle), safety inspection sticker, driver's license, and/or obtaining new license plates require that a motorist must have a valid auto insurance policy. The law, which passed on September 1, 1991, broadens the 1982 law where a police officer will request a driver's license and proof of insurance during a traffic stop.

Governor Ann Richards visiting NASA/JSC in 1992

The Texas Lottery was also instituted during her governorship - advocated as a means of supplementing school finances; Ann Richards purchased the first lottery ticket on May 29, 1992, in Oak Hill, Texas. ^[6] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the American space agency. ... An aerial view of the complete Johnson Space Center facility in Houston, Texas in 1989. ... Lotteries in the United States are run by individual states -- there is no national lottery in the U.S. Most states have amended or re-written their constitutions to allow for a legal lottery. ... A lottery is a popular form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

School finance remained one of the key issues of Richards' governorship and of those succeeding hers; the famous Robin Hood plan was launched in the 1992-1993 biennium which attempted to make school funding more equitable across school districts. Richards also sought to decentralize control over education policy to districts and individual campuses; she instituted "site-based management" to this end. The Robin Hood plan was a media nickname given to legislation enacted by the U.S. state of Texas in 1990 to provide court-mandated equitable school financing for all school districts in the state. ... Biennial is a term referring to a period of two years, much in the same way centennial refers to 100 years. ...

She was famous for her personal charisma, for her ease with the public, and even for her see-through wispy white hairdo. It was said that many people who knew her personally saw little if any difference between her public and private personas. Her sense of humor was often part of her day-to-day political life. Regarding a concealed weapons bill, she was asked if she didn't think the women of Texas might feel safer if they could carry guns in their purses. She replied, "Well I'm not a sexist, but there is not a woman in this state who could find a gun in her handbag, much less a lipstick." On the subject of women in politics, Richards observed during her 1988 Democratic National Convention keynote address that "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels."

She was unexpectedly defeated in 1994 by George W. Bush, winning 46 percent of the vote to Bush's 53 percent, even after having outspent the Bush campaign by $2.6 million. [3]. The Richards campaign had hoped for a misstep from the relatively inexperienced Republican candidate, but none appeared, and Richards created one of her own in calling Bush "some jerk," recalling missteps that cost Clayton Williams the election in 1990. Richards would later commend Bush's oratory and attributed her loss in 1994 to Bush's ability to "stay on message." [4] Some argue that Bush and his advisor, Karl Rove, resorted to using a smear campaign against Richards.[5] Other people attribute her loss to the fact that she vetoed the Concealed Carry Bill that would have allowed licensed citizens to carry guns for self-defense inside public establishments without the owner's permission (see Gun politics in the United States). This veto may have cost Richards the 1994 election [6]. Bush would thereafter sign a concealed-gun law, which was pushed by a future Republican lawmaker, state Representative Suzanna Hupp of the Killeen-based district. George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Gun Politics, the political aspects of gun control and firearms rights, has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics. ... Suzanna Gratia Hupp (born 1959) is an outgoing Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, who represented traditionally Democratic District 54 (Bell, Burnet, and Lampasas counties) for ten years from 1997-2007. ... Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. ...

Post governorship

Beginning in 2001, Richards was a senior advisor to the communications firm Public Strategies, Inc. in Austin and New York. From 1995 to 2001, Richards was also a senior advisor with Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, a Washington, D.C.-based international law firm. Richards sat on the boards of the Aspen Institute, J.C. Penney, and T.I.G. Holdings. For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... The Aspen Institute is a U.S. nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1950 dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. ... This article is about the department store chain. ...

One of her daughters, Cecile Richards, also a liberal activist, became president of Planned Parenthood in 2006. Ann Richards demonstrated interest in social causes such as equality, abortion, gay rights and women's rights. Cecile Richards has been president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America since 2006. ... This article is about Planned Parenthood Federation of America. ... Social equality is a social state of affairs in which certain different people have the same status in a certain respect, minimally at least in voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and property rights. ... The gay rights movement is a collection of loosely aligned civil rights groups, human rights groups, support groups and political activists seeking acceptance, tolerance and equality for non-heterosexual, (homosexual, bisexual), and transgender people - despite the fact that it is typically referred to as the gay rights movement, members also... The term women’s rights typically refers to freedoms inherently possessed by women and girls of all ages, which may be institutionalized or ignored and/or illegitimately suppressed by law or custom in a particular society. ...

She was a tireless campaigner for Democratic candidates throughout the United States. In the 2004 presidential election, Richards endorsed Howard Dean for the Democratic nomination, and campaigned on his behalf. Richards later stumped for Democratic nominee John Kerry, highlighting the issues of health care and women's rights. Some political pundits mentioned her as a potential running mate to Kerry; however, she did not make his list of top finalists, and he selected North Carolina Senator John Edwards. Richards for her part said she was "not interested" in any degree of a political comeback. Presidential election results map. ... Howard Brush Dean III (born November 17, 1948) is an American politician and physician from the U.S. state of Vermont, and currently the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the central organ of the Democratic Party at the national level. ... John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is the junior United States Senator from Massachusetts, in his fourth term of office. ... A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Johnny Reid John Edwards[1] (born June 10, 1953), is an American politician who was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004 and a one-term U.S. Senator from North Carolina. ...

Teaching

Ann Richards had taught social studies and history at Fulmore Junior High School in Austin (1955-1956). She continued teaching in later years.

Richards served at Brandeis University as the Fred and Rita Richman Distinguished Visiting Professor of Politics from 1997 to 1998. In 1998 she was elected as a trustee of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, she was reelected in 2004, and continued to hold the position until her death. Brandeis University is a private university located in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. ...   Often called the true birthplace of the industrial revolution, Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. ...

She was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 1996, having lost 3/4 inch in height and broken her hand and ankle. She changed her diet and lifestyle, and then her bone density stabilized. She spoke frequently about this experience, teaching or advocating a healthier lifestyle for women at risk of the disease. In 2004, she authored I'm Not Slowing Down, with Dr. Richard U. Levine (M.D.), which describes her own battle with osteoporosis and offers guidance to others with the disease. Osteoporosis is a disease of bone in which the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered. ... The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a doctorate level degree held by medical doctors. ...

In a review of I'm Not Slowing Down by Steve Labinski, ^[7] the book was described as inspiring women to fight the disease with various tactics, such as:

• identifying factors that might increase vulnerability to osteoporosis including lack of estrogen, menopause, and usage of drugs related to caffeine, tobacco and alcohol;^[7]
• emphasizing the impact of bone-density tests and explaining the process using Ann Richard's own bone test as an example;
• supplying an extensive list of calcium-enriched foods which are beneficial, plus noting some foods to avoid;
• listing everyday tips to improve muscle condition and prevent bone injuries.^[7]

Reviewer Labinski also noted that in the mission to help women overcome osteoporosis, Ann Richards had created a useful, and often humorous, book that would inspire many.^[7] Estriol. ... Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age in women. ... Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that acts as a stimulant in humans. ... Shredded tobacco leaf for pipe smoking Tobacco can also be pressed into plugs and sliced into flakes Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in genus Nicotiana. ... Alcoholic beverages. ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ...

In the fall of 2005, Ann Richards taught a class called "Women and Leadership" at the University of Texas at Austin: twenty-one female students were selected for that class. The University of Texas at Austin, often called UT or Texas, is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. ...

Arts and Film

Gov. Richards was very active in the Arts (and entertainment). ^[8] She was involved with the Texas Film Hall of Fame from the beginning. At the first ceremony, she inducted Liz Smith. She was emcee every subsequent year but had to cancel at the last minute in 2006 because of her diagnosis with cancer. The Texas Film Hall of Fame, which operates under the auspices of the Austin Film Society, was co-founded in 2001 by Louis Black, the editor of the Austin Chronicle, and Evan Smith, the editor of Texas Monthly. ... Liz Smith (born February 2, 1923 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a popular gossip columnist. ... A Master of Ceremonies or MC is the host of a staged event or other performance. ...

Ann Richards in February 2005

Richards said, "I’ve been a friend to Texas film since the number of people who cared about Texas film could have fit in a phone booth." She was an advocate for the Texas film industry, and traveled to Los Angeles to market her state. Gary Bond, director of the Austin Film Commission, noted, "She was far from being the first governor to appoint a film commissioner; I think she was the first that really brought the focus of Hollywood to Texas." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (571x772, 113 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ann Richards Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (571x772, 113 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ann Richards Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... ...

She was also a mentor to other women. She advised Rebecca Campbell, executive director of the Austin Film Society, "Whenever you speak in public you’ve got to tell them what you need from them."

She put the spotlight on film as a genuine industry, brought more focus to Texas, and had a tremendous network of people in the entertainment industry. She brought the Film Commission into the Governor’s office, where it remains today. She gave more focus to film as a business than had been done in the past.

Evan Smith, editor of Texas Monthly Magazine and president of the Austin Film Society board of directors, commented about Ann Richards and the film industry: Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Texas Monthly is a monthly American magazine published in Austin, Texas. ... The Austin Film Society (AFS) is a non-profit film society based in Austin, Texas. ...

• "I came to know Ann first as a moviegoer. I’d walk into various movie theaters and see the white hair up above the stadium seating. That’s how you’d know she was there. People do all kinds of things to get noticed in politics, but Ann wasn’t there for anyone but Ann. She was someone who loved the movies, loved the tactile experience of being in the movie theater, loved talking about movies, loved meeting filmmakers — I think she was more excited to meet filmmakers than foreign dignitaries. At the Texas Film Hall of Fame, she was as much as celebrity at that event as anyone honored. People paid money to see her as much as anyone else there. She would often ride down to Austin on the New York plane with the celebrities being honored. One year it was with Ethan Hawke. All she wanted to talk about, at the pre-party, was that “Ethan Hawke is so cute.” She loved him. This was not something that could be faked. She was starstruck. She loved these guys … (Watching a clip from Terrence Malick’s “Days of Heaven” at a Hall of Fame ceremony), she is mesmerized by this image. I mean, her eyes are glued to that screen. Again this is not something that you can fake. And she looked at me and she said “I love the movies” with this childklike voice, this passion. Standing next to me at that moment was not the former governor, a political swordsman... she was like all the rest of us, just someone who loved the movies. It’s a terrible loss for Texas in so many ways, but for the cultural community to have an advocate in that position, you don’t have that but once a generation, if you’re lucky." — Evan Smith^[8]

Ann Richards also lent her trademark voice and command of language to the screen. She narrated the popular and humorous documentary film "Barbecue: A Texas Love Story" for young Austin director Chris Elley, going as far as holding a slimy BBQ rib in front of her face for publicity photos. During the voice session, she even helped revise the script. In the audio booth, she pointed out a phrase in the original script that was too vague in her opinion by joking "What does that mean?! It doesn't mean anything. It sounds like something George Bush would say." Richards also voiced parts in the Disney film "Home on the Range" and the Fox TV series "King of the Hill." Ethan Green Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, writer and film director. ... Terrence Terry Malick (born November 30, 1943 in Waco, Texas) is an Assyrian American film director. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ...

It is believed her last appearance in film was in a short public announcement used at the Alamo Drafthouse asking patrons to not be disruptive during the film.^[9] The Alamo Drafthouse still uses it today, with an addition at the end in honor of Ann Richards. A movie theater cum brewery, based in Austin, Texas, USA reknown for beer and movies. ...

Ann Richards was active in the Austin City Limits Festivals, and the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival: the interactive, music, and film festival, held each year in Austin. Stevie Ray Vaughan performing on Austin City Limits. ... Downtown Austin, Texas, where SXSW is held each spring Bloc Party performing at Stubbs BBQ in 2007 Carrie Rodriguez, a SXSW 2007 performer Morrissey at SXSW 2006 South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that have taken place every spring in... South by Southwest (SXSW, Inc. ...

Final year

In 2006, the Austin Independent School District announced "The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders," a college preparatory school for girls, with grades 6-12 which will open in the fall of 2007. The intellectual focus will be math, science and technology, while the physical focus is building strength through good nutrition, exercise and other wellness strategies. Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. ...

In March 2006, Richards disclosed that she had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She received treatment at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston [7]. She died from the esophageal cancer on September 13, 2006, at night in her home in Austin, surrounded by her family. ^[10] She was survived by her four children, their spouses, and eight grandchildren. Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. ... M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is a cancer research facility in the United States. ... “Houston” redirects here. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ...

Awards

During her career, Ann Richards received many awards and honors including: Baylor Distinguished Alumna, the Texas NAACP Presidential Award for Outstanding Contributions to Civil Rights, the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Achievement Award, the Orden del Aguila Azteca (Order of the Aztec Eagle) presented by the government of Mexico, the Maurice N. Eisendrath Bearer of Light Award from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame honoree for Public Service. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), is one of the oldest and most influential hate organizations in the United States. ... The National Wildlife Federation is the largest American conservation organization, with over 5 million members and supporters in 47 state-affiliated organizations; its annual budget is over $125 million as of 2006. ...

The Ann Richards Middle School in La Joya, Texas is named for Governor Richards. La Joya is a city located in Hidalgo County, Texas. ...

On November 16, 2006, The City of Austin changed the official name of the Congress Avenue Bridge to the "Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge." // The Congress Avenue Bridge is a major tourist attraction due to the Mexican Free-tailed bats. ...

Memorial services

The Capitol Rotunda in Austin, Texas^[11]

In the Texas Capitol Rotunda, many yellow roses were left in memory of Ann Richards.^[12]

Three services^[13] for Ann Richards were held: larger image of my photo of the Texas state capitol taken May 2001 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... larger image of my photo of the Texas state capitol taken May 2001 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... Download high resolution version (940x700, 90 KB)Yellow Rose, symbol of dying love Taken by fir0002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (940x700, 90 KB)Yellow Rose, symbol of dying love Taken by fir0002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

• A short service occurred on Saturday, September 16, 2006, in Austin, Texas, when former President Bill Clinton gave a eulogy after the casket of Ann Richards was carried into the Texas Capitol Rotunda, to lie in state for two days: with visits from 9:30-8 p.m. on Saturday and 9-8 p.m. on Sunday (September 17).

• A full memorial service^[14] occurred on Monday, September 18, 2006, from noon-1:30 p.m., in the Frank Erwin Special Events Center on the University of Texas-Austin campus, with Ron Kirk, Liz Smith, Henry Cisneros, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and her granddaughter Lily Adams speaking. The event included a video tribute to Ann Richards, and the music included blues, jazz, processional, gospel choir, and operatic arias.

Recorded blues and jazz songs were played for hours, including Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," ^[14] as the 3,800 attendees arrived. A brass quintet played somber ensemble pieces as family and friends entered the arena, including a slow, instrumental "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," followed by gospel solo music from the Wesley United Methodist Church Intergenerational Choir. Operatic soprano Jessye Norman sang a rare version of Ave Maria and, later, other inspirational music.

Columnist Liz Smith related many stories about Ann Richards and said, "Ann Richards was the most alive person I have ever known: let's keep her that way, in our hearts."

The video tribute^[14] to Ann Richards included old photographs and recent video clips, introduced by the song "Don't Fence Me In" sung by Willie Nelson. The scenes showed Ann Richards as a young Travis County commissioner and later as state treasurer and governor. One of the photographs showed Ann Richards holding the t-shirt labelled "A Woman's Place is in the Dome" (Texas Capitol Dome).

• A private burial service occurred early on Monday, September 18, 2006, at the Texas State Cemetery, attended by about 500 people, including family and close friends; singer Nanci Griffith performed "Across the Great Divide", and actress Lily Tomlin attended.^[14] The body of Ann Richards was laid to rest near the graves of several other Texas governors.

At noon on Monday, September 18, 2006, all across Texas, church bells were rung in memory of Ann Richards. is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The University of Texas at Austin, often called UT or Texas, is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. ... Ronald Ron Kirk (born June 27, 1954) was the first African American mayor of Dallas, Texas who also ran for the United States Senate in 2002. ... Liz Smith (born February 2, 1923 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a popular gossip columnist. ... Henry Gabriel Cisneros (born June 11, 1947) is a prominent American politician, businessman, and community leader. ... “NY” redirects here. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947), was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, as the wife of President Bill Clinton. ... “Blues music” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... An aria (Italian for air; plural: arie or arias in common usage) in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. ... Lyle Lovett, from the cover of 1996s The Road to Ensenada Lyle Lovett (born in Klein, Texas on November 1, 1957) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Willie Nelson (born Willie Hugh Nelson, April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. ... Over the Rainbow, music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg, is one of the most famous songs of the late 1930s. ... Wesley United Methodist Church is a historic church in east Austin, Texas that has served the Austin community continuously since 1865 and is considered to be one of the leading black churches in Texas. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Ave Maria (Latin: Hail, Maria or Hail, Mary) may refer to: Hail Mary, a traditional Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer calling for the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus A musical rendition of the Ave Maria prayer by Gounod (set to Prelude #1 from Well-Tempered Clavier). ... Dont Fence Me In is a song written by Cole Porter and Robert Fletcher [1] in 1944. ... Willie Nelson (born Willie Hugh Nelson, April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. ... Travis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about 22 acres (9 hectares) just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. ... Depiction of Nanci Griffith on the cover of her album Flyer Nanci Caroline Griffith, (born July 6, 1953 in Seguin, Texas) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas. ... Lily Tomlin (born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939), is an Academy Award-nominated American actress and comedian. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Popular culture

In 2001, Governor Richards guest starred in a fifth season episode of the Texas-based animated TV series King of the Hill. In the episode entitled "Hank and the Great Glass Elevator," she gets mooned and then enters into a brief relationship with Bill Dauterive. This article is about the television program. ... Bill Dauterive Guillaume Fontaine Delatour Bill D’Auterive (voiced by Stephen Root) is a character in the animated series King of the Hill. ...

Film Bush's Brain: Ann Richards was a topic in the film Bush's Brain (by Joseph Mealey and Michael Shoob), in a long segment regarding her defeat in the 1994 election for Texas Governor. The film presents the case that the defeat of Richards involved a whispering campaign that the governor (mother of four children) was a lesbian because she had allegedly hired many gays and lesbians to work on her re-election campaign. ^[15] At the time, there were also allegations of cocaine abuse by the candidates. Bushs Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential is a book by James C. Moore and Wayne Slater that chronicles the political career of Karl Rove and the role he has played in the elections of George W. Bush. ...

Issue over Death Penalty

Under state law, Texas governors do not have the power to commute death penalty sentences, only to briefly postpone an execution pending further review by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles (most members of which are appointed by the governor - including the chairman, who according to the Texas Administrative Code serves "at the pleasure of the governor" (RULE §141.1)). Bowing to the reality of the pro-death penalty Texas legislature, Ann Richards was not a vocal critic of the Texas death penalty law while governor. While campaigning for governor, she was asked if she supported or opposed the death penalty. She said, "I will uphold the laws of the State of Texas." The reporter then asked, "But what would you do if the Legislature passed a bill repealing the death penalty?" to which she replied, "I would faint." Her stance disappointed various human rights groups including Amnesty International.^{[citation needed]} Among other death penalty cases, those executed while Richards was Governor were Johnny Frank Garrett^[16], a man whom Amnesty cited as being "extremely mentally impaired, chronically psychotic and brain-damaged." The organization further states that a mental health expert described Garrett as "one of the most virulent histories of abuse and neglect...I have encountered in 28 years of practice." Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially of terms of imprisonment. ... Capital punishment has been used in the U.S. state of Texas and its predecessor entities since 1819. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ...

Notes

CBS Broadcasting, Inc. ... AP may refer to: Andhra Pradesh, A state in the Republic of India Associated Press, an American news agency AP, the United States postal abbreviation for U.S. military personnel in the Pacific Ocean region AP, the U.S. Navy hull classification symbol for transport support ships A&P, the... KVUE-TV is the local Austin, Texas-based ABC affiliate, owned by Belo Corporation. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Skyline from Town Lake Austin is the capital of the state of Texas, within the United States of America. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Silver Spoons was a sitcom that aired on NBC from 1982 to 1986 and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1987. ... A scratchcard (also called scratch off, scratch game, scratch ticket, scratcher or scratchie) is a small piece of card where an area has been covered by a substance that cannot be seen through, but can be scratched off. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Lotto Texas is one of the games offered by the Texas Lottery. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... AP may refer to: Andhra Pradesh, A state in the Republic of India Associated Press, an American news agency AP, the United States postal abbreviation for U.S. military personnel in the Pacific Ocean region AP, the U.S. Navy hull classification symbol for transport support ships A&P, the... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... KVUE-TV is the local Austin, Texas-based ABC affiliate, owned by Belo Corporation. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ...

References

E. P. Dutton is an American book publishing company founded as a book retailer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852 by Edward Payson Dutton. ... Jean-François Millet Le Semeur (The Sower) Simon & Schuster logo, circa 1961. ... “NY” redirects here. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Ann Richards

• Texas State Library: Governors of Texas
• Ann Richards' 1988 Democratic Convention Keynote Address
• 1995 Commencement speech, Mount Holyoke College
• 2002-2003 Fiscal Size-up by the Texas Legislative Budget Board
• Biography of Ann Richards from Northeastern University
• Ann Richards at the Internet Movie Database
• Remembering Ann Richards by Molly Ivins
• Ann Richards at the Notable Names Database
• Ann Richards Memorial at Find A Grave