Ann Richards

A longtime activist in Texas Democratic politics, Ann Richards became Texas’ second woman governor in 1990.

In 1991 my family was invited to the state capital in Austin to celebrate the Texas troops arriving home from Operation Desert Storm. My father had served on a board with Gov. Ann Richards, so in return, we were put on the VIP list. We were given badges to wear, and my sister and I got to ride in the parade with other "Army kids". The parade ended at the capital, where afterwards there was a lunch on the grounds. My family and I lucked out. We got to sit inside the VIP tent, where we had lunch next to Dallas Cowboy coach Tom Landry. My dad introduced my sister and I to politicians like Phil Gramm and Bob Bullock. Last but not least, my dad took my sister and I over to meet Gov. Richards. I was 11, my sister was 9. She was so nice, she hugged us both, told us to always be proud Texans and told us we could do what we wanted to in life if we put our minds to it.