Sarah Weddington - Background and Education

Background and Education

Born Sarah Ragle in Abilene, Texas, Weddington is the daughter of Lena Catherine and Rev. Herbert Doyle Ragle, a Methodist minister. As a child, she was drum major of her junior high band, president of the Methodist youth fellowship at her church, played the organ, sang in the church choir, and rode horses. As a sophomore in high school, she was president of the Future Homemakers of America, stating, "That was one of the few things that a woman could be president of, so I was". Weddington graduated from high school two years early, and then graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English from McMurry University.

In 1964, she entered the University of Texas Law School. Weddington was 1 of 5 females entering her class of 120 students and only 1 of 40 females in the entire student body of 1600 students. She was in a class that included United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

In 1967, during her third year of law school, Weddington faced an unplanned pregnancy with her partner Ron Weddington (whom she married in 1968), and travelled to Mexico for an illegal abortion. She received her J.D. that same year, graduating in the top quarter of her class.

Weddington holds honorary doctorates from McMurry University, Hamilton College, Austin College, Southwestern University, and Nova Southeastern University.