Ann Richards was born Dorothy Ann Willis in Lakeview (now part of Lacy-Lakeview), McLennan County, Texas, 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 named Cecile, Daniel, Clark, and Ellen.
Richards taught social studies and history at Fulmore Junior High School in Austin from 1955–1956. She campaigned for Texas liberals and progressives such as Henry B. Gonzalez, Ralph Yarborough, and future U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes.
Read more about Ann Richards: Post Governorship, Teaching, Arts and Film, Death, Awards and Recognitions, In Popular Culture, Electoral History
Famous quotes containing the words ann richards, ann and/or richards:
“Poor George, he can’t help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.”
—Ann Richards (b. 1933)
“The degree to which the child-rearing professionals continue to be out of touch with reality is astounding. For example, a widely read manual on breast-feeding, devotes fewer than two pages to the working mother.”
—Sylvia Ann Hewitt (20th century)
“I am succeeding quite well in my work and the future looks well. What special mission is God preparing me for? Cutting off all earthly ties and isolating me as it were.”
—Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards (1842–1911)