When Ann was Treasurer of Texas and managing the orderly and responsible shut-down of the Office of Treasurer and transfer of its functions to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, she took advantage of the travel allowance for elected officials to visit people across Texas, including a group of Gays and Lesbians gathered in response to a letter from the Treasurer's Office inviting just that. She came to one of our homes (nice, but not large) and engaged with friendly smart questions about what was important to us "right here on the South Plains," showing knowledge of our geography, geology, economy and environmental determinism that makes people and societies the ways they are. With a stated time limit in place, of course, she stayed well past that for the whole evening conversing easily and smartly with everyone there. That won my loyalty to her forever.
. I moved back to Austin just in time for her to be elected governor, and then after the voters made a serious mistake, she moved into my neighborhood. After several years she moved across Lamar but still close, and Albert and I were returning home when we stopped at the light at 9th and Lamar. I mentioned that Ann had moved into the building to our left and that Texas and Texans would be so much better if she had been re-elected; and Albert pointed out that she was standing right there on the sidewalk waiting to cross Lamar. I gasped and stated that she was still beautiful. She smiled.
. As Governor, her staff were loyal to Texas, Texans, The Ann Richards Administration and intensely to her; resulting in no leaks at all from the Governor's Office. All communication was agreed on, and there was transparency.
. She is now gone to the next life and I am gone from Austin. Thanks be to God.
I donтАЩt talkтАФin detailтАФabout my personal life, but letтАЩs just say I LOVE ME SOME ANN RICHARDS. I grew up in Texas and can thank her for promoting Texas for film/tv production so much. While I was in college, one of her nieces was a classmate and тАЬAuntieтАЭ called while we were studying one night. She asked to talk to my classmateтАЩs тАЬtutor.тАЭ While I wasnтАЩt a tutor, I was so excited to talk to the governor I happily took the receiver and we carried on for 10-15 minutes. She was charming, funny, and supportive. And oh so very generous of her time and attention. I truly miss her and often read articles by Molly Ivins about that era when IтАЩm feeling homesick.
Like Ann Richards' hair-do: It defied gravity.
I think Ms. Richards would've guffawed at this...and offered you a ride on her Harley. :-)
When Ann was Treasurer of Texas and managing the orderly and responsible shut-down of the Office of Treasurer and transfer of its functions to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, she took advantage of the travel allowance for elected officials to visit people across Texas, including a group of Gays and Lesbians gathered in response to a letter from the Treasurer's Office inviting just that. She came to one of our homes (nice, but not large) and engaged with friendly smart questions about what was important to us "right here on the South Plains," showing knowledge of our geography, geology, economy and environmental determinism that makes people and societies the ways they are. With a stated time limit in place, of course, she stayed well past that for the whole evening conversing easily and smartly with everyone there. That won my loyalty to her forever.
. I moved back to Austin just in time for her to be elected governor, and then after the voters made a serious mistake, she moved into my neighborhood. After several years she moved across Lamar but still close, and Albert and I were returning home when we stopped at the light at 9th and Lamar. I mentioned that Ann had moved into the building to our left and that Texas and Texans would be so much better if she had been re-elected; and Albert pointed out that she was standing right there on the sidewalk waiting to cross Lamar. I gasped and stated that she was still beautiful. She smiled.
. As Governor, her staff were loyal to Texas, Texans, The Ann Richards Administration and intensely to her; resulting in no leaks at all from the Governor's Office. All communication was agreed on, and there was transparency.
. She is now gone to the next life and I am gone from Austin. Thanks be to God.
I donтАЩt talkтАФin detailтАФabout my personal life, but letтАЩs just say I LOVE ME SOME ANN RICHARDS. I grew up in Texas and can thank her for promoting Texas for film/tv production so much. While I was in college, one of her nieces was a classmate and тАЬAuntieтАЭ called while we were studying one night. She asked to talk to my classmateтАЩs тАЬtutor.тАЭ While I wasnтАЩt a tutor, I was so excited to talk to the governor I happily took the receiver and we carried on for 10-15 minutes. She was charming, funny, and supportive. And oh so very generous of her time and attention. I truly miss her and often read articles by Molly Ivins about that era when IтАЩm feeling homesick.