Ann Richards Biography

Remembering the Vibrant Soul of Ann Richards
Ann Richards once said, “I have very strong feelings about how you lead your life. You always look ahead, you never look back” (Lewis). The world was born free. As beings, we are given the right to choose freedom or simply live by the rules. What good is freedom in the world without the relentless spirit of courage? There comes a time in every man and woman’s life where they must choose how to live and what makes them different from the rest of the world. It has been said that one’s identity is derived from the environment in which they live. One who holds a courageous identity will forever prosper in the experience of life. Ann Willis Richards, one of the greatest female leaders in Texas history
truly embodies what it means to be courageous. The world abundantly holds various kinds of leaders; leaders with true achievements that which extract from dedication. The world consists of powerful leaders, who emphasize evolution in the world. Ann Richards has not only established an illuminated position in Texas history, but she has also “redefined a woman’s position in politics” (Great).
Major politicians doing something genuinely courageous have become a rarity in today’s society.
Ann Willis Richards, most famously “known for being the second female Governor of Texas, shaped a strong path for female leaders in politics” (Great). Ann Richards governed Texas with a large heart and a hardheaded attitude. Richards, the 45th governor of Texas, had to undergo a series of unfortunate challenges before becoming an unforgettable woman in Texas (Great). Being a powerful woman in politics is not an easy path. In order to build into a woman of strength and integrity, one must learn to fight her own battles before she attempts to fight anyone else's. Richards strongly said "I believe in recovery, and I believe that as a role model I have the responsibility to let young people know that you can make a mistake and come back from it” (Lewis). Before a feisty and well-rounded Governor, Richards had a life than was almost unrecoverable. Born and raised in Texas, “Richards continued to live in Texas through her college education, attending Baylor University through a well-earned debate scholarship” (Ann). After marrying her high school sweetheart, she became a junior high teacher, and had four children. Being a stay at home mom gave Richards the drive to do more, so added a part-time political volunteer position into her daily life. What made Ann the strongest, was her way with words. Her words were almost unapologetic and bursting with passion. The year of 1972, was the
beginning for Richards when she effectively maintained Sarah Weddington’s legislative campaign. After successfully managing Weddington’s campaign, she felt the desire to run for county commissioner, and won. The politics of Texas eventually took time away from being a wife. Richards and her husband divorced in December of 1984, after she had dealt with alcoholic problems. Recovering from her early life struggles, and her recent alcoholic lifestyle, Richards mastered the life of a strong, independent woman in politics. After understanding the means of being shot down many times in her life, she was inspired to show women their abilities in the power of politics.
Richards had knack for never concealing the truth, and always promoting what was right, which made her a courageous and strong leader. This incredible quality assisted her powerful position in Texas politics. In the early 1990s, her time was highly dedicated to her position in Texas as Governor, and the first woman to be elected to statewide office five decades at that. Richards grew fond of the idea that women’s potential in the world is powerful. Richards stirred up Texas by appointing women of various ethnicities to positions in the state government, she stated, “I'm not afraid to shake up the system and government needs more shaking up than any other system I know” (Lewis). In addition, she focused her time on assisting substance abusers to expand the help necessary for them to recover. Although Richards had a tenacious attitude, and a “fiery passion for politics, she governed conservatively” (Great). She vetoed the bill allowing Texas citizens to hold a concealed handgun, and she did her best to expand the prison system (Ann). Nonetheless, Richards stood her ground to prove to the world, society, and herself that women are able to “have a good and wonderful life” though “it only begins when they accept responsibility for it, not when they expect someone else to make it happen” (Richards). Ann Richards continued to step forward in Politics, making courageous decisions that may have lead her off the edge, for example, the speech mocking President Bush at the Democratic National Convention (Great).
Richards, like few strong politicians stepped out of her comfort zone, she spoke the truth, no matter how aggressive she seemed, or what the outcome would lead to. In “Straight from the Heart”; a book written by Richards, she says “giving a good speech, especially one with some passion and emotion, you’re revealing a lot about yourself” (Richards 1). In her speech, Richards states, “We're not going to have the America that we want until we elect leaders who are going to tell the truth. Not most days - but every day. Leaders who don't forget what they don't want to remember” (Richards). Ann Richards believes that the eight years President Bush was president, was a waste to America because “George Bush hasn't displayed the slightest interest in anything we care about” (Richards). Richards’s speech was not an ideal speech given by a political individual, but she used her sense of humor, and her industrious way of words to convey a point she believed in. Women with this much integrity and faith in change is what essentially helps evolution occur. It is because Ann Richards had so many believes in the goodness of the world, that she didn’t allow her fear get in the way of what she believed and knew what was right. This is what makes Ann Richards a legend, knowing that
she was a woman, and not allowing it to weaken her spirit.