Pending a vote by the Austin City Council tomorrow, Congress Avenue Bridge is to be renamed in honor of Ann Richards, Texas' 45th Governor who passed away in September.

[Excerpted from our previous post] From humble beginnings in Waco, Texas, Richards went on to attend Baylor University on a debate scholarship, later marrying high school sweetheart David Richards and settling in Austin. She began her political career by campaigning for such respected Texas Democrats as former Congressman Henry Gonzalez, famous for demanding Reagan's impeachment, and former Senator Ralph Yarborough, co-writer of the Endangered Species Act and vaunted civil rights advocate. It was in 1988, though, that Richards attained national fame with her quip against then-Presidential candidate George H.W. Bush, "Poor George, he can't help it...He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

In 1990, Richards campaigned for the governorship, saying, "We can do better for ourselves and our children." She bested wealthy Republican candidate Clayton Williams by the narrowest of margins--49% to 47%. During her four-year tenure, Richards was credited for revitalizing Texas' economy (despite a national recession), opening state government to women and minorities, instituting serious reforms in the state prison system, promoting Texas as a tourism destination, and boosting public school funding -- achieved by concurrently implementing the Texas Lottery while launching the so-called "Robin Hood" budgeting scheme. The accomplishments she was most proud of, however, were vetoing two bills that also likely contributed to her unsuccessful re-election attempt in 1994: one would've made it legal for people carry concealed handguns, automatic weapons, and "cop-killer bullets," while the other blatantly allowed for the destruction of the Edwards Aquifer.

In her later years, Richards became an advocate for various causes, among them gay rights, women's rights, and public education reform. She was also rather fond of the University of Texas Lady Longhorns Basketball team. Next fall, AISD is set to open the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, a college prep school for girls.

Richards was diagnosed with esophageal cancer earlier this year, succumbing to the disease in September at the age of 73.

Photo of Congress Ave Bridge circa 1911, from Austin History Center archives