Ann Richards has passed away

Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards dies
Updated: 9/13/2006 10:09 PM
By: Staff and wire reports

Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards -- the witty and flamboyant Democrat who went from homemaker to national political celebrity -- died at her Austin home.

She was 73.

Richards died Wednesday night surrounded by her family after a battle with esophageal cancer, family spokeswoman Cathy Bonner said.

Richards served as Texas governor for one term.

Richard was inaugurated in January 1991. She won election as state treasurer two times after serving on the Travis County Commissioners Court for six years. Prior to that she was a teacher at Austin's Fulmore Junior High School.

Richard was born in Lakeview in 1933 to Ona and Cecil Willis.

In her early adult she volunteered in Democratic Party politics in Washington, Dallas and Austin.

Richards lost her re-election bid to Republican George W. Bush.

She is survived by her children Cecile, Daniel, Clark and Ellen and their spouses and eight grandchildren.

Her humor always on display, she previously said, "I did not want my tombstone to read, 'She kept a really clean house.' I think I'd like them to remember me by saying, 'She opened government to everyone.'

She cracked a half-century male grip on the Governor's Mansion and celebrated by holding aloft a t-shirt that showed the state
Capitol and read, "A woman's place is in the dome."

"Poor George. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."