In Memory of Governor Richards

It seems funny that I feel affected by the death of someone that I only

met a few times, but I do.

Today Ann Richards was laid to rest in the Texas
State Cemetery.  Ann Richards was elected governor when I was
18, and I remember being excited that a Democrat (who grew up not far from my
small town) was leading Texas.
She had beaten billionaire Claton Williams (who was the front runner early on)
and it seemed like anything was possible.

Governor Richards opened doors for many people in Texas,
and in so doing she changed the state for the better.  She talked about
the "New Texas."  This was a place where the cronyism of the
past was behind us, and a person's merit would lift them as far as they
could
go. Under her leadership, women and minorities would achieve positions
in
government that were previously closed to them. 
She was inspiring.  She was hard
nosed, and she was funny.  She made me
see that government could make a difference in the lives of people. 

Many years after she left the governor's mansion, I was working on Ron
Kirk's Senate campaign, and had the chance to meet her.  Governor Richards was still talking about
opening doors for people.  She still had
a vision of a New Texas, and she still thought that democrats should be running
the government.  She was full of life and
was as funny as ever.

It seems funny that I feel affected by the death of someone that I only
met a few times, but I do.  I loved her
spirit.  I loved what she stood for, and
I, along with thousands of others, will miss her.