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Rita Crocker Clements

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Rita Crocker Clements
A smiling white woman with dark hair in a bouffant set, wearing a light-colored suit with a print blouse, and large sunglasses
Rita Crocker Clements, from a 1975 publication of the United States Army
First Lady of Texas
In role
January 20, 1987 – January 15, 1991
GovernorBill Clements
Preceded byLinda Gail White
Succeeded byLaura Bush
In role
January 16, 1979 – January 18, 1983
Preceded byJaney Slaughter Briscoe
Succeeded byLinda Gail White
Personal details
Born
Rita Crocker

(1931-10-30)October 30, 1931
Newton, Kansas, U.S.
DiedJanuary 6, 2018(2018-01-06) (aged 86)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathAlzheimer's disease
Resting placeGrove Hill Memorial Park
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1952; div. 1974)​

​
​
(m. 1975; died 2011)​
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Texas

Rita Crocker Clements (October 30, 1931 – January 6, 2018) was an American Republican Party organizer, an activist in historic preservation, and a First Lady of the U.S. state of Texas.[1]

Early life

She was born in Newton, Kansas, on October 30, 1931, to rancher and political activist Mason Crocker and his wife Florabel.[2] The family relocated to Brady, Texas, when she was 10 years old.[2] She attended The Hockaday School in Texas, graduating in 1949.[2] She then studied at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, before completing her undergraduate degree in 1953 at the University of Texas at Austin.[1][3] She graduated with honors in Spanish and also minored in history and government.[3] Her 1952 marriage to Richard Bass produced four children. They divorced in 1974, and in 1975 she married Bill Clements.[4]

Beginning her political career as a volunteer for Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1952 campaign for President of the United States,[4] by 1958, she had risen to Republican Party precinct chairman in Dallas County.[2] Her continued involvement in party politics helped elect John Tower to the United States Senate in 1961.[2] She served as state co-chair of the 1964 committee for the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign.[5] Clements was appointed to the Republican National Committee in 1973.[6] From 1972 to 1975 she was a member of the National Advisory Council for Economic Opportunity.[7]

Serving as First Lady of Texas during the two non-consecutive terms (1979–1983 and 1987–1991) of her husband Governor Bill Clements,[8] she was a key strategist in each of her husband's election campaigns.[9]

Her leadership of the Texas Main Street program, part of the Texas Historic Commission, put her in the forefront of preserving the state's history.[9] The program aimed to maintain local town centers through the preservation of landmarks and the revival of sustaining businesses.[2] During 1979–1982, she also spearheaded the renovation of the Texas Governor's Mansion. She and the Governor founded the non-profit organization Friends of the Governor's Mansion to raise private money for the project, as well as to fund future maintenance of the mansion. The non-profit organization initially raised $3 million. The state legislature appropriated an additional $1 million for the restoration.[10] During her husband's second term in office, Clements contributed to the campaign to have the 1888 Texas Capitol restored.[2]

Later life

In her post-First Lady of Texas life, she continued to be active in business and civic organizations on heritage preservation, education, volunteerism and advocacy of women's issues. She served on the boards of La Quinta Motor Inns, Team Bank, Bank One, Texas, Dr Pepper, the Dallas Historical Society and the educational foundation The O'Donnell Foundation of Dallas, which she had co-founded in 1957.[2][3] In 1996, she was appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents by Governor George W. Bush, and re-appointed by Governor Rick Perry, serving until November 2007.[4][5]

Death

Clements died in Dallas on January 6, 2018, from complications of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 86.[11][3] On news of her death, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush released a statement of condolence, acknowledging Clements' strength and service to the state of Texas.[9]

Honors and awards

Clements received the Miss Ima Hogg Special Award from the Winedale Society and the Ruth B. Lester Award from the Texas Historical Commission for her work on heritage preservation.[7] In 1991, she was named a Distinguished Alumna of the University of Texas.[7] In 1996, Clements was elected to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame.[12]

In 2007, the Texas State History Museum Foundation bestowed former Governor and Rita Clements with the History-Making Texan Award.[13] In 2009 the couple were recipients of the Santa Rita Award for their contributions to the University of Texas System.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Rita Clements, former first lady of Texas, dies at 86". statesman. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Former Texas First Lady Rita Clements, 86, dies in Dallas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Simacher, Joe; Ballor, Claire (January 6, 2018). "Rita Clements, civic leader, political trailblazer and Texas' former first lady, dies at 86". Dallas News. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Rita Crocker Clements". University of Texas. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Rita Crocker Clements Personal Papers 1932–2001". Texas A & M University. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "1991 Distinguished Alumni". The Alcalde: 30. September–October 1991.
  7. ^ a b c "M/M Clements". Texas State History Museum Foundation. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Governors and First Ladies of Texas". Governor's Mansion of Texas. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "Widow of Late Texas Governor Bill Clements, Dies at 86". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  10. ^ Smyrl, Vivian Elizabeth. "Governor's Mansion". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 22, 2013.Sharpe, Patricia (January 1983). "Scaffold, Please". Texas Monthly: 61, 62, 64. Retrieved August 22, 2013."Friends of the Governors Mansion". State of Texas, Office of the Governor. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  11. ^ Ward, Mike (January 7, 2018). "Former Texas First Lady Rita Clements, 86, dies in Dallas". Chron.
  12. ^ "Rita Crocker Clements". Texas Women's Hall of Fame. Texas Woman's University. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  13. ^ "About the History-Making Texan Award". Texas State History Museum Foundation. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
Honorary titles
Preceded by First Lady of Texas
January 20, 1987 – January 15, 1991 		Succeeded by
vacant
Preceded by First Lady of Texas
January 16, 1979 – January 18, 1983 		Succeeded by
Linda Gail White
  • Texas First Ladies on KTBC-TV Austin [1]
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