Former Texas Governor Ann Richards died yesterday in her home in Austin. She succumbed to esophageal cancer. She was 73 years old.

Richards is best remembered nationally as the feisty keynote speaker at the 1988 Democrat Convention in Atlanta who said that "poor George" H.W. Bush was "born with a silver foot in his mouth."

I'd be lying if I said that - back then - I didn't get a good belly laugh out of that one. Unfortunately for Mass. Governor Michael Dukakis, that was the high point of the Democrat's campaign.

From what I've read, she was a terrific lady who was not afraid to speak her mind. No stranger to personal hardships, she always tackled adversity by laughing at it. That's a life lesson we could all stand to learn.

R.I.P.

UPDATE: 1.30PM
Coming as no surprise to me, the President spoke kindly of her today.

"Ann loved Texas, and Texans loved her. As a public servant she earned respect and admiration," Bush said in a statement. "Ann became a national role model, and her charm, wit, and candor brought a refreshing vitality to public life."

Posted by: Gary at 08:45 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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