Courage, grit, moxie: though these Texas women were from different eras, they all shared the same sense of determination. Never accepting defeat, here are some of the ladies who “pushed the envelope,” delivering success at every turn.
Susanna Dickinson, Clara Driscoll, Adina De Zavala
SUPPORTERS OF THE ALAMO
Susanna Dickinson and her infant daughter were among the few Americans who survived the 1836 Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.
She is known for relaying the message of Texas’ defeat to Sam Houston, commander of the Texas army. Her eyewitness accounts of the battle brought historical accuracy to this important event.
Left widowed and penniless, Susanna felt compelled to testify on behalf of families of Alamo defenders so they could claim land granted by the Republic of Texas for their military service at the Alamo.
When Adina De Zavala, a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, learned of the threat to tear down the historic Alamo, she contacted Clara Driscoll, an heiress and fellow preservationist, who provided the funds to purchase the Alamo.
Mary Kay Ash
FOUNDER MARY KAY COSMETICS
At 45 years old, Mary Kay resigned from Stanley Home Products and started Mary Kay Cosmetics.
She adopted the same multi-level business model used by Stanley. Her all-woman sales team received commission from their direct sales and from the sales of the sales staff they recruited.
Home parties allowed for pitching the product line to multiple customers at once. Products were sold at double the price of their competitor, Avon.
At the time of her death in 2001, her company had over 800,000 representatives in 37 countries, with total annual sales of over $200 million, and her top performers were still vying for the prestigious reward of a Mary Kay Pink Cadillac.
“Lady Bird” Johnson
FIRST LADY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE
When her nursemaid said that Claudia Alta was as “pretty as a ladybird,” the infant’s nickname became her name for life. Lyndon Johnson – LBJ – proposed on their first date at the Driskill Hotel, and they were married ten weeks later. Lady Bird used some of her inheritance to fund his congressional campaign and ran his office while he served in the Navy.
Despite LBJ’s objections, she purchased an Austin radio station with her inheritance, negotiated an agreement with the CBS radio network, and purchased a television station. Lady Bird was the first president’s wife to become a millionaire in her own right, turning her initial $41,000 investment into more than $150 million.
As first lady, she initiated interacting directly with Congress, employing a press secretary, and making solo campaign tours. She advocated for the Highway Beautification Act, which became known as “Lady Bird’s Bill” and received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed on a U.S. civilian by Congress.
Barbara Jordan
POLITICIAN, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, American lawyer, educator and politician
Barbara Jordan was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate and the first African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Her powerful opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearings during Richard Nixon’s impeachment process brought her instant fame.
In 1976, she became the first African American and the first woman to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. She is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award, bestowed on a civilian by the president.
Ann Richards
SECOND FEMALE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
She first received national attention as Texas State Treasurer when she gave the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
Famous for her outspoken feminism and her one-liners – a joke delivered in a single sentence – she is known for her appointments of women and minorities to high-level posts. As governor, she introduced the concept of site-based management into the educational system, which put more power into the hands of parents and teachers. She increased prison space and introduced a substance abuse program into Texas prisons, and opposed the sale of assault weapons.
Selena
MEXICAN AMERICAN SINGER/SONGWRITER
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, and her band, Los Dinos, gained popularity in the 1980s when she won a Grammy for her album Selena Live! Known as the “Queen of Tejano Music” and based on her contributions to music and fashion, Billboard magazine ranked her in third place on their 2020 list of “Greatest Latino Artists of All Time.”
Tragically, the life of the beloved singer was cut short when she was murdered by the founder of her fan club at the age of 23 years old.