Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, County Judge Lina Hidalgo and others on Thursday, Sept. 23 commemorated the 30th anniversary of late Gov. Ann Richards’ inauguration with announcing 50 downtown banners that celebrate her legacy.

The “Ann Banners” art project, made possible by the Ann Richards Legacy Project in partnership with the Houston Downtown Management District, involves displaying the banners on light poles along Dallas Street between Crawford and Milam. One side of each banner has a picture of Gov. Richards and the other side her quote.

“Ann was a champion of education and women's rights who opened the doors of our government and appointed a diverse group of people to leadership positions,” said Commissioner Ellis, who was in the Legislature when Richards was governor. “The first woman elected to statewide office since 1932, she challenged the good-ol'-boy culture in Austin, inspiring others along the way and encouraging us all to raise more hell.”

The nonprofit Ann Richards Legacy Project, founded by Margaret Justus, launched the Ann Banners early this year in Austin along Congress Avenue. The banners also are on display in Dallas and San Antonio. Private contributions are being raised in Houston to fund the local project.

“Ann liked to shake things up,” Justus said. “And she believed that for our democracy to stay healthy, Texans deserved a government that looks like them and worked for them.”

Mayor Turner, who was in the state Legislature during Gov. Richards’ tenure, called her a “force of nature” who improved the education system.

“The former governor was monumental in effecting change that we still feel today,” Mayor Turner said. “She served as a model for inclusive, bold, transformative leadership, appointing scores of women, Black and Brown people, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community to various roles throughout state government.”

County Judge Hidalgo said Gov. Richards changed Texas through her policies and her persona, which Hidalgo called second to none.

“And let’s start with the policies,” Judge Hidalgo said. “As one term as governor: education funding, criminal justice reform, ethics in state government. Those are not necessarily the most popular causes to take on. She showed us that policy and principles are more important than job security.”

Before being elected the 45th governor, Richards – a mother of four and grandmother of eight – was twice elected Travis County commissioner and served two terms as State Treasurer.

Also attending the news conference were U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore, Gov. Richards’ appointee to the Texas Department of Commerce, and former Houston Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen.