Rita Crocker Clements

She was born in Newton, Kansas, on October 30, 1931, to rancher and political activist Mason Crocker and his wife Florabel. by 1958, she had risen to Republican Party precinct chairman in Dallas County. Clements was appointed to the Republican National Committee in 1973. From 1972 to 1975 she was a member of the National Advisory Council for Economic Opportunity. Serving as First Lady of Texas during the two non-consecutive terms (1979–1983 and 1987–1991) of her husband Governor Bill Clements, she was a key strategist in each of her husband's election campaigns. During her husband's second term in office, Clements contributed to the campaign to have the 1888 Texas Capitol restored. ==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. 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. ==Death==

Clements died in Dallas on January 6, 2018, from complications of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 86. 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. ==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. In 2007, the Texas State History Museum Foundation bestowed former Governor and Rita Clements with the History-Making Texan Award. In 2009 the couple were recipients of the Santa Rita Award for their contributions to the University of Texas System. ==References==