Ex-first lady passionate about preservation, politics
AUSTIN — Former Texas first lady Rita Crocker Clements, whose passion for politics and historic preservation secured her place in Texas history after her husband became the first Republican governor since Reconstruction in 1979, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday in Dallas, according to her family. She was 86.
Since her husband, Bill Clements, left office in 1991, Clements remained active in philanthropic work, GOP politics and had served on several corporate boards.
“Rita was an true stateswoman who served Texas both on the UT System Board of Regents and as a great steward of the Governor’s Mansion during her time as first lady,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. Texas has suffered a tremendous loss, but Rita leaves behind an incredible legacy.” Born in Newton, Kan., in 1931 to Mason and Florabel Crocker, she moved to Brady with her family when she was 10. She found an appreciation of Texas history, an interest she shared with Bill Clements that would drive their passion for historic preservation.
During the governor’s first term, Rita Clements led a statewide $3 million fundraising drive to restore the historic 1856 Greek Revival Governor’s Man-
sion in Austin, a showcase project that drew wide accolades. During Clements’ second term as governor, the 1888 Texas Capitol was restored in another highprofile project.
In an interview during the Capitol restoration project, Rita and Bill Clements said the restorations were among the achievements of which they were most proud.
Clements graduated from the Hockaday School of Dallas in 1949 and graduated with honors from the University of Texas in Austin. She had four children with noted Dallas businessman and rancher Richard Bass before divorcing him and, in 1975, marrying Bill Clements, a wealthy former wildcatter who founded the successful oil drilling company SEDCO.
Bill Clements served as deputy secretary of defense under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, before serving two non-consecutive terms as governor of Texas.
Rita Clements had been active for years in Texas GOP politics, in the days before Republicans held much political clout in Austin or most anyplace else. She worked as a campaign volunteer for Republican Dwight Eisenhower in 1952, served as a Republican party precinct chairman in Dallas County, as state co-chair of the 1964 committee for the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign and on the Republican National Committee in 1973.
During both of Bill Clements’ campaigns, she served a key strategist.
As first lady, she was active in preserving the state’s rich heritage through her leadership in the Texas Main Street program, a Texas Historical Commission program that successfully kept local town centers intact through preservation of existing landmarks and revival of sustaining businesses.
“When we think of Rita, we think of a strong Texas woman and a pioneer in the Republican party. She was a wonderful first lady for the Lone Star State. We remember Rita’s love of history — an interest from which we benefited when we lived with the collection of historical art and furniture she curated for the Texas Governor’s Mansion. Most of all, we remember a friend whose beloved family and state loved her back and will miss her,” former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush said in a statement.
The former first lady served on a number of corporate boards, including La Quinta Motor Inns and Dr Pepper. Philanthropically, she was a major contributor to the Hockaday School and had served on the board of the O’Donnell Foundation of Dallas, which focuses on education initiatives nationally.
In June 2009, the Clements donated $100 million to UT Southwestern Medical Center, the largest civic donation in Dallas history.
A longtime advocate of education, she served on the University of Texas System Board of Regents, first appointed by Gov. Bush and re-appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. She served until 2007.
She was elected to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996.
Clements is survived by a brother, Byron Crocker of Beaumont, as well as four children, Dan Bass of Salt Lake City, and Jim Bass, Barbara Moroney and Bonnie Smith, all of Dallas. She also has 13 grandchildren. Bill Clements died in 2011.
A memorial service to celebrate her life is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Michaels and All Angels Church in Dallas.