Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Sarah Weddington

Full Name: Sarah Weddington
Other surnames: Ragle,
Birth date: February 5, 1945
Death date: December 26, 2021

Terms of Service

House, 65th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ Legislature
1/11/1977 - 9/1/1977
Democrat
House, 64th Legislature
1/14/1975 - 1/11/1977
Democrat
House, 63rd Legislature
1/9/1973 - 1/14/1975
Democrat

(1) Proclamations, 9/14/1977 and 11/15/1977, ordering a special election in House District 37B on 11/8/1977, and second special election on 12/10/1977, to serve out the unexpired term of the Honorable Sarah Weddington. Governor Dolph Briscoe . September 14, 1977
November 15, 1977
(2) Mary Jane Bode, in special election 12/10/1977, sworn 12/21/1977, succeeded Sarah R. Weddington, resigned 9/1/1977. First session was 65th 2nd Called Session. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004 2005.
(3) Weddington resignation letter dated 9/2/1977, effective as of midnight, 9/1/1977. Texas House of Representatives, Chief Clerk's Office .
(4) Special election 11/8/1977, runoff 12/10/1977. Texas Secretary of State - Election Dates Including Special Elections, 1966-2001 .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Selected Newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

63rd Legislature, R.S., HSR 46. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
64th Legislature, R.S., HSR 190. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
65th Legislature, R.S., HSR 109. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .
64th Legislature, R.S., SR 133. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary .

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

Named 'Missing in Action'. Best and Worst Legislators 1977.
Named one of 'The Best'. Best and Worst Legislators 1975.

Photographs

Photograph. Sarah Weddington, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sarah Weddington, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Sarah Weddington, State Preservation Board

Other Resources

Book in LRL collection, 618.88 W413. A Question of Choice 1993.
Photo and biographical sketch, Women Before the Courts and Roe v. Wade, pp. 122-125. Austin Lawyers: A Legacy of Leadership and Service 2005.
Photo and biographical sketch, Sarah Ragle Weddington, pp. 162-165. First woman from Austin and Travis County elected to the Texas House of Representatives. Capitol Women: Texas Female Legislators, 1923-1999 2000.
Oral history interview in LRL collection, 976.4 H449G 2021. Growing Up in the Lone Star State: Notable Texans Remember Their Childhoods 2021.
Oral history interviews available in Oral History Collection, University of North Texas .
Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention, 1974. Record of Proceedings, Texas Constitutional Convention: Official Journals, January 8 - July 30, 1974 1975.
Notice of death, 2/1/2022. Speaker of the House .
Photo and biographical sketch, "Texas Government Insider," 10/24/2008. Strategic Partnerships, Inc. 2008.
Weddington, Sarah Ragle. Texas State Cemetery .
Book in LRL collection, 301.412 T313W. Texas Women in Politics 1977.
About Sarah Weddington. Includes Summary Bio, Early Years, Attorney Years, Campaign for Public Office, Legislative Years, General Counsel Years, White House Years, and Current Activities. Weddington Center .