Ruth Elizabeth Jones McClendon (5 October 1943 – 19 December 2017) was an American politician.
McClendon was born in Houston on 5 October 1943, and graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School before attending Texas Southern University as an undergraduate and earning a master's degree from Webster University.[1][2]
She originally contested the open seat of Lou Nelle Sutton in 1988, but lost District 120 of the Texas House of Representatives to Karyne Jones Conley.[3] Between June 1993 and August 1996, McClendon was a member of the San Antonio City Council from District 2.[4][5] After Conley resigned her state legislative seat in July 1996,[6] McClendon won a special election and was seated on 12 November 1996, succeeding a fellow Democrat and African-American in office.[1][7] In all subsequent legislative elections, McClendon won no less than 85% of the vote.[8]
She resigned from the state legislature on 31 January 2016,[1][7] and died in San Antonio of brain cancer on 19 December 2017.[9][10][11]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Ruth Jones McClendon". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "St Philip's honors East Side advocate". The Ranger. San Antonio College. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Baker Jones, Nancy; Winegarten, Ruthe (2000). Capitol Women. University of Texas Press. doi:10.7560/740624-056.
- ^ Cardona, Clare Z. (20 December 2017). "Longtime state rep, 'Texan of the Year' Ruth Jones McClendon dead at 74". The Dallas Morning News.
- ^ Guarecuco, Lyanne A. (19 December 2017). "Former San Antonio Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon Has Died". San Antonio Current. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Karyne Jones Conley". Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b Oberhofer, Hanna (19 December 2017). "Former State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon Dies at 74". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Palacios, Joey (19 December 2017). "Former State Representative Dead at 74: 'McClendon's Legacy Will Live On Forever'". Texas Public Radio. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Scherer, Jasper (19 December 2017). "Ruth McClendon, former state representative, dies at age 74". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Ruth Jones McClendon has passed away". WOAI-TV. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ Svitek, Patrick (19 December 2017). "Former state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon dies at 74". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 9 October 2022.