Anita Thigpen Perry
Encyclopedia
Anita Thigpen Perry is the current and longest-serving First Lady
of Texas
, and the wife of Governor
Rick Perry
. As First Lady of Texas, she has been an active advocate for nursing and other health care issues. The Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, health education, and early childhood development. In 2008, the Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
was renamed in her honor.
, Texas
. She is the daughter of family physician Joe Eltidge Thigpen and homemaker Beunis Ratliff Thigpen. She has three siblings: Joseph (an attorney), Peggy, and Emily. She is a graduate of Haskell High School
. She spent her first year of college at Texas Tech University
, but because Texas Tech did not have a nursing program at the time, she switched to West Texas State University
, where she received a Bachelor's degree in nursing in 1974. She then obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
. She has worked in the nursing profession for more than 17 years, working in surgery, pediatrics, intensive care, administration, and teaching and as a consultant. Although the Perry tax returns indicate Anita Perry worked as a nurse and took in less than $8,000 a year between 1987 and 1990, upon her husband's election as Agriculture Commissioner, she left nursing.
in 2000 when Rick Perry became Governor of Texas
following the resignation of President-elect
George W. Bush
. Rick Perry previously served as Lieutenant Governor
.
In October 2000, she and her husband hosted the first Texas Conference for Women which became an annual event. The conference addresses such issues as professional development, health care, and personal growth.
on August 13, 2011, in Charleston, South Carolina
.
, when they were both children at an elementary school piano recital. They married in 1982. They have a son, Griffin (born 1983, married Meredith Lewis December 19, 2009), and a daughter, Sydney (born 1986). They are members of the Tarrytown United Methodist Church
. In Austin, Perry and her husband belong to nondenominational Lake Hills Church.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and the wife of Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
. As First Lady of Texas, she has been an active advocate for nursing and other health care issues. The Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, health education, and early childhood development. In 2008, the Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers programs in Allied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. TTUHSC's main campus is in Lubbock, but campuses are also located in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso and the Permian Basin...
was renamed in her honor.
Early life and education
Perry was born in HaskellHaskell, Texas
Haskell is a city in central Haskell County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,106. It is the county seat of Haskell County.-Geography:Haskell is located at ....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. She is the daughter of family physician Joe Eltidge Thigpen and homemaker Beunis Ratliff Thigpen. She has three siblings: Joseph (an attorney), Peggy, and Emily. She is a graduate of Haskell High School
Haskell Public Schools
Haskell Public Schools is a K-12 public school system located in Haskell, Oklahoma. Haskell is a small town located in Muskogee County. The elementary is located in a separate building from the middle school and high school. The elementary is named Mary White Elementary after a former...
. She spent her first year of college at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, but because Texas Tech did not have a nursing program at the time, she switched to West Texas State University
West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University , part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas, a small city south of Amarillo. West Texas A&M opened on September 20, 1910...
, where she received a Bachelor's degree in nursing in 1974. She then obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is an institute of health science education and research, located in the South Texas Medical Center....
. She has worked in the nursing profession for more than 17 years, working in surgery, pediatrics, intensive care, administration, and teaching and as a consultant. Although the Perry tax returns indicate Anita Perry worked as a nurse and took in less than $8,000 a year between 1987 and 1990, upon her husband's election as Agriculture Commissioner, she left nursing.
First Lady of Texas
She became First Lady of TexasFirst Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
in 2000 when Rick Perry became Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
following the resignation of President-elect
President-elect of the United States
President-elect of the United States is the title used for an incoming President of the United States in the period between the general election on Election Day in November and noon eastern standard time on Inauguration Day, January 20, during which he is not in office yet...
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Rick Perry previously served as Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
.
In October 2000, she and her husband hosted the first Texas Conference for Women which became an annual event. The conference addresses such issues as professional development, health care, and personal growth.
2012 Presidential election
Her husband announced his candidacy for President in the 2012 electionUnited States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
on August 13, 2011, in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
Personal life
She met her husband from the nearby community of Paint CreekPaint Creek, Texas
Paint Creek is an unincorporated community in southeast Haskell County, Texas, United States, in north central Texas.It is named after the nearby stream, which Stamford Dam impounds 8 miles to the east of the community to form Lake Stamford. In 2011, press reports indicated Haskell County had a...
, when they were both children at an elementary school piano recital. They married in 1982. They have a son, Griffin (born 1983, married Meredith Lewis December 19, 2009), and a daughter, Sydney (born 1986). They are members of the Tarrytown United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. In Austin, Perry and her husband belong to nondenominational Lake Hills Church.
External links
, video interview at KLRUKLRU
KLRU is the local Public Broadcasting Service member public television station in Austin, Texas, in the United States of America.-History:...