Ann Richards Ceremony Today (with pix)

[LibraLiz1973]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- President Clinton tearfully escorted a flag-draped casket Saturday carrying former Texas Gov. Ann Richards into the state Capitol, where she will spend the next two days lying in state before her funeral and burial.

Clinton delivered poignant and at times funny recollections of the woman he called "spontaneous, unedited, earthy, hilarious."

He told mourners about a lunch he once shared in New York with Richards and a group that included comedians Billy Crystal and Robin Williams.

"I thought to myself, I bet this is the only time in their entire lives that Billy Crystal and Robin Williams are the second and third funniest people at the table," he said, drawing chuckles from misty-eyed family members. (Watch Richards make people laugh -- 4:04)

Richards, the Democrat known for her big, frosty white hair and sharp wit, died Wednesday at the age of 73 from esophageal cancer. (Full story)

"In this case, goodbye is also a celebration, because of the big things that Ann Richards did," Clinton said.

A Texas Department of Public Safety honor guard rolled the casket into the Capitol rotunda, followed by Clinton and Richards' daughter, Cecile, as a girls' choir sang a hymn from a gallery above. Across the rotunda, Richards' painting hung next to one of President Bush, her successor as Texas governor, in its place among all their predecessors. Her portrait was draped in black.

Clinton called Richards "Texas on parade."

"For 30-plus years, that is certainly what she was to me and Hillary," he said. "First she was big. Big hair, big bright eyes, big blinding smile. She also had a big heart, big dreams. Big, big dreams."

During her one term as governor from 1991 to 1995 she championed what she called the "New Texas," appointing more women and minorities to state posts than any of her predecessors.

He described the world that Richards wanted for her grandchildren as one "where young girls grew up to be scientists, engineers, police officers and teachers ... where the dreams and the spirit were as big as the sky in her beloved home."

When Clinton finished speaking, Richards' daughter, Ellen, thanked him for "all the great times that you shared with our mom."

Clinton paused for a moment beside the casket, then greeted family members, hugging or shaking hands with each one in attendance. At one point, he bent down to comfort Richards' 8-year-old grandson Wyatt, who broke down in sobs.

Richards is survived by her four children -- Cecile, Daniel, Clark and Ellen Richards -- their spouses and eight grandchildren.

[renate]

1. what a touching service that must have been

First that wonderful eulogy that summed her up so lovingly, then her grandson sobbing....

It all speaks to what a full, exuberant life Ann had.

[malaise]

2. So sad to watch

I only know Ann Richards via my Texas niece - she adored her.

[LibraLiz1973]

3. Tributes

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=72544
What I admired most in Ann Richards were her convictions: opening government to women and minorities, fighting violence, leading with humor and humanity rather than fear and arrogance.

For someone who appeared to be home-spun, she never confused straight-talking with shallow thinking. Ann Richards knew her way around a metaphor

[LibraLiz1973]

4. <del>

[gademocrat7]

5. Gov.Richards was an articulate. gutsy lady.

The Democrats need a woman like her now. Rest in peace Governor Richards. I am so glad that President Clinton was in Austin to dignify the occasion.

[MelissaB]

6. That is a beautiful article!

Please edit to include the link.

[KT2000]

7. Thank you so much

for posting this.
She was so genuine and the sadness people feel is just as genuine.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. Thanks for posting this.

[blue cat]

9. What could have been

if only she could have beat Bush.

[LibraLiz1973]

19. That was probably his first stolen election (n/t)

[Olney Blue]

10. K and R. Thank you.

[Raster]

11. Thank you so much for posting this. What a wonderful person and one of

my personal heroes. I lived in Texas under her governorship and left just before she was defeated by kkkarl rove and his unethical electoral practices. The meme the Texas rethuglicans bandied about was that this was payback for what she said about bush the elder. We could never figure out how someone with a 60% overall popularity rating could be defeated. She never got to do anything near what she wanted to do in Texas, because she was hounded and hampered at every turn. It's too bad because her successor turned out to be one of the worst, do-nothing governors Texas ever saw, notable for his partisan incompetence and executing more people than any other governor.

Rest in peace, Anne Richards. You fought the good fight with poise and grace and a matchless wit.

[goclark]

12. Does anyone have the video up ?nt

[sonias]

13. Our local rag has it

Right now it's on the front page
http://www.statesman.com/

Be warned however that these corporate bastards let Rick Perry, our current incompetent governor pay for a political ad at the beginning of the video. How crass! We don't call the rag the Austin RealEstatesman for nothing.

Sonia

[goclark]

15. Thank you,thank you, thank you

It should have been played all day long on all the stations.

She was what America is about ~ not these crooks!

America was blessed to have Ann Richards!

[texanwitch]

14. I watched the video, the tears came again.

I am going to go to Austin tomorrow, have to say goodbye to Ann Richards.

My Father and Mother knew Ann well, I had met Ann several times.

She was a great Texan.

:cry:

I have a friend who will give birth to a little girl in a few weeks, the baby girl will be named Ann Richards.

[OzarkDem]

16. Wish I could go, too

I would love to pay respect to her in person. She was a giant.

[texanwitch]

17. I had a chance to have BBQ with Ann here in Houston about five years

ago.

Now that is something to remember.

I wished she would have ran for Senator or even President.

Ann, we miss you. :kick:

[me b zola]

18. .