Houston is home to talented, legendary figures in American history, including many women who are known for historic “firsts,” creating legacies for future generations.
In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, which is March 8, here is a list of 10 women who have made history and have called the Bayou City home.
Dr. Martha J. Wong
Dr. Martha J. Wong was born in Houston in 1939 to parents who immigrated to the U.S. from China.
Early in her career she was a first grade teacher in the Houston Independent School District.
She was later promoted to assistant principal and became the first Asian American school principal in the state of Texas.
She became an associate professor at Baylor University, then returned to Houston as the director of staff development for Houston Community College.
On December 4, 1993, she made history again as the first Asian American elected to the Houston City Council.
Then in 2002, she became the first Asian American woman elected to the House of Representatives, where she served two terms.
She is also the first Asian American inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame; the first Asian American recognized by the Houston Federation of Women’s Award for Excellence in Education; and the first Asian American receiving the University of Houston’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
She also created the first Alternative Teacher Certification Program in the state of Texas.
Lauren Anderson
Lauren Anderson was born in Houston in 1965.
Growing up, she trained with Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy exclusively, starting when she was 7 years…
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