Esther Neveille Higgs Colson (July 18, 1902 – March 3, 1982) was a state legislator in Texas. She served in the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate.[2] She served in the legislature from 1939 to 1966,[3] and was the first woman to serve in both legislative houses.[4]
Neveille Colson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 10, 1939 – January 11, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Alfred Powell[1] |
| Succeeded by | Gary Pinkney Pearson[1] |
| Texas Senate | |
| In office January 11, 1949 – January 10, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Roger A. Knight[1] |
| Succeeded by | William T. Moore[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1902 Bryan, Texas |
| Died | March 3, 1982 (aged 79) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nall Colson (they divorced in 1938) |
Biography
editShe was born July 18, 1902, in Bryan, Texas, to Walter and Ollie Higgs and went to Baylor University in 1923.[3] After university she started teaching in Iola and shortly after married Nall Colson who went on to be elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1932.[5] She returned to study while he served until 1937 and then in 1938 they divorced.[5]
Colson ran for the same 27th district seat representing Grimes County that her husband had previously occupied.[3] She won and joined Margaret Harris Gordon in the house and the only other woman in the legislature.[6] Colson served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives from January 10, 1939, until January 11, 1949, and then in the Texas Senate from January 11, 1949, until January 10, 1967.[4] During her second senatorial session she also served as the 54th Senate President Pro Tempore.[4]
She championed roads and schools,[3] including being the co-sponsor for the farm-to-market road system bill.[7] She served as curator of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum in Huntsville, Texas, before retiring in 1977.[8] The Neveille H. Colson Bridge over the Brazos River was named for her.[8] She was living in Navasota in 1966 when she ran for re-election to the Senate,[9] but she lost to Bill Moore another incumbent senator when they ran against each other after re-districting.[10]
She died March 3, 1982, living her last few years in a nursing home and is buried in the Bryan City Cemetery.[7][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Search". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Mobile". lrl.texas.gov.
- ^ a b c d e Association, Texas State Historical. "Colson, Esther Neveille Higgs". Texas State Historical Association.
- ^ a b c "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile - Neveille Colson". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile - Nall Colson". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Lawyers, As Usual Are in Majority in Texas Legislature". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 30 December 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Neveille Higgs Colson". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 4 March 1982. p. 66. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Women Who Shaped Our World". issuu.
- ^ "Mrs. Neveille Colson of Navasota Announces For State Senate". February 3, 1966. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Neveille Higgs Colston, death Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX 4 Mar 1982". Newspapers.com. 4 March 1982. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
