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]
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]