Neveille Colson
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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] A Democrat who lived in Navasota, she served in the legislature from 1939 to 1966,[3] and was the first woman to serve in both legislative houses.[4]
Neveille Colson | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 5th district | |
| In office January 11, 1949 – January 10, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Roger A. Knight[1] |
| Succeeded by | William T. Moore[1] |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 27th district | |
| In office January 10, 1939 – January 11, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Alfred Powell[1] |
| Succeeded by | Gary Pinkney Pearson[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1902 Bryan, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 1982 (aged 79) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nall Colson (div. 1938) |
Biography
She 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]
