A Wife's Life on the Campaign Trail
On the Campaign with trail with husband Governor Rick Perry candidate for President of the United States of America. He would be a Commander in Chief with both Executive Experience and as a Commander of the Texas National Guard.
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Interview with AFA Anita Perry Discusses Candidacy of Her Husband Rick Perry
Part Two: AFA with Anita Perry
Anita Thigpen Perry (born March 5, 1952)[1] is the current and longest-serving First Lady of Texas, and the wife of Governor Rick Perry. As First Lady of Texas, she has been an active advocate for nursing and other health care issues.[2] The Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, health education, and early childhood development.[3] In 2008, the Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was renamed in her honor.[4]
Early life and education
Perry was born in Haskell, Texas. She is the daughter of family physician Joe Eltidge Thigpen and homemaker Beunis Ratliff Thigpen. She has three siblings: Joseph (an attorney), Peggy, and Emily. She is a graduate of Haskell High School. She spent her first year of college at Texas Tech University, but because Texas Tech did not have a nursing program at the time, she switched toWest Texas State University, where she received a Bachelor's degree in nursing in 1974. She then obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.[5] She has worked in the nursing profession for more than 17 years, working in surgery, pediatrics, intensive care, administration, and teaching[4] and as a consultant.[1]Although the Perry tax returns indicate Anita Perry worked as a nurse and took in less than $8,000 a year between 1987 and 1990, upon her husband's election as Agriculture Commissioner, she left nursing.[6]
First Lady of Texas
She became First Lady of Texas in 2000 when Rick Perry became Governor of Texas following the resignation of President-elect George W. Bush. Rick Perry previously served as Lieutenant Governor.
In October 2000, she and her husband hosted the first Texas Conference for Women which became an annual event. The conference addresses such issues as professional development, health care, and personal growth.
Personal life
Personal life
She met her husband from the nearby community of Paint Creek, when they were both children at an elementary school piano recital.[8][9] They married in 1982.[1] They have a son, Griffin (born 1983, married Meredith Lewis December 19, 2009), and a daughter, Sydney (born 1986).[10] They are members of the Tarrytown United Methodist Church. In Austin, Perry and her husband belong to nondenominational Lake Hills Church.
2012 Presidential election
Her husband announced his candidacy for President in the 2012 election on August 13, 2011, in Charleston, South Carolina.[7]
