Irma Rangel

Full Name: Irma Lerma Rangel
Date of birth: May 15, 1931
Date of death: March 18, 2003

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Counties in District
H	43	Jan 14, 2003 - Mar 18, 2003	78th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Cameron, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy
H	35	Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003	77th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata
H	35	Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001	76th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata
H	35	Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999	75th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata
H	35	Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997	74th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata
H	35	Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995	73rd	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata
H	37	Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993	72nd	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy
H	37	Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991	71st	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy
H	37	Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 10, 1989	70th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy
H	37	Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 13, 1987	69th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy
H	37	Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985	68th ⁽⁴⁾	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy
H	49	Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983	67th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy
H	49	Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981	66th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy
H	49	Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979	65th	Democrat	Kingsville / Kleberg	Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy

(1) Proclamation, 3/25/2003, Ordering special election in House District 43 on 4/15/2003 to serve unexpired term of Irma Rangel. Governor Rick Perry.
(2) Juan M. Escobar, in special election 4/15/2003, runoff election 5/6/2003, sworn 5/9/2003, succeeded unexpired term of Irma L. Rangel, died 3/18/2003. Texas Secretary of State - Historical Election Returns, 1992-2019.
(3) Juan M. Escobar, in special election 5/6/2003, sworn 5/9/2003 [House Journal p. 2941], succeeded Irma L. Rangel, died 3/18/2003. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(4) Sworn 1/11/1983. Oaths of Office.

Terms of Service top

House District 43
Jan 14, 2003 - Mar 18, 2003
Legislatures: 78th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Cameron, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy

House District 35
Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003
Legislatures: 77th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata

House District 35
Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001
Legislatures: 76th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata

House District 35
Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999
Legislatures: 75th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata

House District 35
Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997
Legislatures: 74th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata

House District 35
Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995
Legislatures: 73rd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy, Zapata

House District 37
Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993
Legislatures: 72nd
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy

House District 37
Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991
Legislatures: 71st
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy

House District 37
Jan 13, 1987 - Jan 10, 1989
Legislatures: 70th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy

House District 37
Jan 8, 1985 - Jan 13, 1987
Legislatures: 69th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy

House District 37
Jan 11, 1983 - Jan 8, 1985
Legislatures: 68th ⁽⁴⁾
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Brooks, Cameron, Kenedy, Kleberg, Starr, Willacy

House District 49
Jan 13, 1981 - Jan 11, 1983
Legislatures: 67th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy

House District 49
Jan 9, 1979 - Jan 13, 1981
Legislatures: 66th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy

House District 49
Jan 11, 1977 - Jan 9, 1979
Legislatures: 65th
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Kingsville / Kleberg
Counties in district: Hidalgo, Kenedy, Kleberg, Willacy

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Resolutions and Journal entries

68th Legislature, R.S., HR 392. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
69th Legislature, R.S., HR 445. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
70th Legislature, R.S., HR 583. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
71st Legislature, 5th C.S., HR 92. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
73rd Legislature, R.S., HR 715. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
79th Legislature, R.S., HR 2225. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
79th Legislature, R.S., HR 693. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
80th Legislature, R.S., HR 147. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
80th Legislature, R.S., HR 148. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
86th Legislature, R.S., SR 685. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
Mentioned in 74th Legislature, R.S., HCR 122, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the first female legislators. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
78th Legislature, R.S., HR 1194. Resolutions - Memorial.
78th Legislature, R.S., HR 1271, directing the House Administration Committee to hang a portrait of the Honorable Irma Rangel in the house chamber. Did not pass; last action: Referred to House Administration 5/20/2003. Resolutions - Memorial.
78th Legislature, R.S., HR 518. First Mexican American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives. Resolutions - Memorial.
78th Legislature, R.S., HR 616. Resolutions - Memorial.
78th Legislature, R.S., HR 966, requesting that a portrait of the Honorable Irma Rangel be placed on display in the house chamber. Did not pass; last action: referred to House Administration 5/1/2003. Resolutions - Memorial.
78th Legislature, R.S., SR 405. First Mexican American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives, first Mexican American chair of House Committee on Higher Education, first Mexican American woman elected chair of Mexican American Legislative Caucus. Resolutions - Memorial.

Biographical Sketches

Photo and biographical sketch, pp. 204-206. Capitol Women: Texas Female Legislators, 1923-1999, 2000.
Photo and biographical sketch, Hispanic Journal, 2000 Legislative Guide, 2000.
Biography in the LRL Young Texans collection. Irma Rangel, 2015.
Biographical sketch in LRL collection, 340.092 C366R 2008. Rough Road to Justice: The Journey of Women Lawyers in Texas, 2008.
Biographical sketch included in Tejano Struggle for Representation, 2004.
Rangel, Irma Lerma. Texas State Cemetery.
Photo and biographical sketch. Tribute to the Mexican American Legislators of Texas, 1978.
Biographical sketch in LRL collection, 976.4 R638W 2022. Women Across Time = Mujeres a Través del Tiempo: Sixteen Influential South Texas Women, 2022.

Other Resources

"Irma Rangel - A Legend in Her Own Time." April/May 2003, p. 5. Hispanic Journal.
Mentioned in Minority Civil Rights and the Texas Legislature, 2018.
"Irma Rangel: Educator, Attorney, Legislator and Friend," 2006 edition, pp. 157-167. South Texas Studies, 1995.
78th Legislature, R.S., HB 3552, Relating to naming the school of pharmacy at Texas A&M University--Kingsville and its physical facility after Irma Rangel. Texas Legislature Online.
H. Res. 159, 108th Congress, 1st Session. Expressing profound sorrow on the occasion of the death of Irma Rangel. THOMAS, U. S. Congress.

Texas Monthly's Best and Worst Legislators

Named one of 'The Best'. Best and Worst Legislators 2003.
Named one of the 'Used Furniture'. Best and Worst Legislators 1987.
Named one of the 'Squeaky Furniture'. Best and Worst Legislators 1985.

Photographs

Photograph. Irma Rangel, 78th Legislature, Members of the 78th Legislature Texas House of Representatives (CD-RW)
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 78th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 77th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 76th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 75th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 70th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 69th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 68th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 67th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 66th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. Irma Rangel, 65th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 74th Legislature, 1995.

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

65th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
66th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
67th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
68th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, south wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
69th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
70th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
71st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
72nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
73rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
74th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
75th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
76th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
77th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
78th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.

Committee Information top

78th R.S. - 2003 Border and International Affairs Higher Education (Vice Chair)
77th R.S. - 2001 Higher Education (Chair) Higher Education Excellence Funding, Interim Pensions and Investments Return-to-Work, House Joint
76th R.S. - 1999 Higher Education (Chair) Pensions and Investments Rural Development, Select TEXAS and Teach for Texas Grant Programs, Legislative Oversight
75th R.S. - 1997 Higher Education (Chair) Pensions and Investments TRS-Care, House Joint
74th R.S. - 1995 Higher Education (Chair) Pensions and Investments State Investment Policy, House Joint
73rd R.S. - 1993 General Investigating Higher Education (Vice Chair) Historically Underutilized Businesses, Select International and Cultural Relations (Vice Chair) NAFTA and GATT, Special Select (Vice Chair)
72nd R.S. - 1991 Higher Education Judicial Affairs (Vice Chair) Judicial Affairs Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight
71st R.S. - 1989 Higher Education (Vice Chair) House Administration Judicial Affairs Texas Catastrophic Property Insurance Pool, Special
70th R.S. - 1987 Businesses Owned by Women or Minorities, Select Child Abuse and Pornography, Select Higher Education Higher Education in South Texas Higher Education Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight House Administration Judicial Affairs (Vice Chair)
69th R.S. - 1985 Advisory Committee to Study Viable Alternatives to the House Study Group Higher Education House Administration Urban Affairs (Vice Chair) Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Budget and Oversight (Vice Chair)
68th R.S. - 1983 Higher Education Judicial Affairs (Vice Chair)
67th R.S. - 1981 Judiciary Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Special Transportation
66th R.S. - 1979 Judiciary Security and Sanctions
65th R.S. - 1977 Business and Industry Business and Industry Subcommittee on Consumer Protection Illegal Immigration in Texas, Special Social Services Social Services Subcommittee on Appropriative Matters Social Services Subcommittee on Rehabilitation

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