Neveille Colson
Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 10, 1939 – January 11, 1949
Preceded byRobert Alfred Powell[1]
Succeeded byGary Pinkney Pearson[1]
Texas Senate
In office
January 11, 1949 – January 10, 1967
Preceded byRoger A. Knight[1]
Succeeded byWilliam T. Moore[1]
Personal details
BornJuly 18, 1902
Bryan, Texas
DiedMarch 3, 1982(1982-03-03) (aged 79)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseNall Colson (they divorced in 1938)

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 1939-1966,[3] and was the first woman to serve in both legislative houses.[4]

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 shorty 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

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Search". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. ↑ "Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Mobile". lrl.texas.gov.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Association, Texas State Historical. "Colson, Esther Neveille Higgs". Texas State Historical Association.
  4. 1 2 3 "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile - Neveille Colson". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders | Member profile - Nall Colson". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Lawyers, As Usual Are in Majority in Texas Legislature". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 30 December 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 28 October 2023. Open access icon
  7. 1 2 "Neveille Higgs Colson". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 4 March 1982. p. 66. Retrieved 28 October 2023. Open access icon
  8. 1 2 "Women Who Shaped Our World". issuu.
  9. ↑ "Mrs. Neveille Colson of Navasota Announces For State Senate". February 3, 1966. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Neveille Higgs Colston, death Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX 4 Mar 1982". Newspapers.com. 4 March 1982. Retrieved 28 October 2023. Open access icon
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