Sarah Catherine Ragle Weddington Obituary – Austin American-Statesman

Sarah Catherine Ragle Weddington

Austin – Sarah Catherine Ragle Weddington age 76 died December 26, 2021 at her home in Austin, Texas. She is survived by her brother, John D. Ragle of Georgetown, Texas. She was preceded in death by a sister, Wylia Sue Ragle of Austin, her mother, Lena Catherine Morrison Ragle of Lubbock, Texas and her father, Herbert Doyle Ragle of Austin.

Sarah Weddington was born February 5, 1946 in Abilene, Texas and attended McMurry University graduating at age 19 before studying law at the University of Texas. She later taught law courses at UT Austin for 28 years and Texas Woman’s University for 19 years. She was the first woman elected to State Representative from Austin, Travis County, 1973 – 1977. Winning attorney in Roe V. Wade, U.S Supreme Court, 1973, she was also the first woman General Counsel U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1977 – 1978. Dr. Weddington was Assistant to President Jimmy Carter, 1978 – 1981. Other titles of office include first woman Director, Texas Office of State – Federal Relations, 1983 – 1985, and recipient of Margaret Brent Woman of Achievement Award, ABA Commission on Women, 2008. She wrote about her experiences with Roe vs. Wade in the book “A Question of Choice” and was a prominent speaker at numerous national conferences, forums and media outlets.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to McMurry University in Abilene, Texas or a charity of your choice.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas on Thursday February 10, 2022 at 1:00 pm.