CHRISTIAN, RUBY SCOTT (1900~1995) Mrs. Ruby Scott Christian, 95 died Friday, September 22, 1995 at her home in Austin after an illness of several weeks. She was the widow of Judge George E. Christian of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, who died in 1941, and had lived in Aldridge Place for the past 66 years.
For nearly half a century Mrs. Christian was a familiar figure in the State Capitol and was known by many of her friends as ?Mrs. C.? She became a clerk in the State Comptroller?s Gross Receipts Division after her husband?s death, and worked there for 25 years before retirement.
Determined to live independently and to remain active in the political world, which she first entered with her husband in the 1920?s, she was soon back at work as a full-time volunteer in several statewide political campaigns, including those of Lieutenant Governors Ben Barnes and Bill Hobby. She also worked during legislative sessions for the late Senator A. M. Aikin, Jr. of Paris, Senator Jack Hightower of Vernon and Senator Don Adams of Jasper, then as a Senate receptionist for Secretary of the Senate Betty King until she retired at the age of 89.
In previous years she was a charter member of the Austin Lawyers? Wives Club and served as president, 1939 ? 40, of the Reader?s Guild of Austin, a federated woman?s club. She was a member of the University United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Christian was born in Burnet County on July 24, 1900, the fourth of ten children of John and Emma (Slaughter) Scott. Her parent? families came to the Hill Country in the 1850?s. Her great-grandfather, John Scott, was the first county judge of Burnet County and joined Governor Sam Houston in opposing Texas? secession from the Union, a stand which resulted in his death when he and other anti-secessionists in the Hill Country sought refuge in Mexico.
Ruby Christian attended Burnet public schools and was 22 when she married District Attorney George E. Christian on June 13, 1923. Her husband was also descended from Burnet and Llano County pioneers and had served during World War I as commanding officer of a machine gun platoon in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. They moved to Austin in 1925 when he resigned as district attorney to accept appointment as chief assistant to Attorney General Dan Moody. After Moody?s election as Governor he appointed him to the newly created state parole board and then in 1927 to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Commission. Judge Christian served on the court for 13 years until his death.
Information written and provided by George Eastland Christian, Jr. |
Follow Us