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WHAT: Christening of The University of Texas Varsity Eight boat "Ann Richards". There will be a ceremony and refreshments.

WHY: To remember and honor former Texas Gov. Ann Richards. Ann’s eldest granddaughter, Lily Adams, will represent the family in this ceremony and serve as honorary coxswain.

WHERE: Join the Texas rowing team, UT rowing head coach Carie Graves and her staff along with the Richards’ family at The University of Texas Rowing Center on Town Lake.

WHEN: 9 a.m., Saturday, April 7, 2007 (to take place rain or shine)

The University of Texas Rowing Center is located at 300 Hearn Dr., on Town Lake near Deep Eddy Pool. Parking is available on Veterans Street.

Directions: From the UT campus, take IH-35 South. Exit 15th St. Turn right on 15th St. Remain on 15th St. until it turns into Enfield Rd. From Enfield, turn left on Exposition Blvd. Turn left on Lake Austin Blvd. Turn right on Hearn. The Texas Rowing Center will be straight ahead. The phone number of the Texas Rowing Center is (512) 473-2559.

· Richards’ passion for politics was born at Texas along with her love for UT women’s basketball. The former governor was a great friend of The University and its women’s athletics programs. She died on Sept. 13, 2006 of esophageal cancer.

· The Ann Richards boat will be housed at the Texas Rowing Center alongside shells named for six additional prominent figures: Donna A. Lopiano, currently the chief executive officer of the Women’s Sports Foundation and former Women’s Athletics Director at Texas (1975-1992); Barbara Jordan, former Professor of Public Policy at The LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and former U.S. Congresswoman from Texas; Dr. Sheila Rice, the first Director of Academic Services for UT Women's Athletics; Dr. Lorene Rogers, the first UT woman president (1974-1975, interim, 1975-1979); Dr. Edwin Sharpe, UT Clinical Professor in the Department of Educational Administration; and Ilrey Althea Sparks, a former UT women's athletics academic counselor who died tragically in a December 2002 car accident.

Comments from Texas Women’s Athletics Director Christine Plonsky: We are so pleased that Ann's family is participating in this ceremony and that her eldest grandchild, Lily Adams, will be present. Ann was such a champion of women's sports, education for women and opportunities for advancement for women. These are all the things that are part of the intercollegiate athletics experience.

Many of our staff members and coaches were fortunate to get to know Ann and Lily, practically watching Lily grow up as a Lady Longhorns fan. It is so appropriate that this boat is christened the "Ann Richards," that Lily -- an experienced rower -- will be our honorary coxswain, and that the shell will pull by the Ann Richards Bridge over Town Lake.

Comments from Texas Rowing Head Coach Carie Graves: When I first came to Texas, I thought it would be great for our program to name our boats after strong Texas women. Ann Richards certainly fits the criteria. We have named our boats for some tremendous women of influence and I know our rowers are very proud to row in these boats named after these influential women.

Our new boat arrived this fall just a few days before Ann Richards passed away. After hearing of her passing, I told the team that the new boat would be the ‘Ann Richards’. Nearly half of our team grew up in Texas and the legacy that Ann set forward for all of the young women in the state of Texas is especially meaningful.