Thoughts on Eleanor Tinsley

I was informed today that Eleanor Tinsley has died. Her passing brings back a flood of memories of her career in Houston and the great changes she helped bring about in our city since the 1960s.

I met Eleanor and her husband Jim Tinsley shortly after coming to the University of Houston as a 25 year old professor in 1966. Jim was a professor in the UH History Department and he and Eleanor had numerous friends in the Department of Political Science where I had an appointment. We became friends and remained so.

Eleanor Tinsley was, as I recall, already deeply involved in civic affairs with a special interest in the great struggle to desegregate the 250,000 student Houston Independent School District. These efforts faced formidable opposition from a white conservative faction that had dominated the HISD board and administration in the 1950s and 1960s. Ms. Tinsley was soon in the middle of that fight as a member of the Citizens for Good Schools (CGS) slate that won control of the HISD board in the late 1960s, only to lose it back a few years later when Mrs. Tinsley was swept out of office by a resurgent conservative faction. But electoral defeat did not deter Eleanor from reentering the political arena in 1979 when she defeated longtime member Frank Mann in one of the most spirited races for Houston City Council I have witnessed. She and Cristin Hartung then became the first women to serve on Houston City Council in the 144 history of our municipality.

Eleanor Tinsley was reelected to seven terms at City Hall until term limits forced her off council in January 1996. As her council tenure was winding down, she won the Democratic nomination for Harris County Commissioner in Precinct Four, only to lose the General Election to Republican Jerry Eversole in November 2004.

After leaving public office, Ms. Tinsley remained active in a wide range of projects like SPARKS, the joint City of Houston/HISD program bringing park facilities to local public schools. She also volunteered in numerous campaigns, most recently supporting Barack Obama’s presidential bid in both the Democratic Primary and General Election.

Looking back over Ms. Tinsley’s 40 plus years in public life, half in office, half out, my impressions of her are as follows:

First, beneath a kind and gentle “southern” exterior was the heart of a fighter for good government and civility. She was tough and determined.

Second, through victory and defeat, Eleanor Tinsley remained remarkably steady and optimistic that things were going to get better, especially if good people kept working at it. Which she clearly did, whether it was to peacefully desegregate the largest public school system in the South, end harassment of and discrimination against gays and lesbians in Houston, or bring down many of the billboards that lined our freeways and avenues in the 1970s and 1980s. Her side won some (billboards), and lost others (zoning), but she never stopping pushing ahead, speaking out, trying to make a difference.

And finally, she really did make a difference. Houston is a far better place for its citizens in my opinion than the city that I came to in the 1960s. Of course, it has more and better restaurants and art galleries and museums and a more diverse economy and all these things are very important. But we also have a political system that is far more open and representative of all our population, and we have a much stronger civic culture that has, among other things, banished the “N” word in public debate, and we have striven with some success to make our urban diversity an asset, not a wedge to divide some against others to win elections. Many people helped bring this new Houston into existence. Eleanor Tinsley was one of them. I will miss her.

Dr. Richard Murray

Comments

[Craig]

I am so glad that cow is dead. I hope her cancer hurt! I don't wish anyone pain, but, when you push your beliefs on others, that's what you get!

[Charles Soffar]

Mrs. Tinsley was a great lady who brought needed changes to our community. I remember in the '60's as I was a teenager in high school as she fought for the social changes we needed. Changes all Houstonians now benefit from. I'm saddened she is gone. Even though I don't recall ever meeting her,
I will miss her passionate pursuit of justice.

[PixieGirl]

Very beautifully written Dr. Murray. She was an amazing person who accomplished so much our city and was the real deal. She is the single best example of why terms limits are bad!