WBU s Crowe to write book about historical local woman
Jonathan Petty, Wayland Baptist University
Feb. 12, 2021
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Rebekah CroweProvided by WBU
When it comes to general political knowledge in West Texas, the name Emma Grigsby Meharg may not ring any bells, but perhaps it should. Meharg was the first woman to serve as Secretary of State for the State of Texas, doing so in the mid-1920s under governor Miriam “Ma” Ferguson who was the first woman governor of Texas. What may be of more interest is that Meharg lived in Plainview.
It was a fact that came as a surprise to Dr. Rebekah Crowe, a professor of history at Wayland Baptist University. Meharg was born in Lynnville, Tenn, Aug. 14, 1873, eventually making her way to Plainview. She died in 1937 and is buried in the Plainview cemetery. Crowe’s interest in researching the political trailblazer led to a book deal with Texas Tech University Press.