HOUSTON- Texas native Senfronia Calpernia Thompson was born in Booth, Texas, and raised in Houston. She is a well-known civil rights leader and Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 141st District since 1972. Her area covers Northeast Houston and Humble.

Dean of women legislators, Rep. Thompson has served longer in the Legislature than any other woman or African-American in Texas history.
A Houston attorney, she is currently serving her 17th term in the Texas House of Representatives and is currently running for House Speaker. Thompson has authored and passed more than 200 Texas laws, including Texas´ first alimony law, the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act, laws prohibiting racial profiling, the state minimum wage, the Durable Power of Attorney Act, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the Sexual Assault Program Fund, the Model School Records Flagging Act, the Uniform Child Custody & Jurisdiction Enforcement Act, contraceptive parity, and scores of other reforms benefiting women, children and the elderly. 

In 2005, she passed legislation requiring free testing for the human papilloma virus (HPV), an early indicator of cervical cancer.
A former public school teacher, she firmly believes in the value of public education; has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, a Master´s degree in Education, a law degree, and a Masters of Law in international law. For many years, she has served on the advisory board of the United Negro College Fund. She has two adult children and one grandson.

We salute Senfronia Thompson  as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.