Only In The Valley: Twelve Bad Ass Women of the Rio Grande Valley (*R.I.P. Edition)

From Hollywood icons, to musical divas, to authors to actresses, to activists to nurses, to military heroes to fighter pilots, to entrepreneurs and even queens--the women of the Rio Grande Valley of deep S. Texas have been movers and shakers from the beginning. Here's but a glimpse at a dozen.

1. *Capt. Rosemary Bryant Mariner (U.S. Navy)

Born: Harlingen, Texas

First Female Navy Fighter Jet Pilot/First Female Squadron Leader

• 'A badass pilot': Capt. Rosemary Mariner, first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet, dies

• She made history as a Navy pilot. An all-female squadron just flew over her funeral.

• Rosemary Mariner, Groundbreaking Navy Aviator, Dies at 65

2. *Rosa María Hinojosa de Balli (“La Patrona”)

a.k.a. The First Cattle Queen of Texas

Born: Reynosa, Tamaulipas

Owned: Most of the Rio Grande Valley

Headquarters (650,000 acres): La Feria, Texas

• La Patrona: The First Cattle Queen of Texas

• Rosa M. Hinojosa de Balli

• Texas Originals

3. *Cleo Dawson

(1902—1990)

Born: Mission, Texas

Author, Actress, Psychologist

• Hollywood and Film Credits

• Making of the Film "She Came To The Valley"

4. *Consuelo “Chelo” Silva

Born: Brownsville, Texas

Singer

• Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame

• "Divas Mexicanas"

5. *Fran Fullenwider

Born: Harlingen, Texas

Actress

• Hollywood Credits

• Rocky Horror Page

6. *Gloria E. Anzaldúa

Born: Raymondville, Texas

Raised: Hargill, Texas

Poet, Artist, Activist, Chicana Scholar

• Google Doodle Honoring Gloria on her 75th birthday

• Poetry Foundation

7. *Jovita González

(1904--1983)

Born: Rancho Las Viboras

Near: Roma, Texas

Folklorist, Author, Activist, Teacher, Scholar

• Humanities Texas Info

• Details About Her Work

8. *Karen Kirschenbauer/Karen Kristofferson

(1938—2005)

Born: Brownsville, Texas

Actress

• Filmography

• Obituary

9. *Lieut. Dolly Vinsant: San Benito

(U.S. Army: Killed In Action)

Born: San Benito, Texas

U.S. Army Air Corps Nurse, WWII

• Handbook of Texas Details

• San Benito Hospital

10. *Lois January

(1912--2006)

Born: McAllen, Texas

Actress, Dancer, Singer

• Filmography

• Interview

11. *Nancy Nash/Nancy Miller

(1897--1960s)

Born: McAllen, Texas

Actress, Silent Film Star, Flapper

• Filmography

12. *Emilia Wilhelmina Schunior Ramírez

(1902--1960)

Born: Sam Fordyce, Texas

Near: La Joya, Texas

Teacher, Lay Historian, Scholar, School Administrator, Professor

• Humanities Texas Info

• Grandson Speaks of Her Legacy

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