Glossbrenner, Ernestine, 1932-

Ernestine Glossbrenner served 16 years as Texas State Representative from 1977 until her retirement in 1993. She gained a reputation as a legislator who kept her sense of humor, yet remained dedicated to her fight for the improvement of education and the lives of the underprivileged in Texas. Glossbrenner was born in 1932, and raised in the small East Texas oilfield community of Carlisle.

From the description of Ernestine Glossbrenner papers, 1948-1996, n.d. (University of Texas at San Antonio). WorldCat record id: 46475928

Ernestine Glossbrenner served 16 years as Texas State Representative from 1977 until her retirement in 1993. She gained a reputation as a legislator who kept her sense of humor, yet remained dedicated to her fight for the improvement of education and the lives of the underprivileged in Texas. Glossbrenner was born in 1932, and raised in the small East Texas oilfield community of Carlisle. With her father on the school board, education and public service was a priority of the family. After graduating from Kilgore Junior College in 1952, Glossbrenner went on to receive her B.A. in chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 1954. She then began her teaching career in Alice, Texas where she taught for twenty-two years.

Glossbrenner was first inspired to run for State Representative in 1974 because she was dissatisfied with the incumbent's stance on education. Amid controversy regarding the election process, she lost, but ran again in 1976 and won the State Representative's seat on the Democratic ticket. Glossbrenner decided to be a legislator full time, marking the end of her teaching career. One of her first important legislative contributions allowed Texan voters the first true secret ballot election procedure. While she contributed important legislation to other causes such as worker safety, Glossbrenner is most known for her victories in the realm of public education. In 1989 House Speaker Gib Lewis named her Head of the House Public Education Committee. In 1984, during the development of education reform bill HB 72, Glossbrenner put forward the interests of students and teachers. As part of the 71st Legislature she supported legislation that addressed the school dropout rate, and increased funding for education.

Glossbrenner was heavily involved with local and national women's organizations during her time in office. She remained affiliated with such organizations after her retirement from office, and continues to dedicate herself to women's issues and causes. Glossbrenner has served as state president for the Texas Chapter of the National Women's Political Caucus during the early 1990's, and in 1999 served on the Advisory Board of the Women's Advocacy Project. Currently, Glossbrenner is a governor-appointed member of the Texas Ethics Commission.

From the guide to the Ernestine Glossbrenner Papers MS 63., 1948-1996, (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections)