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| Jo Anne Christian |
Jo Anne Martin Christian will go down in Austin’s history as one of the three Js—the other two being her spirited compadres Jare Smith and Jane Sibley—who stood firm in the face of innumerable obstacles and led the charge to make the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts a reality. Born in Wichita Falls, Jo Anne moved with her family to Fort Worth, graduating as salutatorian from Our Lady of Victory High School and obtaining a degree in history from Texas Christian University. Determined to practice law in an era when women attorneys were a rarity, she entered UT Law School in 1958, one of only four women in her graduating class.
She was a first year law student working for Price Daniels when she met her future husband, political strategist George Christian. Forging a partnership that would span four decades, they raised a family including daughters Elizabeth (a 2009 Woman of Distinction) and Susan and sons George, Bruce, John and Brian. In addition to balancing a career and family, Jo Anne volunteered for the Blanton Museum of Art and the Austin Symphony League, and serves on the Board of St. David’s Foundation. A founder of the Austin Lyric Opera, she has served on the Board for over 25 years and will step down as ALO’s Chair next year.
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