Annette Strauss

American philanthropist and a former mayor of Dallas (1987-1991). The Annette Strauss Artist Square in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas is named in her honour. She was the second female mayor and the second Jewish mayor of Dallas. During the 1960s and 1970s, Strauss worked tirelessly as a fundraiser for various charities and organizations and also as a volunteer for a number of other organizations. Using her many connections in the city, Strauss was elected to a Dallas City Council seat in 1983. She became deputy mayor pro tem and then mayor pro tem in 1984. In 1987, Strauss ran for mayor of Dallas and won with 56 percent of the vote. During her tenure as mayor, Strauss helped to lead a city suffering from a sharp economic downturn. While Mayor-Pro Tem, Annette spearheaded the effort to build a refuge for an increasing number of families living on the streets, victims of the collapsed Texas economy. In 1991, Strauss left the mayoral position and worked as a consultant and trustee for a number of boards and foundations. She died on 14 December 1998, aged 74. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less