Influential Women in San Antonio

The Alamo City has long been home to women that shake things up and go their own way. From NBA coaches, to poets, to mayors, the influential women in San Antonio have helped shape the city and inspired others to do the same by making moves in their communities. That’s why we’re highlighting six iconic women who have called this city home.

It’s impossible to put every iconic woman on one list, but we hope this one can introduce you to some new role models and remind you of the contributions of historic trail blazers.

YVETTE FLORES

Broker/Co-Owner at Realty San Antonio | Realty Austin

Yvette is a native Central Texan, born and raised in San Antonio. After a very successful career as a multi-million dollar producer, Yvette obtained her Broker license and partnered with Jonathan Boatwright to create the #1 independent real estate firm in Central Texas.

At the core of her work is a commitment to serving the San Antonio community. She is a Habitat for Humanity sponsor, volunteer, and board member. She’s also very involved with Foundation Communities, Women of Hope, and SAFE.

She leads the team at Realty San Antonio in creating a culture of giving back. Since 2010, Realty San Antonio | Realty Austin agents have volunteered over 25,660 hours, donated over $1.9M of their commissions, and raised over $175,000.

EMMA TENAYUCA

Civil rights activist

The late Emma Tenayuca was a Mexican American labor organizer, civil rights activist, and powerful speaker during the Great Depression. She grew up in a home that emphasized the importance of political involvement, and she joined a Finck Cigar Company picket line strike when she was still in high school.

She was influential through her involvement with the Workers Alliance of America, and she led San Antonio workers, especially women,  in striking against unsafe and unfair working conditions.

She inspired others through her involvement in the movement as well as her rousing speeches, and the Tejano community referred to her as “La Pasionaria de Texas,” or the passionflower of Texas.

EMMA FAYE RUDKIN

Public speaker and advocate

Speaking of influential Emmas — Emma Faye Rudkin is a public speaker for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. She went deaf at the age of three, and has since spent her life helping and inspiring others.

As a public speaker, she travels the country with her service dog Hank to share her story, which she has done at more than 350 events.

She also created the hashtag #ShowYourAids to encourage people who use hearing devices to embrace them. The movement garnered global attention and more than 10,000 people posted photos of themselves across different platforms wearing their hearing aids.

Currently, she serves on the Governor’s Committee of People with Disabilities to further advocate for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

DR. CARMEN TAFOLLA

Writer and former State Poet Laureate of Texas

As the author of more than 30 books, Dr. Carmen Tafolla is an influential and award-winning writer. Tafolla is a poet, storyteller, performance artist, motivational speaker, and university professor, too.

She is San Antonio's Inaugural Poet Laureate, and she was also the State Poet Laureate of Texas in 2015. Tafolla has a Ph.D. in Bilingual Education from the University of Texas and a B.A., M.A., and a Doctorate Honoris Causa in Humane Letters from Austin College.

Her work has been recognized by the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies for work which “gives voice to the peoples and cultures of this land.” 

BECKY HAMON

Professional basketball coach

Though she has since gone on to serve as the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association, she garnered worldwide recognition as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.

When Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected from a game in 2020, Hamon made history as the first woman to act as head coach during an NBA regular-season game. While men often coach in high positions of women’s basketball, the same cannot yet be said for women in the NBA.

Hamon showed the world that women deserve to have a place at the top of coaching in sports, and she left for an incredible opportunity to be a head coach in the WNBA.

IVY R. TAYLOR

Former mayor of San Antonio

Ivy R. Taylor has always blazed her own trail forward. In 2014 she was appointed mayor, and in 2015 she was elected for a second term, which made her San Antonio’s first Black woman mayor. She spent her 20 years in San Antonio as an advocate for affordable housing. She told Time magazine that she wasn’t always interested in politics. Instead, she followed her passions for making cities better places to live and creating opportunities.

Taylor has since been acting as Rust College’s first female president, where she hopes to create a student-focused culture. Want to feel even more inspired? Check out her Ted Talk!

LADY BIRD JOHNSON

Environmentalist and former First Lady

The late Lady Bird was born Claudia Alta Taylor, and the story goes that as a child her nursemaid remarked that she was as “pretty as a ladybird,” and the nickname stuck. It ended up being a fitting name for her, as she was devoted to conserving the environment. Lady Bird married Lyndon B. Johnson, who went on to become the 36th President of the United States.

The pair married at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, and the city’s Lady Bird Johnson Park was named in honor of her commitment to environmental advocacy. There is also a high school in San Antonio named after her called Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson High School.