Ann Rainwater Henry was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, on November 2, 1939. She moved to Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas, with her family when she was thirteen years old.
Henry earned a BA in English from the University of Arkansas. After teaching high school in Missouri for a year, she returned to the university for a master's degree in English. She attended the University of Arkansas School of Law and earned her degree in 1971. After practicing law for a year, Henry returned to teaching and was a professor at the University of Arkansas Walton School of Business for twenty-three years. While there, she was appointed administrative dean and elected faculty chair.
In addition to her teaching career, Henry was involved in many political campaigns, including campaigns for her husband, Morriss Henry, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton. Henry ran as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, losing to Republican Asa Hutchinson. She served on the Fayetteville City Council on two separate occasions. Henry has been involved in fundraising for the Fayetteville Public Library.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Ann Rainwater Henry and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Ann Henry's mother, Opal Cohea, 1930
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Ann Henry's mother, Opal Cohea, Ketchum, Oklahoma, 1931
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Ann Rainwater (Henry) at 3 months old, 1940
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Ann Rainwater (Henry) with (from left) her parents, Andrew and Opal Rainwater, and her maternal grandparents, Mamie and Charles Cohea, 1941
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Ann Rainwater Henry's maternal grandmother, Mamie Frances Cohea, 1941
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Ann Rainwater (Henry) (center) with her parents, Andrew and Opal Rainwater, her sister, Jerre (right), and brother, Bill, 1944
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Ann Rainwater (Henry) as a child
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Ann Rainwater Henry's relatives at a family reunion, June 1950
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Ann Rainwater Henry's maternal grandfather, Charles Alexander Cohea, 1950
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Ann Rainwater Henry's wedding portrait, 1964
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Ann Rainwater Henry and Morriss Henry on their wedding day with (l-r) Ann's brother, Bill Rainwater; her sister, Jerre (Rainwater) Jouet; Dr. Ethan Dodgen; and Morriss Henry's father, Dr. L. M. Henry; Springdale, Arkansas, August 1, 1964
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Ann Henry with her family: (l-r) father- and mother-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Henry; husband, Morriss Henry; parents, Andrew and Opal Rainwater; Ann Henry; son, Paul Henry; and the family dog; ca. 1965
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Ann Henry with her family; (l-r) sister, Jerre Jouet,; Ann Henry; brother, Bill Rainwater; and parents, Opal and Andrew Rainwater; November 1966
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Ann and Morriss Henry celebrating their law school graduation with their children, (l-r) Paul, Kathy, and Mark; 1971
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Ann and Morris Henry with Ann's brother, Bill, holding baby, and their parents and grandparents
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Ann and Morriss Henry with their children, Kathy, Paul, and Mark Henry
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Morriss and Ann Henry (left) with Dale and Betty Bumpers; inscription reads, "To Ann & Morriss Henry, two of Arkansas' finest public servants, with sincere gratitude. Dale Bumpers"
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Ann and Morriss Henry with their children, (l-r) Mark, Paul, and Kathy, at his seat at the Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas; February 1973
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Ann Henry's children (l-r) Mark, Paul, and Kathy Henry, with Senator David Pryor
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Ann and Morriss Henry with their children, Mark, Kathy, and Paul Henry
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Ann Henry (2nd from left) with Diane Blair, Bill Clinton, and David Pryor; November 1992
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Ann Henry (center) in costume with Hillary Clinton (2nd from right) and other friends
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Ann Henry's congressional campaign card, 1996
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Ann Henry (center) with supporters during her congressional campaign, 1996
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Ann and Morriss Henry (center right) at a campaign rally, 1996
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Ann and Morriss Henry
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Ann and Morriss Henry
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Ann and Morriss Henry as Arkansas Travelers in George Fisher cartoon, March 5, 1992
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Ann Henry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Ann Henry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Ann Henry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Ann Henry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Ann Henry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Ann Henry, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2012
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
