The memoir of a beloved San Antonio public servant
Lila Banks Cockrell has been an important voice in San Antonio politics and public life for more than six decades. In Love Deeper Than a River, she recalls her life as a public servant in the city she loves and, as member of the Greatest Generation, recounts how coming of age during Prohibition, the Great Depression, World War II, and the burgeoning civil rights movement influenced her political views and kindled her passion to serve her country and community. Love Deeper Than a River details the era of Cockrell's life that many San Antonians are familiar with, including her four terms as the first woman mayor of San Antonio, between 1975 and 1991, and her service on countless municipal commissions, civic boards, foundations, and conservancies in the 1990s and into the early twenty-first century. Her life stands as an inspiration for everyone, including new generations of civic leaders.
"As long as I have known Lila Cockrell, I have thought of her as a quintessential member of the Greatest Generation. Everything about her affirms her love of country and of America's core values, a sense of duty, and resolute responsibility." -Henry Cisneros
[Lila Cockrell] was instrumental in the [San Antonio] River Walk as we know it today, bringing Valero to San Antonio and the creation of HemisFair Park. -San Antonio Express-News
Lila Cockrell's influence on the Alamo City runs far deeper than just the San Antonio River. After her city council years, to the time she became the city's first woman Mayor, Ms. Cockrell's persuasive personality helped her to make a real difference in our community. -Texas Public Radio
