+ − Contact Information
Phone: (512) 463-0953
Fax: (512) 463-5887
Office Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
+ − Biography
Helen Giddings is President of Multiplex Inc., a specialty concessions company, which she founded in 1988. Previously, Giddings served as Vice President of Leadership Development at the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce and as an executive responsible for 11 states with Sears, Roebuck & Company.
Helen is presently serving her tenth term in the Texas House of Representatives. She chaired the Business & Industry Committee for 3 terms. Today, she continues to serve on the Business & Industry Committee and House Appropriations. The Speaker of the House appointed her to the Texas Legislative Council Governing Board, the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families, and the Joint Interim Committee to Study Alzheimer's Disease.
Giddings has authored major legislation including; prohibiting alcohol related businesses near schools, prohibiting students who are in the sixth grade or a lower grade level from receiving a Class C Citation for low level behavior that is non-violent, non-sexual, and non-harassing, a bill requiring every child in Texas receive a course in CPR once in their high school career, and joint authored the Top 10% rule, which provides equal opportunities for minorities and rural students in college admissions. As the Chair of Business and Industry, she joint authored legislation creating a new Workers' Compensation system as well as authoring the state's 900 page Business Organizations Code. She also passed a bill extending eligibility to renew an occupational license. Giddings is credited with authoring most of the state's legislation focusing on Identity Theft.
With a profound interest in the arts, Helen has served on many boards including; the African American Museum, Dallas Symphony Board, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Historical Society and the Dallas Theater Center. Her contributions led to the African American Museum naming a room in her honor.
Strongly committed to public service, Giddings has served as the Board Chair of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chair of the Dallas Transit Board, member of the Dallas Planning Commission, State Bar Grievance Committee and the Dallas County Grand Jury.
Giddings has served as President of the bi-partisan 1600 member, National Foundation of Women Legislators. She was the first woman of color and the first Texan to be elected to this prestigious position in the group's history. Giddings is an active member and served on the Executive Committees of the Women's Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislators and the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women.
Helen is a vocal and active participant in the reaffirmation and revitalization of South Africa. She serves as South African Honorary Consul for Texas, and has the distinction of being the first Honorary Consul named by the new South African democratic government. During her many trips to South Africa, she has received awards and recognition from former President Nelson Mandela and served on the Texas Host Committee for the visit of former President Thabo Mbeki.
Her civic service has earned special recognition and many awards including: Honorary Doctorate from Paul Quinn College; Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Quest for Success Award; Dallas CAN Academy! Woman of the Year Award; Texas PTA Life Membership Award; National Association of Historically Black Colleges Alumni Award; Maura Women Helping Women Award; American Heart Association, "Heart of Honor" Award; University of Texas at Dallas Science and Engineering Advancement Award; Texas Library Association "100 Library Champions of the Century" Award; Texas Medical Association "Patiente Protectorae" Award; and the African American Museum Heritage Award.
She has been interviewed on local and national radio and television shows, and featured in the Dallas Morning News High Profile; Who's Who In Black Dallas Inaugural Edition as a Living Legend; American Way Magazine (American Express); Essence and Black Enterprise. Ebony Magazine honored Giddings in 2001 by naming her one of the Top 100 + Most Influential Black Americans.