Antoinette Reading Junior High is proudly named after lifelong Richmond resident Antoinette Davis Reading. A sixth-generation Texan, Antoinette was born September 14, 1919. Her parents were Sydney Warren Davis and Lizzie Wessendorff Davis, who was a descendant of Stephen F. Austin's “Old 300” colonists.

Antoinette graduated from Richmond High School in 1936 and attended Texas Women's University in Denton. After transferring to Sam Houston State Teachers’ College, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1940. She did her practice teaching at Huntsville High School while working on her master's degree. She also taught a six-week social studies course at Sam Houston and then taught at Bay City High School.

 Antoinette enlisted in the U.S. Women's Army Corps in February of 1943, serving in the Signal Corps in Florida and Pennsylvania. She was discharged as a captain in 1946.

Mrs. Reading worked for the Welfare Department in Alvin and Richmond until the first class of Lamar Consolidated High School met in 1947, at the old Taylor Ray building in Rosenberg. She taught social studies at Lamar and sponsored student trips to Europe, Canada, Washington D.C., Mississippi, Indiana and Austin. She taught advanced history and government and served as the sponsor for both the National Honor Society and the Student Council. She served as the chairwoman of the history department and in 1966 was chosen as the first "Teacher of the Year" at Lamar.

 Those who knew Antoinette described her as a “teacher’s teacher.” She led by example and was admired and respected by the teachers that she worked with, many of whom she had taught when they were in school. Her dedication to truth, her love of history and her respect of knowledge were just a few of the many attributes she instilled in her students. As a respected teacher, she demanded her students put forth their best effort and in doing so, she influenced many of our area’s distinguished and successful leaders.

 In 1974 she began her career as a certified librarian and served a number of years on the Fort Bend County Library Board of Directors.

Antoinette was committed to serving the youth and the community for which she lived.  She was appointed by Governor Dolph Briscoe to the Youth Activities Committee for the State of Texas. In addition, she was a lifelong member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Richmond where she served as a church school teacher and on the Board of Trustees.    Antoinette also served as president of the Women's Guild, president of the District Guild and as an officer in other district organizations connected to St. John's.  She was a member and held office in several civic groups including Descendants of Austin’s Old 300, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Fort Bend County Historical Commission, the Fort Bend County Retired Teachers' Association, the Classroom Teachers' Association and the Texas State Teacher’s Association.

Antoinette Davis Reading passed away in December 2006 at the age of 87. However, her love of education, students and service will live on thru the teachers and students of Antoinette Reading Junior High.