Sylvester Turner, a renowned public servant, passed away on March 5, 2025, at the age of 70. Turner’s remarkable career spanned nearly four decades, with 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives and eight years as the mayor of Houston ¹.
Born and raised in Houston, Turner rose from poverty to become a powerful voice in Texas politics. He was sworn into Congress in January 2025, after serving as the mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024. Turner came out of retirement to succeed the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away in July 2024.
As a congressman, Turner vowed to devote his time to securing federal resources for the sprawling district. His death came as a shock to his fellow congressional Democrats, who had sat with him at the president’s joint address just the evening before.
Turner’s legacy is marked by his tireless advocacy for various causes, including:
– *Expanding Medicaid*: Turner introduced legislation to expand Medicaid in Texas, pursuant to the Affordable Care Act ¹.
– *Supporting Education*: He voted against measures that would have scaled back benefits for public school employees and discouraged early retirement ¹.
– *Protecting Consumers*: Turner worked to protect Texans from unfair utility practices and supported legislation to prevent gas companies from cutting off service during freezing temperatures ¹.
– *Advocating for LGBT Rights*: Turner was a strong advocate for LGBT rights, earning an “A+” rating from Equality Texas ¹.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire remembered Turner as a remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people. “He rose from poverty but never forgot where he came from. It is a terrible loss for the city and a personal loss for me,” Whitmire said in a statement.
Turner’s passing has sent shockwaves through the community, with many remembering his dedication to public service and his commitment to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities.