H.R. No. 525
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Houston lost a tireless champion of
opportunity and positive change with the passing of Congressman
Sylvester Turner on March 5, 2025, at the age of 70; and
WHEREAS, A former mayor of the city and a longtime member of
the Texas Legislature, Sylvester Turner was born in Houston on
September 27, 1954, and grew up with eight siblings in a two-bedroom
house in the Acres Homes neighborhood; while watching the
Kennedy-Nixon debates with his family as a small boy, he resolved to
become a lawyer and public servant, beginning his lifelong
commitment to helping others; his father, a commercial painter,
died when he was just 13, and his mother continued to support the
family as a housekeeper at the Rice Hotel; although neither of his
parents received a diploma, he became student body president and
valedictorian at Klein High School, and he went on to graduate from
the University of Houston and Harvard Law School; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Turner began his career as a trial
lawyer with the Fulbright & Jaworski firm and later cofounded
Barnes & Turner, a practice focused on commercial law and personal
injury litigation; in addition, he taught at the Texas Southern
University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, at the South Texas
College of Law, and in the University of Houston Law School
continuing legal education program; and
WHEREAS, First elected to the Texas House of Representatives
in 1988, Congressman Turner was reelected 13 times and served three
terms as speaker pro tempore; he helped shape fiscal policy during
more than two decades on the House Appropriations Committee and
multiple terms as chair of its Subcommittee on Criminal Justice;
moreover, he distinguished himself in his duties as a member of the
Legislative Budget Board and as chair of the Texas Legislative
Black Caucus and the Greater Houston Area Legislative Delegation;
known for his eloquence and his ability to work across the aisle, he
secured passage of such important legislation as a 2007 children's
health insurance measure; his passion for health care, education,
human services, consumer rights, and juvenile justice earned him
recognition as "the conscience of the House"; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Turner was elected to the first of two
terms as Houston mayor in 2015; he guided the city through a period
of unprecedented challenges, among them Hurricane Harvey and six
other federally declared disasters, as well as the COVID-19
pandemic; early in his tenure, he strengthened finances by crafting
a solution for the mounting pension debt crisis; he also promoted
sustainability, bolstering the city's status as the energy capital
of the world; addressing violent crime and mental health, he
launched the One Safe Houston initiative, and other important
programs included Hire Houston Youth, One Clean Houston, and
Complete Communities, which fostered economic advancement through
revitalization of underserved areas; in addition to his other
responsibilities, he provided national leadership in urban policy
as chair of the Global Resilient Cities Network, Climate Mayors,
and the African American Mayors Association, and he was a trustee of
the U.S. Conference of Mayors; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, citizens elected him to Congress to
represent the historically significant 18th Congressional
District, and he served as a member of the Homeland Security and the
Science, Space, and Technology Committees; during his time in
office, he maintained the incomparable work ethic and whirlwind
pace that defined his entire career, devoting himself to the
lawmaking process, staying in close touch with constituents, and
participating in numerous neighborhood and community-wide events
in Houston; he also set aside time to attend the Church Without
Walls, where he worshipped for well over three decades, and he
rarely missed a Sunday service, even while undergoing cancer
treatment; he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Incorporated, and remained a proud resident of the Acres Homes
community where he grew up; and
WHEREAS, Intent on fulfilling his mission until the very
last, Sylvester Turner made an enduring, positive difference in the
lives of millions of Texans through his transformative public
service, and although his loss is deeply felt, his extraordinary
contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable
Sylvester Turner and extend sincere condolences to the members of
his family: to his daughter, Ashley Turner Captain, and her
husband, Jimmie; to his grandson, Jameson Captain; to his other
relatives and a host of friends and colleagues; and to all who mourn
his passing; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
Congressman Turner.
Thompson
Y. Davis of Dallas
Dutton
Lalani
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan Alders Guillen Morgan
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz Allen Harless Muñoz
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble Anchía Harris Noble
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson Barry Harrison Oliverson
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan Bryant Hopper Phelan
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson Buckley Howard Pierson
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa Bucy Hull Plesa
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson Cain Johnson Richardson
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal Cole King Rosenthal
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield Cook LaHood Schofield
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons Curry Leach Simmons
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth Fairly Lujan Toth
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair Flores Luther Troxclair
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner Frank Manuel Turner
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo Gates Metcalf Vo
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle Gerdes Meyer Walle
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 525 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on March 13, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener