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Senate adopts memorial resolution honoring Sylvester Turner
Summary
The Senate adopted SR 258, a memorial resolution honoring the life and public service of Sylvester Turner; multiple senators delivered remarks about his career as a legislator, mayor of Houston and member of Congress.
The Texas Senate on March 13 adopted Senate Resolution 258 honoring the life and public service of the Honorable Sylvester Turner, who died March 5, 2025. The resolution traces his career from childhood in Acres Homes, Houston, through service in the Texas House of Representatives, two terms as mayor of Houston and election to the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2024.
Senator Miles introduced the resolution and led floor remarks summarizing Turner's tenure in the legislature and as mayor, including his work on the House Appropriations Committee, his role in guiding Houston through disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and other recovery efforts, and programs he championed including Hire Houston Youth and initiatives addressing mental health and public safety.
Several senators spoke in memory of Turner, describing him as a bipartisan partner and a mentor to many lawmakers and recounting personal stories from appropriations work, disaster response and House floor service. The Senate adopted the resolution and agreed to adjourn in his memory on the dates specified by the presiding officers.
Key points from the resolution and remarks
- The resolution notes Turner was born Sept. 27, 1954, raised in Acres Homes, graduated as valedictorian from Klein High School, and earned degrees from the University of Houston and Harvard Law School (as recorded in the resolution text on the floor).
- Turner served in the Texas House of Representatives beginning in 1988, including terms on the House Appropriations Committee and as speaker pro tem; he was elected mayor of Houston in 2015 and served two terms as mayor, leading recovery from multiple federally declared disasters and the COVID‑19 pandemic.
- The resolution records Turner's election to Congress in February 2024 representing Texas's 18th Congressional District.
Adoption and procedural steps
Senator Miles moved adoption of SR 258; the Senate adopted the memorial resolution by voice and rising votes as recorded on the floor and recessed or adjourned in Turner's memory per the motion.
Provenance: the resolution text, sponsor remarks and multiple senators' memorial remarks appear in the March 13 transcript of the Texas Senate.
