Sylvester Turner, Congressman & Former Houston Mayor (1954 – 2025)

We at Harris County Public Library want to recognize U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner's over forty years of public service to the people of Texas. Turner passed away early on March 5. At the time of his passing, Turner represented Texas' 18th congressional district, a seat he was elected to last November after the passing in July of longtime Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. He is probably best known for his two terms as Houston's mayor from 2016-2024. Prior to that, he had served in the Texas House for the 139th district for 27 years.

In 2022, Turner announced that he had been diagnosed with bone cancer. He underwent surgery and received radiation treatment for the illness. It is not known, at this time, whether his death was related to the cancer diagnosis.

HCPL offers our condolences to his family, his loved ones and to all those whose lives he touched during his more than four decades of public service.

Learn More

Wikipedia: Sylvester Turner

Houston Public Media: Longtime Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner dies at age 70, officials confirm

NBC News: Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Texas Democrat, dies at 70

Sylvester Turner on Instagram