Sylvester Turner
Full Name: Sylvester TurnerDate of birth: September 27, 1954
Date of death: March 5, 2025
Terms of Service
| Chamber | District | Dates of Service | Legislatures | Party | City/County | Note | Counties in District |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | 139 | Jan 13, 2015 - Jan 1, 2016 | 84th (1) (2) (3) | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 8, 2013 - Jan 13, 2015 | 83rd | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 11, 2011 - Jan 8, 2013 | 82nd | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 13, 2009 - Jan 11, 2011 | 81st | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 9, 2007 - Jan 13, 2009 | 80th | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Speaker Pro Tem, 1/29/2007. | Harris |
| H | 139 | Jan 11, 2005 - Jan 9, 2007 | 79th | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Speaker Pro Tem, 1/27/2005. | Harris |
| H | 139 | Jan 14, 2003 - Jan 11, 2005 | 78th (4) | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Speaker Pro Tem, 1/30/2003. | Harris |
| H | 139 | Jan 9, 2001 - Jan 14, 2003 | 77th | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 12, 1999 - Jan 9, 2001 | 76th | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 12, 1999 | 75th (5) (6) | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 14, 1997 | 74th | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 12, 1993 - Jan 10, 1995 | 73rd | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 8, 1991 - Jan 12, 1993 | 72nd | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris | |
| H | 139 | Jan 10, 1989 - Jan 8, 1991 | 71st | Democrat | Houston / Harris | Harris |
Terms of service footnotes
(1) Sylvester Turner resignation letter to Speaker Joe Straus, 12/30/2015, effective 1/1/2016 at 9:00 am. Speaker of the House. ↩
(2) Proclamation, 1/15/2016, ordering special election in House District 139 on 5/7/2016 to serve out unexpired term of Sylvester Turner. Governor Greg Abbott. ↩
(3) Jarvis Johnson, special election 5/7/2016, sworn 5/19/2016, succeeded Sylvester Turner, elected mayor of Houston, resigned effective 1/1/2016. Texas Secretary of State - Historical Election Returns, 1992-2019. ↩
(4) Appointed Speaker Pro Tempore, 78th Legislature, 1/30/2003. Speaker of the House. ↩
(5) Absent for roll of members-elect, 1/14/1997, S. Turner sworn later that day, p. 19. House Journal. ↩
(6) Sworn 1/14/1997. Oaths of Office. ↩
Terms of Service
- Legislatures:
- 83rd
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 82nd
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 81st
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 80th
- Leadership role:
-
Speaker Pro Tem, 1/29/2007.
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 79th
- Leadership role:
-
Speaker Pro Tem, 1/27/2005.
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 78th (4)
- Leadership role:
-
Speaker Pro Tem, 1/30/2003.
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 77th
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 76th
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 74th
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 73rd
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 72nd
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
- Legislatures:
- 71st
- Party:
- Democrat
- Home City/County:
- Houston / Harris
- Counties in district:
- Harris
Terms of service notes
(1) Sylvester Turner resignation letter to Speaker Joe Straus, 12/30/2015, effective 1/1/2016 at 9:00 am. Speaker of the House. ↩
(2) Proclamation, 1/15/2016, ordering special election in House District 139 on 5/7/2016 to serve out unexpired term of Sylvester Turner. Governor Greg Abbott. ↩
(3) Jarvis Johnson, special election 5/7/2016, sworn 5/19/2016, succeeded Sylvester Turner, elected mayor of Houston, resigned effective 1/1/2016. Texas Secretary of State - Historical Election Returns, 1992-2019. ↩
(4) Appointed Speaker Pro Tempore, 78th Legislature, 1/30/2003. Speaker of the House. ↩
(5) Absent for roll of members-elect, 1/14/1997, S. Turner sworn later that day, p. 19. House Journal. ↩
(6) Sworn 1/14/1997. Oaths of Office. ↩
Biographical Information
- 84th Legislature - Address by Representative S. Turner on a Matter of Personal Privilege, 5/31/2015, pp. 5767-5769. House Journal.
- 84th Legislature, R.S., HR 3525. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 85th Legislature, R.S., HR 452, celebrating Black History Month and honoring the leadership and vision of African American lawmakers. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 87th Legislature, R.S., HR 1421. Resolutions - Congratulatory and Honorary.
- 89th Legislature, HR 525. Resolutions - Memorial.
- 89th Legislature, HR 473. Resolutions - Use of Chambers.
- Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston. City of Houston.
- Biographical sketch, 78th Legislature. Texas House of Representatives.
- Biographical sketch, 82nd Legislature. Texas House of Representatives.
- Biographical sketch, "Speaker of the House: Sylvester Turner's Rhetorical Force Versus George Bush's Education Agenda," 5/19/1995. Texas Observer.
- Legislative profile, 74th Legislature, 1995. "Scenes From the 74th: The Laney-Bush Session," 6/16/1995. Texas Observer.
- Honorable Mention, "Legislative Stars Shine Through Difficult Session," Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 1995, pp. 8-9, 29 The Classroom Teacher: The Magazine of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on the passing of Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, 3/5/2025. Lieutenant Governor.
- Mentioned in Minority Civil Rights and the Texas Legislature, 2018.
- Notice of death, 3/11/2025 (update), 3/5/2025. Speaker of the House.
- Memorial Service Program, Celebration of Life, The Honorable Sylvester Turner, 3/13/2025. Texas House of Representatives. Selected newspaper articles
- Named one of 'The Best.' Best and Worst Legislators 2015.
- Named 'Bull of the Brazos.' Best and Worst Legislators 2013.
- Named 'Honorable Mention.' Best and Worst Legislators 2011.
- Named one of 'The Best.' Best and Worst Legislators 2007.
- Named one of 'The Worst'. Best and Worst Legislators 1999.
- Named one of 'The Best'. Best and Worst Legislators 1995.
- Named one of the 'Rookies of the Year'. Best and Worst Legislators 1989.
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 83rd Legislature, Texas House of Representatives
- Photograph. Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, Speaker of the House Tom Craddick and parliamentarian Terry Keel. 2007. Photo courtesy of Terry Keel, 80th Legislature, Donated Material
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 79th Legislature, Members of the 79th Legislature Texas House of Representatives (CD-RW)
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 78th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 77th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 76th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 75th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 74th Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 73rd Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph. Sylvester Turner, 71st Legislature, State Preservation Board
- Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 74th Legislature, 1995.
- Photograph, Flip Book Photographs: Texas House of Representatives, 79th Legislature, 2005.
- 71st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, east wall. GW.L1). State Preservation Board.
- 72nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 73rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 74th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 75th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 76th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 77th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 78th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 79th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 80th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 81st session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 82nd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 83rd session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.C1). State Preservation Board.
- 84th session composite photo of House members (Ground floor corridor, north wall. GW.L2). State Preservation Board.
Committee Information
House Committees
House Committees
- Appropriations (Vice Chair)
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles I, IV, and V (General Government, the Judiciary, and Criminal Justice and Public Safety) (Chair)
- Fiscal Impact of Texas Border Support Operations, Select
- State Affairs
Joint Committees
House Committees
House Committees
- Business and Industry
- Fiscal Stability, Select (Vice Chair)
- State Affairs
Joint Committees
House Committees
- Appropriations
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair)
- Calendars
- Electric Generation Capacity and Environmental Effects, Select
- Hurricane Ike Storm Devastation to the Texas Gulf Coast, Select (Chair)
- Regulated Industries (Chair - Budget & Oversight)
Joint Committees
House Committees
- Appropriations
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair)
- Calendars
- Regulated Industries (Chair - Budget & Oversight)
House Committees
- Appropriations
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Article IX
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Articles IV and V) (Chair)
- Calendars
- Regulated Industries (Chair - Budget & Oversight)
Joint Committees
House Committees
House Committees
- Appropriations
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Article IX
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice (Chair)
- Calendars
- State Affairs (Vice Chair)
Joint Committees
House Committees
House Committees
- Appropriations
- Calendars
- State Affairs (Vice Chair)
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