Here’s why Texas flags are at half-staff Friday
Have you noticed flags flying at half-staff in Texas?
It is to honor former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner, who died March 5 in Washington, D.C. at 70 years old. Turner’s death was due to “enduring health complications,” his family announced on his campaign website Wednesday.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas flags to be lowered to half-staff from March 6 until sunrise on March 8. Flags in Harris County will be at half-staff until Turner’s burial.
Flags should be flown at half-staff on the day and day after the death of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at all federal buildings, facilities, grounds and naval vessels in the Washington, D.C.. area and in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth where the official is from, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Who was Sylvester Turner?
When he died, Turner was serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for Houston’s 18th District.
Before that, Turner served two terms as the mayor of Houston from 2016 until 2024, leading the city through challenges like Covid and Hurricane Harvey. He was nationally recognized as Chair of the African American Mayors Association and as a Trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
He began his career in law before serving 27 years representing Houston’s 139th District in the Texas House of Representatives.