Former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier dies at age 89
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Well over six feet tall, he was a towering Texas who came from humble beginnings, born in Baytown during the Great Depression. Former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier was a Navy veteran who used the GI Bill to go to the University of Texas and then law school.
He rose to wealth and political prominence, but throughout his life, never lost touch with people.
A lawyer by trade and later developer, Lanier chaired the powerful Texas Highway Department and later Houston METRO. It was a standoff between then-Mayor Kathy Whitmire, who supported a rail system, and Lanier, who didn't, that led to his removal from METRO.
He got both mad and even. It prompted Lanier to run for his first political office. He beat Whitmire, and then runoff challenger, State Representative Sylvester Turner.
Lanier would serve as mayor for three terms, the most allowed in Houston.
His approach to the city was paying attention to the basics -- streets and sidewalks, especially in neglected areas of Houston. He also put more police on the streets with the help of money appropriated from METRO.
The crime rate fell and he had no problem standing up to Oilers owner Bud Adams, who demanded the city provide a new stadium. Lanier refused in colorful language.
After office, 'Mayor Bob,' as he was often called, assumed what he liked to call the role of elder statesman in the city he loved. He was always glad to speak on issues. He also established the Lanier Conference at the University of Houston.
The public works building is named for him, as is a TxDOT Ferry in Galveston -- the Robert Lanier. Until Saturday, he was Houston's longest living mayor, and there are plenty of people who would say he is the most fondly remembered.
He was 89 Saturday when he passed away at around 4:30pm of natural causes
Some of Lanier's former colleagues and friends are touting him as one of the best mayors Houston has ever had.
"Lanier was like everyone's dad," said state Rep. Carol Alvarado. "He was a giant and he loved the city. He will go down in history as one of our best mayors."
Rep. Alvarado said she gained strength from working alongside Lanier.
"He brought the Latino community into city hall," she said. "He made some very key appointments."
Lanier would eventually become her first financial contributor. And for would-be Mayor Lee Brown, Lanier was groundbreaking.
"He wanted to make Houston a better place for everyone," he said. "Many will remember him for his support of affirmative action. That's something he and I talked about a lot during his term in office."
Lanier was dedicated to infrastructure improvement and better neighborhoods. Brown would later name the Houston Public Works building after Lanier.
"I was a close friend," said Brown. "He will certainly be missed. He left his fingerprint on the city of Houston in many ways. He not only was a good friend. He was a good mayor."
Statements on the passing of Mayor Bob Lanier
Elyse Lanier
George W. Bush
State Rep. Sylvester Turner
Mayor Annise Parker
Video from 2012 when Melanie Lawson covered the Laniers estate sale as they were moving out of their River Oaks home.
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Stay with Eyewitness News for complete team coverage on Mayor Lanier's passing. We'll have team coverage coming up on Eyewitness News at 10pm.
