HOUSTON — During his decades of leadership, Congressman Sylvester Turner was a strong advocate for higher education.

Turner graduated from the University of Houston, earned his law degree from Harvard, and has strong ties to Texas Southern University, which goes back decades.

Dr. James Douglas, distinguished professor of law, who was the Dean of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, hired Turner to be an adjunct professor.

Dr. Douglas, mourning the loss of Turner, remembers Turner both before and during his longtime political career.

“We do know that a great man has been removed from our lives,” Dr. Douglas said.

Douglas said he was shocked to learn the news and said he had just spoken with Turner last week. Dr. Douglas worked with Turner on one of his first mayoral campaigns in the 1990s.

“At that time, he was young, aggressive, real bright, and he seemed to be student-oriented,” Dr. Douglas said. 

Turner was the commencement speaker for TSU’s 2022 fall graduating class. He was also given an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.

Dr. Douglas, while he was the law school dean, worked with Turner while he was in the Texas Legislature. He said TSU wouldn’t be the same without Turner’s advocacy.

“If you got someone in the room who can pick up some of those crumbs for you, Sylvester was always in the room for Texas Southern…and give us some additional funding,” Dr. Douglas said.

In an Instagram post, Texas Southern staff wrote, “His unwavering support for TSU was evident in everything he did.”

Dr. Douglas and Turner also had another common bond: the two were members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

“On behalf of the Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc seated in the Historic 3rd Ward of Houston, our hearts along with the community has suffered a tremendous loss. Brother Turner was more than the Mayor for the City of Houston, more than a Congressman from the 18th Congressional District, he was a father and a dear friend, a true and faithful advocate for the mission of Manly Deeds, Scholarship and Love for All Mankind,” Omar Jones, President of the Alpha Eta Lambda chapter wrote to KHOU 11 News.

“One of the things about the Alpha’s is that we’re known for being intelligent leaders, we always assume we supposed to run everything. Sylvester had that in him, he was an Alpha man,” Dr. Douglas said.

Dr. Douglas believes that Turner was serious in his job but also enjoyed having fun with his friends and family. He believes his life can also serve as an inspiration to others.