Kay Granger, the Fort Worth political trailblazer who became the city's first female mayor and later one of Texas' most powerful voices in Congress, has died at 83. Her death marks the end of a public career that stretched from local zoning debates to the top tier of House budget-making.
Officials announced Granger's death Sunday night, according to CBS Texas. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker called Granger a trailblazer and tenacious leader, while House Speaker Mike Johnson said she devoted her life to serving Fort Worth and broke barriers for women in public service.
From Fort Worth City Hall To Capitol Hill
Granger's résumé was packed with firsts. The House's official history records that she served on the Fort Worth zoning commission and City Council before becoming mayor from 1991 to 1995, then represented Texas in Congress from 1997 through January 2025 and chaired the House Appropriations Committee.
That local-to-national climb made Granger more than a Washington figure in Fort Worth. A Star-Telegram profile published as she retired described her as a leading advocate for the region's defense industry and Panther Island project, while noting how her seniority gave North Texas unusual influence over federal spending.
A Fort Worth Legacy Honored Shortly Before Her Death
Granger's final months in office were clouded by health challenges and extended absences from Washington, details reported by CBS Texas. In 2025, Fort Worth Inc. named her Person of the Year, citing her lasting impact on the city's economic development, business community and national profile.
For Fort Worth, Granger's legacy is unusually easy to trace: from a city commission and the mayor's office to a congressional district she represented for nearly three decades, she helped shape both the city's ambitions and its place in Washington. The tributes now arriving from City Hall and the Capitol close the book on one of the region's most consequential political careers.
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