Pioneering Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger Passes Away at 83
WHO:
ABC News - Granger graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965.
ABC News - Granger's mother, Alliene Mullendore, moved in with her after a stroke.
ABC News - House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Granger "broke barriers for women in public service."
ABC News - House Speaker Mike Johnson described Granger as "a dear friend who will be greatly missed."
ABC News - Kay Granger, first Republican woman from Texas to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
ABC News - J.D. Granger, son of Kay Granger.
ABC News - House Speaker Mike Johnson, who commented on Granger's career.
WHAT:
ABC News - Granger worked in the Birdville school district for nine years, teaching English literature and journalism.
ABC News - Granger's "Code: Blue" programs included citizen patrol initiatives that halved the rampant crime rate.
ABC News - Granger's "Code: Blue" programs included partnerships with the private sector that drew major businesses to Fort Worth.
ABC News - Granger's resuscitation of Fort Worth’s flagging economic fortunes drew national attention.
ABC News - Granger's "Code: Blue" programs included citizen patrol initiatives that halved the crime rate in Fort Worth and drew major businesses to the city.
ABC News - Kay Granger died at the age of 83.
ABC News - Granger served nearly three decades in the U.S. House of Representatives.
ABC News - Granger was the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, Texas.
ABC News - Granger was the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee.
ABC News - Granger did not seek reelection in 2024 and did not cast a vote after July 2024.
WHERE:
ABC News - Fort Worth, Texas, where Granger served as mayor.
WHEN:
ABC News - Granger was first elected to the House in 1996.
ABC News - Granger served as Fort Worth's mayor from 1991 to 1995.
ABC News - Granger's office released a statement in December 2024 regarding her health challenges.
WHY:
ABC News - Granger experienced worsening health challenges in her final months in Congress, making travel to Washington "both difficult and unpredictable."
HOW:
ABC News - Upon entering Congress, Granger was named to an advisory board that consulted then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich and received seats on three committees: Budget, House Oversight, and Transportation and Infrastructure.
ABC News - Upon entering Congress, Granger was named to an advisory board that consulted then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
ABC News - Granger built a successful insurance business that she managed for more than two decades after transitioning from teaching.
ABC News - Granger began her career as a high school teacher and later transitioned to selling insurance to support her family.
ABC News - Granger's "Code: Blue" programs included citizen patrol initiatives that halved the crime rate in Fort Worth.
(UPDATED August 4, 2026 00:00 UTC)
Congresswoman Granger, a Texas Wesleyan University graduate, dedicated nine years to teaching English literature and journalism in the Birdville school district, where she also launched her impactful "Code: Blue" programs that significantly reduced crime rates. After her mother, Alliene Mullendore, moved in with her following a stroke, Granger continued her public service, entering Congress and joining an advisory board that consulted then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich. In Congress, she secured positions on three key committees: Budget, House Oversight, and Transportation and Infrastructure.
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(UPDATED August 3, 2026 16:21 UTC)
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Granger for breaking barriers for women in public service. Granger's "Code: Blue" programs successfully partnered with major businesses, revitalizing Fort Worth's economy and attracting national attention. After entering Congress, she was appointed to an advisory board that consulted with then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
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(UPDATED August 3, 2026 12:55 UTC)
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his sorrow over the loss of Granger, calling her "a dear friend who will be greatly missed." Granger was known for her impactful "Code: Blue" programs, which included citizen patrol initiatives that successfully halved the crime rate in Fort Worth and attracted major businesses to the city. After transitioning from teaching, she built a thriving insurance business that she managed for over twenty years.
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(UPDATED August 3, 2026 09:01 UTC)
Kay Granger, the first Republican woman from Texas to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, has passed away at the age of 83. Granger had a remarkable career, serving nearly three decades in Congress and being the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, where she also initiated successful crime reduction programs. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged her significant contributions, noting that Granger did not seek reelection in 2024 and faced health challenges that affected her ability to travel to Washington in her final months.