Mayor Robert Clayton Lanier

Our beloved Mayor Bob died peacefully at home on Saturday, the 20th of December 2014. Mayor Bob was born to adoring parents Jesse and Sally Lanier on the 10th of March 1925, and was raised in Baytown, Texas. Mayor Bob was preceded in death by his parents, as well as former wife Elizabeth Grant Lanier. Mayor Bob is survived by his loving wife and best friend for the past 30 years, Elyse, as well as his children Robert Clayton Lanier, Jr. and his wife Donna, John Frederic Lanier, Elizabeth Lanier Campbell, Susan Holly Lanier, Scott Augustus Lanier, Courtney Lanier Sarofim and her husband Christopher, and Kevin Scott Robins and his wife Sara. In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren Robert Clayton Lanier III, Carlton Thomas Lanier, Brent Lanier Campbell, Judith Ann Lanier, Mary Jessica Lanier, Robert Mitchell Lanier, Gillian Stude Sarofim, Louisa Lanier Sarofim, Fayez Shalaby Sarofim II, Eva Elyse Robins and Rhett Ezekiel Robins, all of whom adored their grandfather and cherished their time with him.

Aside from his family, Mayor Bob’s greatest love was the City of Houston. He had an unwavering faith in the citizens of our great City and believed that Houston was the true land of opportunity. These core beliefs eventually led to Mayor Bob’s career in public service. Mayor Bob served as Chairman of the Texas Highway Commission from 1983 through 1987. He then served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) from 1988 through 1989. Finally, he served as Mayor of the City of Houston from 1992 through 1998, winning election three times. Mayor Bob’s legacy includes promotion of community diversity, improvement to the quality of life in his beloved City, the creation of the Houston-Harris County Sports Authority, as well as improvement of transportation and infrastructure.

In addition to his public service, Mayor Bob served as an officer in the United States Navy and had successful careers in journalism, law, banking, real estate development and investments.

The family is eternally grateful to Lorenzo Zuniga, Felix Cruz, Donna Carson, Elizabeth Vega and Maria Ruiz for their most loving and loyal support, friendship and care.

A funeral service will be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 23rd of December 2014, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Prior to the service, the family will be receiving guests in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons commencing at ten o’clock in the morning.

Immediately following, a private family interment will be held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

Serving as pallbearers will be Dave Walden, El Franco Lee, Christopher Sarofim, Jodie Jiles, Vince Kickerillo, Charles Hurwitz, Kenny Friedman, Fayez Sarofim, Meredith Long, Doug Pitcock, Lawrence Olson and Tom Johnson.

The family has requested that all contributions be made to either the Texas Heart Institute, MC 3-116, PO Box 20345, Houston, TX, 77225; or the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas, P.O. Box 2042, Stafford, TX 77497.