Colleagues share fond memories of Lanier's legacy to Houston

HOUSTON – A day after his death, those who knew former Mayor Bob Lanier best are sharing their memories.

Lanier died Saturday at his home in River Oaks.

For six very productive years, Lanier led the city of Houston, making it one of America's biggest cities.

The former lawyer and banker had all the experience and political contacts needed to go to work fast, and he did work fast.

After being elected, Lanier made good on promises of strengething the police force and fixing up bad roads.

Friends say Lanier was all about making Houston better.

"You can look around today and see the toll road system, the freeway system from his days as the Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner and how he partnered with us to build that system and make it connect together," former Harris County judge Rober Eckles said.

But according to Judson Robinson III, who worked as Vice Mayor under Lanier, said that Lanier's biggest project was revitalizing downtown to make Houston a world class city.

"Downtown was not a place that people were coming to in Houston anymore," Robinson said. "He created the infrastructure whereby it became attractive to developers. Then that of course helped our hotel business and brought in more conventions and things of that nature so we were able to actually justify building the Hilton Americas."
Lanier served the city of Houston from 1992 to 1996. He died Saturday at the age of 89.


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