Departures of note

Kay Granger was a trailblazing Texas Republican who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2025, representing Texas's 12th congressional district. Before her congressional career, she made history as the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, serving from 1991 to 1995. She was also the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the U.S. House and the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, a position she held from 2023 to 2024.

Born in Greenville, Texas, Granger worked as a teacher and businesswoman before entering public service. She served on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission from 1981 to 1989 and on the Fort Worth City Council from 1989 to 1991. During her 25 years on the House Appropriations Committee, she became one of the most powerful figures in Congress, overseeing federal spending across numerous departments and agencies.

Granger retired from Congress in January 2025 after health challenges and extended absences from Washington. She was remembered by colleagues as a barrier-breaker for women in public service who devoted her life to her Fort Worth community and the nation.