HOUSTON — Longtime KHOU 11 anchor Len Cannon expressed shock and disbelief over the sudden passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner, recounting their final text exchange just hours before his death.
“I texted Sylvester Turner last night at 8:27 p.m., knowing he was at the president’s address to Congress,” Cannon said during KHOU 11’s coverage Wednesday morning. “He quickly responded within 10 minutes — he was there, working, engaged. It’s shocking to think that just hours later, he was gone.”
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Turner, 70, passed away early Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., following “enduring health complications.” The former Houston mayor had battled osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, undergoing surgery, radiation, and reconstruction in recent years.
‘He never slowed down’
Cannon, who had a longstanding professional relationship with Turner, noted that despite his illness, the congressman never publicly showed signs of slowing down.
“He had lost weight — he never regained it — but every time I asked him about his health, even last summer, he told me, ‘My doctors give me the green light, I’m fine, I have the energy to run,’” Cannon recalled.
Even after his diagnosis, Turner remained active in his role as Houston’s mayor, missing just a couple of weeks following his surgery.
“He prided himself on being present,” Cannon said. “We may never know how he was really feeling because he always put up a brave front.”
A leader until the end
Turner’s sudden passing is especially shocking given his recent appearances at major events. Just this past weekend, he attended the RodeoHouston Parade, and on Tuesday night, he was in Washington, D.C., at the president’s address.
“It speaks volumes,” Cannon said. “He was working, representing Houston to the very end.”
A deep personal loss
Beyond their professional interactions, Turner and Cannon shared a mutual respect that went beyond interviews.
“It doesn’t always happen in journalism, but sometimes you develop a relationship of trust with public figures,” Cannon said. “Sylvester was one of those people for me.”
Reflecting on their last conversations, Cannon shared an eerie detail — just months ago, they had discussed obituaries for other public figures.
“We were talking about someone else’s declining health,” Cannon said. “And Turner reassured me, ‘I’m fine. I’m all good. The doctors cleared me.’ It’s just astounding to find out today that he’s gone.”
What comes next
As Houston mourns, the city’s leaders and residents are left to process the loss of a leader who spent his life serving the community.
“He loved being mayor. He never wanted to leave City Hall,” Cannon said. “And even in Congress, he was still working tirelessly. He ran hard, he ran fast. He gave everything he had.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and city officials are expected to release further details about memorial services in the coming days.
Cannon interviewed Turner in August 2024. Here is that full interview: