Texas Wesleyan University joins the Fort Worth community in mourning the passing of the Honorable Kay Granger, a 1965 graduate and Trustee Emerita of the university. Granger died Sunday, August 2, 2026, at age 83.

Granger's career was defined by a series of historic firsts: she was the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican woman elected from Texas to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, where she served for nearly three decades representing Texas's 12th Congressional District.

Granger's connection to Texas Wesleyan began as a student and continued throughout her life. The university honored her with an honorary doctorate in 1992. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2015 and became a Trustee Emerita in 2025.

“Kay Granger was a proud alumnus of Texas Wesleyan, and her decades of service to our university, our city, and our country reflected the values of our university,” said Dr. Emily Messer, president of Texas Wesleyan University. “She believed in connection, compassion and commitment, as well as embodied courage. As a devoted friend of this institution, she helped shape who we are today. Our thoughts are with her family, and we are profoundly grateful for the lasting mark she leaves on Texas Wesleyan and on Fort Worth.”

In her memory, Texas Wesleyan University has established the Kay Granger Memorial Fund to provide scholarship support to future generations of Rams pursuing education and public service. To learn how to make a donation, please visit: https://bit.ly/TXWESGranger.