The Passing of a Great Leader and Dear Friend: Kay Granger
- Robert M. Edsel
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Today we mourn the passing of a great Texan, an extraordinary public servant, and a dear friend.
Kay Granger devoted her life to serving others. She began as a teacher, became the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the United States House of Representatives, and ultimately the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee. Those are remarkable accomplishments, but they are not what I will remember most.
In 2006, I was in the earliest stages of creating the Monuments Men and Women Foundation. By chance, I was seated near Kay at a dinner at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. During the evening, several guests asked about my current projects, so I spent a few minutes explaining who the Monuments Men and Women were and my hope that their extraordinary service during World War II would one day receive the recognition it deserved.
After dinner, Kay walked over to me and said, "I know a great deal about our military and our nation's history, but I've never heard of the Monuments Men and Women. How can I help?" That was the first time anyone had offered to help me on what has been a twenty-year journey. What made that moment unforgettable was that Kay meant it. She never wavered.
When we officially launched the Foundation on June 6, 2007, at the U.S. Capitol, Kay was there to lend her voice and stature to our efforts. That same day, she introduced a Congressional Resolution honoring the Monuments Men and Women. It was only the beginning. Over the next fifteen years, Kay became the driving force behind our nine-year effort to secure a Congressional Gold Medal for the Monuments Men and Women of all fourteen Allied nations. After the Medal was awarded, she arranged for it to be displayed at the Kimbell Art Museum so the people of North Texas could share in that honor. No matter how demanding her responsibilities in Congress became, she always found time to meet with me and the Monuments Men and Women whenever we were in Washington.
I have often said that three remarkable women named Kay helped make the Foundation's work possible: Kay Granger, Kay Fortson, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Each played an indispensable role, but it was Kay Granger who first looked at an ambitious idea that few people understood and simply asked, "How can I help?" That question changed the course of our work. Over time, it transformed my life.
History will remember Kay Granger for breaking barriers and for her distinguished career in public service. I will remember her for something even greater: she was a woman of integrity whose word could always be trusted, a leader who quietly made things happen, and a loyal friend who never stopped believing in a worthy cause. America is better because she served, and I am profoundly grateful that our paths crossed. Rest in peace, dear friend.
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