Discussion · House of Representatives
Marc A. Veasey Democrat
“I am honoring my friend and neighbor, Vernell Sturns, who recently passed away. He was a great leader who served as Fort Worth's first Black assistant city manager and ran the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. I send my condolences to his family.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend and neighbor, Vernell Sturns. This is a legend right here, Mr. Speaker, someone who rose from Mount Enterprise, Texas, down in the Piney Woods of east Texas, on to KU, part of that tremendous KU background that helped shape the city of Fort Worth. Vernell Sturns passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 86. Mr. Sturns’ life was dedicated to making Fort Worth and north Texas a better place for all. He was the city’s first Black assistant city manager and later was acting city manager and chief administrative officer. He was also the CEO of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of our country’s busiest and most successful airports, in 1991. He served in various leadership roles throughout north Texas, including as a trustee of TCU and later on the board of trustees at Jarvis Christian College near east Texas, where he was from. Mr. Sturns was also a force of the Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce in Fort Worth and so many other organizations. Vernell’s life touched so many people throughout Fort Worth, and I would not have time to list all of them here. To his wife, Debra; his children, Michael, Robert, Paula, and Chris; and his grandchildren, I send my sincerest condolences. Their dad and their grandfather was an amazing man whose legacy will live forever. In Recognition of the Life and Legacy of Fort Worth Civil Rights and”
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend and neighbor, Vernell Sturns. This is a legend right here, Mr. Speaker, someone who rose from Mount Enterprise, Texas, down in the Piney Woods of east Texas, on to KU, part of that tremendous KU background that helped shape the city of Fort Worth. Vernell Sturns passed away on August 23, 2026, at the age of 86. Mr. Sturns’ life was dedicated to making Fort Worth and north Texas a better place for all. He was the city’s first Black assistant city manager and later was acting city manager and chief administrative officer. He was also the CEO of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of our country’s busiest and most successful airports, in 1991. He served in various leadership roles throughout north Texas, including as a trustee of TCU and later on the board of trustees at Jarvis Christian College near east Texas, where he was from. Mr. Sturns was also a force of the Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce in Fort Worth and so many other organizations. Vernell’s life touched so many people throughout Fort Worth, and I would not have time to list all of them here. To his wife, Debra; his children, Michael, Robert, Paula, and Chris; and his grandchildren, I send my sincerest condolences. Their dad and their grandfather was an amazing man whose legacy will live forever. In Recognition of the Life and Legacy of Fort Worth Civil Rights and