Zuma Press
Kay Granger’s ascent to her lofty perch in the U.S. House of Representatives is proof of life’s unpredictability — and its messiness, that could go without saying.
But it’s that unpredictability that gives the journey — the ride — its texture and, not least, its humor.
Granger’s professional life began as a teacher. It picked up at breakneck speed over the planned construction of a liquid waste disposal plant near her home on Fort Worth’s East Side.
There is certainly some irony — and humor — in the career of one of Washington’s most powerful figures beginning in the debate over how to handle waste disposal. That squabble set her on the trail of becoming mayor of Fort Worth, succeeding the ever-popular Bob Bolen, himself a consequential figure in the city’s history.
But that is where Granger’s trailblazing political career began — a path that would take her to the center of power in the U.S. as a key force in shaping defense policy, a proponent of fiscal and government restraint, and a steadfast champion for her hometown and Texas’ District 12.
Granger retired from Congress in January after 28 years as one of the most impactful members in the history of the Texas delegation, finishing her career as chairman and chairman emeritus of the Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful positions in Congress.
For her work on behalf of constituents in District 12, Fort Worth, and Tarrant and Parker counties generally, she has been selected Fort Worth Inc.’s Person of the Year. Over the course of almost 40 years in public life, she has become one of the great lives of Fort Worth.
“She's obviously one of the dynamos of Fort Worth history,” says Jim Riddlesperger, professor of political science at TCU. “The chair of the Appropriations Committee is one of the three or four most important positions in the House of Representatives. And she did all of that with grace.
“Her legacy is as someone who was a tireless promoter of Fort Worth, someone who represented Fort Worth with dignity in the House of Representatives. She obviously was a partisan Republican, but she had a reputation for someone who, behind the scenes, was always trying to figure out a way forward, a way that she could work with people across the aisle, people from different parts of the country, to find solutions to problems rather than to create problems. You will find her as a problem-solver, not a problem-creator.”
Granger, Riddlesperger says, was a throwback to an earlier generation of Congress — one that saw its job as building. As Sam Rayburn once put it — as eloquently as a guy from Bonham, Texas, could — 'Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.' And the Good Lord knows Congress has no shortage of jackasses these days.
“She was always a builder, and I think that’s going to be her legacy,” Riddlesperger says.
Members of Congress returned to the Capitol in late April after a two-week recess. Their first order of business will be a budget reconciliation bill. Granger, even as she walked out the door, has stuff in there for her district.
It includes $160 million to complete the flood control portion of her pet project, Panther Island. There is $35 million to construct an aircraft parking apron and access taxi lane at Alliance Airport. Another $25 million to establish the Texas A&M-Fort Worth Center for Aerospace Innovation. For the Tarrant County Law Enforcement Training Center and Range Center there is a hoped-for $10 million. For TCU, she earmarked $10 million to establish research- and technology-related departments for Texas Christian University’s Energy Security Research Consortium. There is finally $5 million each for a flood mitigation project for the areas of Bailey Avenue, Sixth Street, and White Settlement Road; and a 2.1-mile single-track extension to the existing 26.8-mile TEXRail commuter rail line into the Medical District.
It's safe to say all of these are probably at risk considering the new political realities in Washington.
Nonetheless, says Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, “Kay’s influence will last in perpetuity. There will be nobody like her.”
Granger more than upheld the consequential legacies of her District 12 predecessors in Congress. What has happened from that seat over the past century is truly uncommon in American political history.
Fritz Lanham served from 1919-47. Lanham won a special election to succeed James C. Wilson, appointed by President Wilson to the federal bench. He was dubbed the “father of Fort Worth’s helium plant” for his work in securing for Fort Worth the nation’s only helium producing plant in the 1920s. The federal building downtown is named in Lanham’s honor.
Jim Wright won election in 1954, upsetting Wingate Lucas, Amon Carter’s “private errand boy congressman,” as Wright described him in a public spat with the newspaper publisher. Wright would eventually rise to Speaker of the House in a 34-plus year career that brought bountiful blessings to Fort Worth industries.
Pete Geren, as Granger’s immediate predecessor, held the seat from 1989-97.
Rather than try to score points with the fringes with populist demagoguery, representatives of District 12 have established a tradition of getting things done for Texas and Fort Worth.
In a speech to the Texas Legislature in the early 1980s, Wright gave some insight into how that happened. It’s in traditional Texas values and virtues, he said, that the Texas delegation was so profoundly effective.
It started, the then-future speaker said, with a time-honored “Texas tradition to place patriotism above partisanship.” He followed by speaking of the Texas virtue of the good of one’s word. Trust.
Thirdly, an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality, which makes “your Texas congressional delegation” the strongest and most effective in Congress.
We don’t always agree on issues, he said, but we do agree on an overriding principal: When a member of the Texas delegation needs help with a project that is vital to his or her district, he has friends.
“And when a matter of policy arises which is clearly in the interest of our state, it has the enthusiastic and undivided backing of the entire delegation.”
Lastly, was a spirit of noblesse oblige, the responsibility of the privileged to act with generosity toward those less fortunate. Such was the example of Sam Houston, Wright said, who gave his enemy, Santa Anna, a reprieve of his life at San Jacinto. There, of course, were also very practical reasons for doing so other than charity. Pragmatism — what a concept.
Granger was the fourth Texan in history to chair the Appropriations Committee, following Joseph Sayers, who went on to succeed Charles Culberson as governor in 1899; James P. Buchanan, the predecessor to Lyndon Johnson in the House; and George Mahon.
"As I reflect on my time in Congress, I am deeply humbled by the faith placed in me by the people of Texas 12 to represent them in Washington and by my colleagues in the House to lead the committee as chairwoman,” Granger said.
"Above all, I am proud of what we accomplished together,” Granger said at a gathering in December for the unveiling of her portrait, an honor bestowed on each of the chairs of the Appropriations Committee. “Our military is stronger, our allies are supported, and fiscal responsibility is at the forefront of the national debate — none of which would have been possible without the relentless dedication and skill of this committee, its members, and its staff. As my time in Congress comes to an end, I feel fulfilled and depart with optimism that this chamber will continue to serve the best interests of the American people."
Granger served with five presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.
She served under seven speakers of the house — Newt Gingrich (Georgia), Dennis Hastert (Illinois), Nancy Pelosi (California), John Boehner (Ohio), Paul Ryan (Wisconsin), Kevin McCarthy (California), and Mike Johnson (Louisiana).
“Kay Granger has been a champion for Texas and a faithful public servant for the people of the 12th district for nearly three decades,” Johnson said during the portrait tribute. “She has certainly been a loyal friend to me since I came to Congress. As the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, she has also been a trailblazer and a leader who has done some of the most difficult work on legislation to support our troops, honor our veterans, and meet the needs of the American people under presidents and speakers of both parties.
"As she completes her service this term as chairwoman emeritus, her portrait will memorialize the expertise, wisdom, and example she has set for the committee and members of Congress."
* * * *
We’ve made it this far into the story, and we still haven’t gotten to the “trailblazing” part of Kay Granger’s story. Speaker Mike Johnson touched on it.
Yes, Granger was a trailblazer.
In 1991, Granger was elected the first woman mayor of Fort Worth. In 1996, she became the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. And, yes, later, Granger became the first woman from her party to chair the Appropriations Committee.
And it was a woman who was Granger’s greatest influence, she has said.
Alliene Mullendore was a schoolteacher, administrator, and the first woman to serve on the school board in the Birdville school district. Alliene Mullendore Elementary School is named in her honor.
She was also Kay Granger’s mother.
Much of Alliene Mullendore’s charm, people said, came from her gift for finding humor in life — even while engaged in the serious work of educating children.
“I think if you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re pretty sad,” Mullendore was quoted as saying. “If a teacher doesn’t have a sense of humor, she can go jump in a lake because she’s not worth a darn.”
Mullendore was born in 1906 and graduated from Polytechnic High School when she was 15. She began teaching at age 17 in Uvalde County. Her duties included taking care of horses.
In 1930, she married a fellow teacher, Norvel Mullendore. They had two daughters: Mary Lynn Mullendore and Norvel Kay Mullendore. Their father, originally a highway patrolman, later became a salesman. Norvel Kay was said to have been named by a great-aunt who had the family tradition of naming the children.
Alliene earned a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene before coming to Birdville in 1943. She continued to work in education while earning a master’s degree from Texas Wesleyan and doctoral work at North Texas.
Alliene and Norvel divorced. Alliene reared a family on her own, just as her own mother had done. At 16, Alliene lied about her age to buy a house, stepping up when her father abandoned the family and her mother suffered an emotional breakdown. As the eldest child, the responsibility to provide fell squarely on her shoulders.
Armed with what many described as an iron will, Alliene refused to surrender when polio left her crippled. Though doctors said she’d never walk again, she defied the odds — returning to the classroom first on crutches, then with a cane, and eventually, entirely unaided.
A stern, independent woman, Alliene instilled in her daughters the need to be strong, Granger said.
"She was the most important person to me, without a doubt,” Granger said 35 years ago. “She molded me far and above anybody else. The women in my family are strong women."
Granger has noted and tried to pass along her mother’s inspiration to others over the years.
"Success comes to ordinary people who set a direction and work like crazy,” Granger has said. “Leadership is not comfortable; leadership is a challenge."
She has implored others to "be authentic, be whoever you are,” and “to keep God and your family and your friends in your life as you intellectually, spiritually, and morally do for others."
In high school at Eastern Hills, Granger seemingly did a little of everything: yearbook, student newspaper, charity work, sports, dances, canoe trips, art, fashion modeling, and even styling her own clothes. All of that while maintaining a position on the school honor roll.
While many hesitated to get involved unless they were confident they would succeed or win, Granger was always willing to jump in, unafraid of failure and eager to participate regardless of the outcome, associates said then.
She graduated from Texas Wesleyan College in 1965 with a teaching certificate and a bachelor’s degree in English and home economics.
Nothing could have been further from her mind than politics, much less political leader.
Education, like her mother, is where she would make a living. She jumped into the profession, teaching English at Richland High School.
She left there to begin a family with her husband but returned five years later.
One former journalism student once described her as “the wildest thing Richland had to offer.” Richland was a conservative school. Granger was a progressive role model. Granger, the former student, Dana Beckelman, told the Star-Telegram, was constantly in conflict with the administration over what kind of article should be run in the school newspaper, bucking school administration on allowing students to publish stories on, for example, teen pregnancy, the school's Confederate flag, and Richland's emphasis on sports.
"But she was able to play both sides and make them understand each other,” said Beckelman, who passed away in 2010.
Granger left education for the insurance business. She had gone through career testing at Tarrant County College. Teaching wasn’t for her, she said she discovered because “I don’t like to work within the rules. I like to make my own rules.”
Through both endeavors, however, she developed a reputation as a tireless workaholic — someone who thrived on long hours, demanded high standards, and poured herself fully into every responsibility. Her drive wasn’t just noted. It became part of her identity that followed her into the Congress with colleagues and constituents alike.
* * * *
The impulse for Granger's public life began soon after her divorce with a proposal for a zoning change in her John T. White neighborhood. A company had proposed a plan to turn the wooded area next to her home into a liquid waste processing plant.
She organized her neighbors to oppose the plan. She was, she said, “protecting the only asset I had — my house.”
The campaign succeeded. More than 40 residents appeared during the City Council hearing on the issue. She and her neighbors were persuasive, rejecting the proposal.
Councilman Jeff Davis, who represented Granger’s neighborhood, was so persuaded he offered Granger a place on the Zoning Commission, which she served on for eight years.
It was the rise in crime during the 1980s that sparked her interest in becoming more involved in public life. She initially planned to do her part to take a bite out of crime by running for the Texas State Senate — as a Democrat.
Granger filed to run in the Democratic primary for the seat of Republican state Rep. Bill Carter only to withdraw two days later when a Carter ally discouraged her. She should instead, attorney Tom Law suggested, run for the City Council.
Her first opportunity came a year later with the retirement of Russell Lancaster. She defeated Morris Matson in the May elections in 1989. She gained attention during her first term by her efforts to rid neighborhoods of bars. She also led in the establishment of Goals for East Fort Worth, a civic improvement project.
She was also a noted crack seamstress who was so frugal that she would buy designer skirts and dresses, copy them, and then return them to the store.
In 1991, she won easily the race to replace the retiring Bob Bolen.
Her sense of humor guided her through awkward moments.
She met the governor, the president of the United States and even the queen of England during her first 12 months.
While attending a meal for about 120 people in Dallas during the Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Texas in 1991, she noted the dinner had about “120 waiters.” Her table had its own.
"He leaned over and told me the gentleman next to me was [famed heart surgeon] Dr. Michael DeBakey, and you are eating his bread," she said.
She said she was amused to see her son, J.D., then a 21-year-old senior at Texas A&M, casually chatting with Prince Phillip. When her son asked to use the telephone, she overheard some of the conversation.
"I can't talk long. The mayor and the queen need me,” he joked.
When Pete Geren announced that he would not run for reelection to the U.S. House, Granger, after almost five years as mayor, ran to go to Washington as a Republican.
The gatekeepers of conservative orthodoxy quickly began scrutinizing her credentials — even after she announced that Dr. Bob Lanier, the Republican who had narrowly lost to Geren in the 1989 race to replace Jim Wright, and Fran Chiles, widow of fiery conservative Eddie Chiles, would co-chair her campaign. Fran Chiles had also served as Tarrant County co-chair of George W. Bush’s 1994 gubernatorial campaign.
“When I looked at who could do the most for Fort Worth, I couldn't think of anybody who could do as much as her," Lanier said then.
Granger described herself as a "moderate" and split-ticket voter who participated in the 1988 Democratic primary and the 1990 Republican primary. The Star-Telegram noted that in the early stages of the governor’s race in 1990, she simultaneously supported Democrat Ann Richards and Republican Tom Luce.
Even her votes on the Fort Worth's Zoning Commission came under scrutiny. She was ultimately judged a moderate there, sometimes voting with pro-development commissioners and sometimes with the pro-neighborhood camp.
In her race against Democrat Hugh Parmer, Granger’s allies ultimately included Black businesswoman Norma Roby, a Democrat; Republican Rice Tilley Jr.; and Bolen and Dee Kelly, both self-described political independents who “vote predominantly for Republicans.”
"I think she'll be a fresh breath of air on Capitol Hill," Roby said then. "She's a people person. The biggest thing I admire about Kay is her capacity to build a consensus."
The coalition she won with in 1996 essentially stayed the same for 28 years. Yet, for 28 years, she constantly had to fend off allegations that she was not conservative enough, ironically from people who became so far right they were left. The political extremes sometimes circle back to share similar critiques, even when rooted in different ideologies.
She kicked them all to the curb as one would do with a nagging chihuahua nipping at one’s heals.
And Bob Lanier was right: She was the one who could — and did — do the most for Fort Worth.
“Her impact on her district and her region and the state is equal to any other Congress person in the last 20 to 30 years,” says former U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, a longtime Republican colleague of Granger’s who was another of those who supported her in 1996. “She was all Fort Worth, all 12th District, all the time.”