'Wade made a lasting, positive difference in Houston': Texas Senate honors late Houston mayoral advisor Keith Wade

The Texas state Senate late in its session remembered Keith Wade, the late mayoral advisor in Houston who died of COVID-19 last year.

"Happy to join @BorrisLMiles honoring the life of Keith Wade, with a memorial resolution in the #txlege,” State Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) said on Twitter. “We’re all grateful for Keith’s passion and leadership in Houston’s politics. We miss him dearly."

Wade died in May 2020. He was 65.

He was the first African American student body president and president at El Campo High School and later at the University of Houston Student Government Association.

“Mr. Wade's steadfast commitment to labor, civil and voting rights, and the disadvantaged led to his involvement and leadership with numerous organizations, and he was an effective coalition builder and astute consultant on political campaigns at all  levels,” a state Senate Resolution said.

Wade played a key role in the 2015 and 2019 campaigns of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the resolution said.

“Through his unceasing endeavors, Keith Wade made a lasting, positive difference in Houston while helping to expand opportunities for the next generation of leaders, and those he left behind will treasure their memories of his great kindness,” the resolution said.

Wade was a special adviser in Turner’s office but did not hold a salaried position, KPRC 2 reported last year.

“Keith and I go back 46 years, to our days on the campus of the University of Houston,” Turner said in a statement following Wade’s death. “Throughout his life, Keith championed the causes of labor, people who have been disenfranchised and he advocated for the rights of people to vote. He was instrumental in so many campaigns in all levels of government. And that is true in my case as well. He was a friend and a brother."

City council member Letitia Plummer said Wade gave up the limelight of politics in order to help other candidates.

“He never raised his voice,” she said. “But he spoke with conviction and dignity and was just very much like my grandfather was,” Plummer said.