‘Admired by so many’: Turner mourns the loss of former Secretary of State Colin Powell

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who presented the case of the Iraq War just months after the U.S. suffered the 9/11 attacks, died Oct. 18 due to complications from COVID-19. 

Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted, sharing his condolences for the late Secretary of State.

“Colin Powell was a soldier, general, National Security advisor, secretary of state,” Turner wrote in his tweet. “He was respected by people on both sides of the aisle, young and old. His life of service made us better and he was admired by so many. I am one. RIP.”

Powell, who was of Jamaican descent, was the first black person to hold the office of secretary of state, FOX News reports. 

“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American," his family said in a statement.

At the time of his passing, Powell was 84 years old and had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

"We want to thank the medical staff at Walter Reed National Medical Center for their caring treatment,” the statement continued.

According to a report by Newsweek, Powell served the State Department from 2001-2005, under the George W. Bush administration. 

Throughout his term as secretary of state, much of Powell’s focus was on Afghanistan and Iran, though FOX reports he also played a role in strengthening bilateral relationships with Russia and China.

Prior to entering into politics, Powell had been a soldier for more than 30 years, Newsweek reports.