HOUSTON – One day after the passing of his famous father, Houston's iconic Mayor Bob Lanier, Robert Clayton Lanier Jr. said "Mayor Bob" died happy. He said his father died just one hour after having spent the day celebrating with his family at a birthday gathering for his twin grandsons, Clayton and Carleton.
"He was celebrating my twin sons' birthday," Robert Lanier said. "He had all the children, the grandchildren -- he was just very, very pleased to look around the table. He was in a great mood."
After the party, around 4:30, Robert Lanier's wife, Donna Lanier, said his dad was not feeling well.
"When (Bob) got home he was having trouble breathing and wanted to go to bed. The staff called an ambulance, but by the time it got there he was already gone," said Donna Lanier.
A powerful, always positive, hard-working mayor, Bob Lanier helped transform Houston into one of this country's fastest growing cities. But his son said little victories, like building sidewalks for children to walk on in neighborhoods without them, were his biggest delight.
Bob Lanier was a naval officer in World War II, a lawyer, a banker and a real estate developer. But on his last day, loved ones said Bob was doing what he loved best -- enjoying time with his large family and taking pictures with everyone. Only this time, family members said he was waving in every picture, something he hadn't done in the past.
"It was so funny because he was waving in every picture, and after what happened later yesterday, we were all wondering, was he sending us a blessing or was he waving goodbye?" Robert Lanier said.
Bob Lanier served Houston from 1992 to 1998. He died Saturday at home. He was 89 years old.
