HOUSTON – The city of Houston learned Tuesday afternoon that City Council Member Larry Green, 52, had suddenly died.
He was the first council member for District K, which was created in 2011.
Since he was sworn into office in 2012, Green helped champion a lot of change in his district, which spans from the edge of the Texas Medical Center to the edge of Fort Bend County.
On the same day he was found dead, it was announced that Houston won a competitive grant to improve flood warning signals at traffic intersections.
WATCH: Houston City Council responds to Larry Green's death
The city said Green recently went to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the grant application being considered by the Department of Transportation.
The $9.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will go toward equipping 40 flood-prone traffic intersections in Houston with red-light warnings, backup power generators and batteries.
HERE IS A LOOK AT THE MAP OF INTERSECTIONS
The city said the sensors will monitor high water and will be connected to the Harris County Flood Control District’s warning system and TranStar traffic map.
This will allow a flooded area to show up on traffic maps so drivers can avoid the area.
One of the areas is in Green's district, at the intersection of Alternate U.S. 90 and Beltway 8.
Advocate of minority- and women-owned businesses
Green also worked to make sure minority- and women-run businesses in his district had a voice at Houston City Hall.
He did that by growing the city of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity, which helps diversify Houston’s business environment.
“I think his legacy lives on, so I know it’s a huge responsibility and as I think about the program evolving and what we can do to support minority-owned businesses, I really think about his legacy and he’ll truly be missed,” said Carlecia Wright, director of the Office of Business Opportunity.
Wright said she began her job in 2011 and, when Green took office in 2012, they worked together to build and grow minority-led businesses.
For his efforts and to for being a voice for the Minority and Women Business Enterprise, Green earned the Chairman’s Award at the Office of Business Opportunity's 2016 Champions of Diversity Awards Ceremony.
“In a time where politics and things seem quite tumultuous, I would say he’s truly somebody who represented his constituents,” said Brandi Harleaux, chief operations officer for South Post Oak Recycling Center.
She said Green helped her and her family’s company in opening up opportunities around the city.
“There’s a lot of people who represent themselves, but he was very much about the community, the economy and about having economic development as well as touching people and touching businesses and everyone,” Harleaux said.