Frank Cooksey, who served as Austin’s mayor from 1985 to 1988, died Monday morning. He was 92.
The confirmation came from daughter Kathryn Pew, according to the Austin American-Statesman. She said Cooksey suffered a likely fall-induced brain bleed and was removed from life support late Sunday.
Cooksey became known for his progressive ideas and love of the environment throughout his career as a public servant. Before his mayoral term, Cooksey held the title of UT Austin student body president in the 1950s and then worked as a civil rights trial attorney, assistant U.S. attorney and special Texas attorney general.
As mayor, he founded the Department of Economic Development and Trade and approved the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance, which aimed to protect the water quality and resources of lakes Austin and Travis, Barton Creek, Edwards Aquifer and more. He also helped the city build a South Austin sewage treatment plant.
Cooksey is survived by his wife, Lynn Cooksey, two children and multiple grandchildren.
“Frank Cooksey’s concerns were always about the well-being of his fellow citizens, all of them,” UT historian Tom Hatfield said to the Statesman. “He was their advocate. He was serious about serious issues, like fairness and justice, clean water, adequate food, good housing and effective government. He was an exemplary product of the public schools of Austin.”