Ben Reyes: key obituary facts
Is Ben Reyes dead? Yes. Ben Reyes died on November 6, 2026, at age 79.
Cause of death: Ben Reyes's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Ben Reyes known for?
He was an American politician.
More about Ben Reyes
Born: 16 February 1947.
Place of birth: Burton.
Gender: male.
Occupation: politician.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Houston.
Also known as: Ben Torres Reyes.
Ben Reyes, an American politician who served in the Texas House of Representatives and on the Houston City Council, died November 6, 2026, aged 79.
Known formally as Ben Torres Reyes, he was born in Burton, Texas, on February 16, 1947, and attended the University of Houston. A Mexican American and resident of Houston’s Denver Harbor area, Reyes came from a family of 10; his father worked as a laborer.
Reyes served in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1969, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, before becoming an activist and entering politics. In 1972, after the Raza Unida Party asked him to seek a seat in the Texas House under its banner, he ran as a Democrat and won election to represent District 89. He served in the House from 1973 through 1980 and won three re-elections, receiving more than 96 percent of the vote in 1976. Reyes later served on the Houston City Council from 1980 to 1996, holding municipal office for 16 years. His public career thus spanned state and city government, beginning with his election to the Legislature and continuing through four terms on the council. His military service, legislative work and long tenure in Houston city government were defining parts of a career that began in local political activism.