Gerry Monroe, who died at 55 on Sunday, leaves a legacy as one of the Bayou City's most outspoken and controversial defenders of children's, teachers' and parents' rights in Houston public schools.
Monroe's dedication to Houston schoolchildren, however, meant that he didn't always have time for his own. His 22-year-old daughter Jaylen said her relationship with him was"very complex but still very loving."
"He always made it very clear the line of communication was open and that he loved me and would do anything for me," Jaylen Monroe said."I've followed him throughout the years of him doing his activism … and I'm proud of what he's done. Even though he wasn't able to give me the same things he gave everyone else, I'm proud he was able to do it for other people.
Gerry Monroe speaks about HISD policy during an HISD School Board meeting Thursday, June 18, 2015, in Houston.The personal attacks he levied against his enemies could make many, including his allies, uncomfortable, and others still were disappointed with his forays into voter fraud conspiracies. But friends and activists also praised him for his ability to see past disagreements — as long as he believed you were coming from a good place.
"The nice thing about him was I could tell him I disagreed with him, and because we had a longstanding relationship he would say, 'That's OK, we don't always have to agree,' and he would get to that point with a lot of people. He had to trust you first, though," Golden said.
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