Blake Farenthold obit

Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi dies at 63

Farenthold, a local radio personality, served in Congress from 2011 to 2018 and is credited with securing funding for the port. He resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.

 He was not on the list.

Former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, a four-term Republican congressman from Corpus Christi and local radio host, died this week from a heart attack after struggling with chronic liver disease, according to a close friend who worked on his radio show. He was 63.

“Blake was a good family friend,” state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, said in a text message, adding that he had texted prayers to Farenthold’s family.

Farenthold, a local radio personality and stepson of former state legislator Sissy Farenthold, began his congressional tenure in 2011 after he unseated the long-serving Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz as part of a nationwide red wave two years into President Barack Obama’s first term.

A software policy expert, lawyer and quieter member of the Texas delegation, Farenthold coasted to reelection every two years. He served on the Oversight, Judiciary and Transportation committees.

Former Corpus Christi City Council Member Greg Smith, a longtime family friend who regularly appeared on Farenthold’s radio show, credited him with working “tirelessly to secure federal funding” on “game-changing” local infrastructure projects. His efforts included a $625 million channel deepening project for the Port of Corpus Christi.

“He was an effective congressman,” Smith said in an interview Friday. “He wasn’t party first — he was community first.”

Smith added that he texted Farenthold two weeks ago to thank him for his work on the channel deepening project. “I was just doing my job,” Farenthold replied.