Former State Senator Killed in House Fire

Burial services for former state Sen. Frank Madla will be at 1pm Friday at Texas State Cemetery. Madla, 69, died in a fire at his San Antonio home over the Thanksgiving weekend. Candles from a holiday display are believed to be the accidental cause of the blaze, which also claimed the lives of Madla’s elderly mother-in-law, Mary Cruz, and 5-year-old granddaughter, Aleena Jimenez. Madla’s wife Helen remains hospitalized with injuries suffered in the early morning fire Nov. 24. A Rosary Mass for the 33-year lawmaker was held this morning (Thursday) in Helotes.

The conservative Democrat and old-school gentleman represented San Antonio for 20 years in the state House and 13 years in the Senate. Madla resigned from the Senate in May, two months after losing a brutal primary race to then Rep. Carlos Uresti, also of San Antonio. During the campaign, Uresti hammered Madla’s record of siding with Republicans on critical votes, including cuts to the Children’s Health Insurance Program and a constitutional ban on gay marriage. After his defeat, Madla reportedly invited Uresti to his office where the two made peace during transition talks. Madla was expected to begin a new career as a lobbyist when the next Legislature opens Jan. 9.

In a statement, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a Republican who campaigned for Madla during the primary, called Madla “a courageous lawmaker who always did what he believed was best for his district and for Texas, even if it was politically unpopular."