WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after his legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office in Stafford, Texas, for former Mayor Leonard Scarcella, a veteran and one of the longest-serving mayors in history with nearly 51 years in office, was signed into law:

“Leonard Scarcella dedicated more than half a century to serving the city of Stafford, and his time in office helped his hometown grow in countless ways,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m grateful to my colleagues for joining me in honoring Mayor Scarcella’s tireless service to the community he loved.”

The U.S. Postal Service facility located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, will be designated as the Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building.

Biography of Mayor Leonard Scarcella:

Born in Sugar Land, Texas, Leonard Scarcella served as Mayor of Stafford for more than 50 years, at one point becoming America’s longest-serving mayor. During his tenure, he helped create the Stafford Municipal School District and the Stafford Civic Center, ended city property taxes, and worked to build the Stafford campus of Houston Community College. 

He became the youngest elected Mayor of Stafford in 1969. Prior to that, he attended the University of Houston Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1967. While in school, he served in the Texas Air National Guard with active duty in the United States Air Force from 1963–1969, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. He earned a BBA in accounting from Texas A&M University in 1962 and was a member of the Army Corps of Cadets. Mayor Scarcella graduated from Missouri City High School in 1958.