Mary Benton’s Bold Voice Earns PRSA Houston’s 2026 Legacy Award at “The Night of Bold Voices”
By Francis Page Jr.
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June 29, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON — In a city that knows how to tell a story, communicate through crisis, celebrate culture, and keep moving when the cameras are rolling and the deadlines are unforgiving, few voices have carried the steady authority of Mary Benton.
At the 2026 PRSA Houston Excalibur Awards, hosted by the Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter at the scenic Houston Botanic Garden, Benton was honored with one of the evening’s most meaningful recognitions: the Legacy Award. The honor spotlighted her distinguished career, trusted leadership, and lasting contribution to public service communications, media relations, and civic storytelling in America’s fourth-largest city.
This year’s gala, themed “The Night of Bold Voices,” brought together Houston’s leading public relations professionals, agency innovators, corporate communicators, nonprofit storytellers, public affairs leaders, media partners, and rising stars. The room was filled with people who understand that communication is not just about press releases and perfect soundbites. It is about trust, timing, truth, and knowing exactly when to put the right message in the right hands.
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Mary Benton has done that for years.
Currently serving as Chief of Communications and Senior Advisor to the Mayor for the City of Houston, Benton stands at the intersection of public policy, media strategy, civic leadership, and community confidence. That is not a small intersection. In Houston, it is more like a five-lane freeway during rush hour, with a news helicopter overhead and everyone expecting answers by 5 p.m.
And Benton handles it with the calm, clarity, and professionalism of someone who has lived the work from every angle.
Before stepping into City Hall leadership, Benton spent more than two decades as a television journalist, covering hurricanes, government, politics, public policy, neighborhoods, and the everyday triumphs and challenges of Houston life. That newsroom experience gave her something no title alone can provide: instinct. She knows what reporters need, what the public deserves, and what leaders must communicate when the stakes are high.
That is why PRSA Houston’s Legacy Award feels especially fitting. A legacy is not built in one news cycle. It is earned through years of showing up, getting it right, staying composed, and understanding that words matter most when people are listening for direction.
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The 2026 Excalibur Awards celebrated excellence across public relations, marketing communications, digital strategy, media relations, nonprofit communications, public affairs, community engagement, and corporate storytelling. PRSA Houston President Angelique Myers-Evans, APR, captured the spirit of the evening with a message to honorees: “Your work spoke with purpose, moved audiences, and showed what excellence sounds like when bold voices lead the way.”
For Benton, that phrase lands with special power. Her career has been a masterclass in purposeful communication. Whether helping guide the city’s message during major civic announcements, responding to fast-moving media inquiries, or helping residents better understand city priorities, Benton has helped make public information more accessible, more credible, and more human.
The evening also featured Jennifer Reyna of KHOU 11, whose presence added familiar Houston sparkle and broadcast charm to a celebration already rich with talent and pride. PRSA Houston also thanked its sponsors and the dedicated Excalibur Awards Committee, including Jourdan B. Scruggs, Ed.D., Event Chair; Hannah Farr Pietsch, Awards Chair; Angelique Myers-Evans, APR; Emely Arenas; Johnta Wilson; Liz Lawhorn; and Elizabeth Fordham.
Still, Benton’s Legacy Award gave the night a special sense of history. Her recognition celebrates not only one accomplished professional, but also the essential role of women, journalists, public servants, and communications leaders who help shape how Houston sees itself.
For Houston Style Magazine readers, Mary Benton’s honor is a proud Houston moment. It reminds us that behind every major announcement, every civic milestone, and every carefully delivered message, there are professionals working with discipline, dignity, and purpose.
Mary Benton has been one of those professionals. And now, with PRSA Houston’s 2026 Legacy Award, her bold voice receives the applause it has long earned.
More information on PRSA-Houston: prsahouston.org
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Kierra LeeKIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM4096658446