By Dedtric Ray, FOX 26

HOUSTON — In honor of the 19th anniversary of Congressman George “Mickey” Leland’s final mission, Sen. Rodney Ellis and the widow of Leland hosted a reception at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and a private viewing of the exhibit, ‘Lucy’ Held in Honor of Congressman Leland.”

Congressman Leland and his staffers, state department officials, and Ethiopian nationals were en route to a refugee camp in Ethiopia in 1989 near the Sudanese border when contact with them was lost. Six days later, the plane was found with no survivors.

Congressman Leland started a congressional internship program, in which college students were integrated into every aspect of his legislative operations.

Ellis has continued that legacy with his own Texas Legislative Internship Program, which is coordinated through the Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace at Texas Southern University

The event not only recognized the program’s supporters but also a reunion of former Leland staffers, colleagues, and friends.