I AM BLACK HISTORY | Travis Torrence

Travis Torrence

Travis Torrence is Black History because he represents what happens when legacy, excellence, and advocacy converge at the highest levels of leadership.

In Houston, a city shaped by energy, diversity, and global industry, Travis stands at the helm of one of the most powerful legal roles in corporate America. As the U.S. Head of Legal for Shell USA, Inc., he leads a team of more than 150 attorneys and made history as the first Black person to hold this position. In a profession and an industry where representation at the executive level has historically been limited, his leadership marks both progress and possibility.

But his story carries even deeper meaning.

Travis is the great great grandson of enslaved people who labored on plantations in Louisiana, just miles from facilities he now helps oversee as a top executive. The arc of that journey is not accidental. It is the result of resilience, education, discipline, and the sacrifices of generations who believed in a future they might never see. His presence in that role is not just professional success. It is historical continuity and transformation.

Yet Travis’s impact extends far beyond corporate boardrooms.

He is a dedicated philanthropist, civic leader, and cultural curator who invests intentionally in Houston’s social and artistic fabric. In 2022, he served as Grand Marshal of Houston’s LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration, highlighting the vital contributions of Black queer leaders within both the Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ movements. He also served as President of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Foundation, advocating for equity and representation within the legal profession.

His leadership is intersectional and intentional. He understands that Black history includes every dimension of identity, and he works to ensure that no part of the community is left behind.

Philanthropy is also central to his legacy. Travis has chaired major fundraisers including the World AIDS Day Luncheon, the Victory Fund Champagne Brunch, and the Montrose Center’s Out For Good Gala. He supports organizations such as the Alley Theatre and Urban Souls Dance Company, helping preserve and amplify Black artistic expression in Houston.

His career proves that leadership is not confined to one lane. It can exist in corporate law and community organizing, in philanthropy and cultural celebration, in boardrooms and on Pride stages.

Travis Torrence is Black History because he builds bridges between past and present, between identity and influence, between power and purpose. Black history is not only about who broke chains. It is also about who now breaks ceilings. And in Houston, Travis Torrence continues to do both.