81R27873 JH-D
By: Kleinschmidt H.R. No. 1689
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Since 1971, the Smithville Public Library has served
as a tremendous resource for the city's residents, allowing them
invaluable access to literature, the arts, and a wealth of
information on a wide range of subjects; and
WHEREAS, The establishment of the library was due in large
measure to the generosity and dedication of Clifton C. Carter and
his wife, Mary Jane Carter; the couple's love of Smithville, Mr.
Carter's hometown, inspired them to help found the library in order
to benefit the city's young people; and
WHEREAS, Clifton Crawford Carter was born in Smithville in
1918 and played football for Smithville High School, beginning his
lifelong enthusiasm for the Tiger athletic teams; he went on to play
at The University of Texas and also attended Schreiner University;
during World War II, he served his nation as a member of the armed
forces, seeing duty in the European Theater of Operations; and
WHEREAS, The former Mary Jane Garrett was born in 1919 in
Kerrville and now lives in Arlington, Virginia; in 1942, she
married Mr. Carter, and the couple raised five children, Kathleen,
Lyndon, Bill, Cindy, and Laurie; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carter ran a soft drink business in Bryan for a
time and then became Lyndon B. Johnson's administrative assistant
in 1958; he went on to serve as a liaison to the Democratic National
Committee after LBJ became president; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Carter passed away in 1971, the same year that
the Smithville Public Library first opened its doors, but the
institution he and his wife helped establish has remained to become
a vital part of the community; and
WHEREAS, With the ever-growing importance of information to
our society, public libraries are more critical than ever; thanks
to the exceptional work of Clifton and Mary Jane Carter, Smithville
has an outstanding library that will continue to enrich the lives of
area citizens long into the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Mary Jane Carter and pay tribute to the
memory of Clifton C. Carter for the essential support that the
couple provided in the founding of the Smithville Public Library;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mrs. Carter as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.