H.R. No. 638
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of Mineola lost one of its most beloved
residents with the death of Carl Lester Merritt on January 28, 2011,
at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Born on February 15, 1921, in Calvary, Georgia, to
L. O. and Lilly Merritt, Mr. Merritt graduated from the University
of Georgia at the age of 20 with degrees in genetics, agriculture,
and education; shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he
answered his nation's call to duty and joined the United States
Navy, which put his valuable knowledge and experience as a licensed
pilot to use by making him a flight instructor; at the end of the
war, he was discharged from the navy with the rank of lieutenant
commander; and
WHEREAS, While serving at the Naval Air Station in Dallas,
Mr. Merritt met Virginia Puckett, whom he married in 1944; the
couple settled in Mineola, where they enjoyed many loving and
rewarding years together until her passing; they were blessed with
three children, Kevin, Linda, and Louise, as well as six
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life and moving to
Mineola, Mr. Merritt opened Merritt's Hardware and Feed Store and
embarked on a successful business career; in 1949 he purchased the
Sinclair Wholesale Warehouse and began selling gasoline and other
supplies to farms and gas stations; he sold that company in 1955 to
become an American Petrofina wholesaler, and he eventually owned
and operated 21 Fina service stations in the area; after his
retirement in 1981, he continued to work as a rancher; and
WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Merritt served a term
as director of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and two terms on the
school board, and in 1952 he helped to found the Mineola Lions Club;
he received many honors during his nearly six decades with the club,
including the Chevron Award for 55 years of service, the Melvin
Jones Fellowship, and recognition as a life member of the Texas
Lions Camp; in addition, he was a Master Mason and a Shriner, a
member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a congregant of
Hainesville Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan volunteered much of his time to
mentoring young people, especially through youth sports; known
around the area as "Mr. Baseball," he worked with children as a
baseball coach and umpire, and he was always available to help drive
kids to and from practice and games, ensuring that they could
participate; he served as president of both the Mineola Youth
Foundation and the Greater Wood County Baseball/Softball
Association, and for 18 years he was a state director of the Texas
Teenage Baseball-Softball Association; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Merritt was deeply devoted to his family, and he
enjoyed taking his children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren to his Lions Club meetings; he also relished
the hours he spent outdoors hunting and fishing; and
WHEREAS, A respected community leader and a gentleman, Carl
Merritt lived a rich and productive life, and he will long be
remembered with deep affection by all those who knew him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Carl Lester Merritt
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
son, Kevin Merritt, and his wife, Mary; to his daughters, Louise
King and her husband, Dr. Joe Mac King, and Linda Merritt Standley;
to his grandchildren, Lance Standley and his wife, Sherly, Ryan and
Rachel King, and Thomas, Sarah, and Jenna Merritt; to his
great-grandchildren, Ellas, Tatum, and Farrah Standley; to his
sister, Gladys Wray; to his sisters-in-law, Janelle Merritt and
Anice Merritt; to his brother-in-law, Charles Puckett; and to his
other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Carl Lester
Merritt.
Hughes
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 638 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 10, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House