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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Carole Stewart Keeton, a highly esteemed |
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Texan and a pioneering public servant, who died on March 26, |
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2025, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Born September 13, 1939, Carole Keeton was the |
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second child and only daughter of Madge Anna Stewart and W. Page |
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Keeton, legendary dean of The University of Texas School of Law; |
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enthusiastic and driven from an early age, Carole attended The |
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University of Texas in the early 1960s, which helped to lay the |
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foundation for her distinguished career of public service and a |
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lifelong dedication to her community and state; and |
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WHEREAS, Carole broke barriers in Texas politics and |
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government throughout her career, and in 1972, she became the |
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first woman elected president of the Austin Independent School |
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District Board of Trustees; she went on to become the first woman |
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to serve as mayor of Austin in 1977 and committed her efforts to |
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fostering the growth and development of the city, and she remains |
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the only woman to have held the office; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1994, Carole Keeton became the first woman |
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elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, and in 1998, she earned |
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the similar distinction of being the first woman elected Texas |
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Comptroller of Public Accounts; she served in this capacity from |
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1999 to 2007, during which time she demonstrated a robust |
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commitment to fiscal responsibility and good governance as well |
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as a dedication to economic transparency and a principle-driven |
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work ethic; and |
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WHEREAS, A powerful voice for Texans, Carole made an |
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impact that extended well beyond her official duties, |
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particularly on issues of education and government efficiency; |
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her influence resonated across party lines, and her snappy |
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delivery and personal aphorisms endeared her to many and served |
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to highlight her sharp wit and her keen insight into the |
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challenges faced by everyday Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, While her professional accomplishments were |
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remarkable, Carole found the greatest reward in her role as a |
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mother and grandmother; she raised her four sons with care and |
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devotion and instilled in them the value of hard work and the same |
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diligence and intrepidity that defined her civic service; she |
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treasured time spent with her grandchildren, who were a source of |
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much pride and joy to her, and she was a model of grace and |
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resilience to her loved ones; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of strength, perseverance, and |
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generosity, Carole leaves behind a distinguished legacy of |
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service shaped by her notable achievements and her spirit of |
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determination; she will continue to be a source of inspiration to |
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others long into the future, and her memory will be dearly |
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cherished by her loving family members and by the many people who |
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were privileged to know her and to share in her life; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Carole Stewart Keeton; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Carole Keeton. |