By: Uher H.R. No. 714
73R11021 JLZ-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The family, friends, and admirers of Carey O. Smith,
1-2 Jr., were profoundly saddened by his death on May 8, 1993, at the
1-3 age of 87, and the loss of this fine gentleman has been deeply
1-4 mourned throughout the Matagorda County community he served for
1-5 many years as newspaper publisher and dedicated civic leader; and
1-6 WHEREAS, A longtime area resident, having moved to Bay City
1-7 with his family when he was only five years old, he began a long
1-8 and distinguished association with the local newspaper, the Daily
1-9 Tribune, and with the broader Matagorda County community as a young
1-10 boy delivering newspapers and running errands for his father, Carey
1-11 Smith, Sr., the Daily Tribune's editor and publisher; and
1-12 WHEREAS, After graduation from high school in Bay City,
1-13 Mr. Smith attended Rice University for three years, combining his
1-14 studies there with his part-time work at the Houston Press and the
1-15 Houston Chronicle; he returned to Bay City in 1925 and joined the
1-16 staff of the Daily Tribune as a full-time newspaper employee; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Mr. Smith's tenure with the newspaper was a long and
1-18 constant endeavor to improve the newspaper and was matched by his
1-19 equally dedicated efforts as a prominent member of the community to
1-20 enhance the quality of life for all Matagorda County residents; and
1-21 WHEREAS, In 1937, he succeeded his father as publisher of the
1-22 Daily Tribune and served in that capacity until 1958, when he sold
1-23 the newspaper to start a new business and begin a second career as
1-24 a printer; and
2-1 WHEREAS, An ardent supporter of the Bay City and Matagorda
2-2 County communities for most of his life, he used his position as
2-3 newspaper publisher to promote the area's interests, building
2-4 widespread support for such civic improvements as a youth center, a
2-5 new hospital, a telephone building, better drainage and sewer
2-6 systems, and a myriad other projects for the betterment of the
2-7 community, and he continued to give generously of his time and
2-8 energy to such causes long after he had retired from the newspaper
2-9 business; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Among the beneficiaries of his efforts was the Bay
2-11 City Public Library, and he gave 50 years of dedicated service to
2-12 the town's citizens as member and president of the library's board
2-13 of directors and as the library's principal supporter and
2-14 fund-raiser; indeed, not only was he the chief architect of many of
2-15 the library's improvements over the years, but his unwavering
2-16 support was one of the main reasons for the library's continued
2-17 existence; and
2-18 WHEREAS, His long-standing record of community involvement
2-19 also included his 14-year tenure as president of the Bay City
2-20 Cemetery Association, his term as president of the Matagorda County
2-21 Museum Association, his many contributions as a member of
2-22 St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and his years of service as a member
2-23 of the Rotary Club; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Mr. Smith also was a strong believer in the
2-25 potential of the community's youth, and, having started a
2-26 sportsmanship scholarship fund at Bay City High School in the
2-27 1930s, he became a highly regarded fixture at the high school's
3-1 annual athletic banquet, each year awarding a scholarship to a
3-2 student he felt had exhibited high moral character and
3-3 entrepreneurial spirit; and
3-4 WHEREAS, Committed to public service, courageous in his
3-5 convictions, vocal in expressing his ideals, and generous with his
3-6 support, this exemplary citizen made a lasting impact on the
3-7 Matagorda County community, and though his presence will be deeply
3-8 missed, his many achievements and contributions to the betterment
3-9 of humankind will long endure as his legacy to the community he
3-10 loved and helped shape throughout his life; now, therefore, be it
3-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-12 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Carey O. Smith, Jr., and
3-13 extend deepest sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife,
3-14 Ester Dienst Smith; to his son, Manis Dale Smith; to his
3-15 grandchildren, Mrs. Andrew Mytelka and Tyn Suttle Smith; and to all
3-16 the other members of his family and the countless friends who were
3-17 privileged to know and love this fine man; and, be it further
3-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-19 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas
3-20 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-21 Carey O. Smith, Jr.