By Finnell H.C.R. No. 45 74R4327 PAN-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The State of Texas has lost a distinguished public 1-2 servant with the passing of John C. White on January 20, 1995, at 1-3 the age of 70; and 1-4 WHEREAS, This native Texan was born November 26, 1924, on a 1-5 cotton and grain tenant farm near the community of Newport and was 1-6 reared on a family farm in Wichita County that his father bought 1-7 during the Roosevelt administration with a Farm Security 1-8 Administration loan; and 1-9 WHEREAS, A graduate of Texas Tech University, Mr. White 1-10 taught agriculture at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls and 1-11 coordinated its network of vocational schools, helping to organize 1-12 one of the nation's first artificial breeding programs for area 1-13 dairy farmers; and 1-14 WHEREAS, In 1950, at the age of 25, he sucessfully challenged 1-15 a 20-year incumbent agriculture commissioner, becoming the youngest 1-16 man ever elected to statewide office in Texas, and he was reelected 1-17 to the post of agriculture commissioner 12 times; and 1-18 WHEREAS, During his lengthy tenure, he achieved the first 1-19 cooperative effort with Mexican officials on cotton insect pest 1-20 controls, created a consumer protection and services division, and 1-21 established an international Texas agricultural products marketing 1-22 promotion program as well as special programs for the environment; 1-23 and 1-24 WHEREAS, A mainstay of the Democratic Party throughout his 26 2-1 years in statewide office, he was named deputy U.S. secretary of 2-2 agriculture in 1977 and the following year was selected by 2-3 President Jimmy Carter to lead the Democratic National Committee, 2-4 in which capacity he served with the utmost integrity for the next 2-5 four years; and 2-6 WHEREAS, In recent years, Mr. White continued to work in 2-7 Washington and remained an active and highly regarded leader in the 2-8 Democratic Party, helping to raise money and advise many 2-9 candidates, especially those from Texas; and 2-10 WHEREAS, In all aspects of his life, John White adhered to 2-11 the highest standards of excellence, accomplishment, and commitment 2-12 to others; though his presence will be deeply missed by all who 2-13 were privileged to know him, his memory will live on in the legacy 2-14 of his many achievements; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-16 hereby pay tribute to the life of John C. White and extend deepest 2-17 sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, to his two 2-18 sons, to his three stepchildren, and to the many other friends and 2-19 relatives of this esteemed statesman; and, be it further 2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-21 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 2-22 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in 2-23 memory of John C. White.