H.R. No. 425
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
1-2 Raymond Smith for his many years of exceptional service
1-3 administering to the spiritual and temporal needs of the citizens
1-4 of Killeen as a minister and as a dedicated civic leader; and
1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Georgia, Mr. Smith began his
1-6 multifaceted career as a delivery driver and meter reader and, at
1-7 the age of 19, met Patsy Thompson, with whom he fell in love and
1-8 eloped across state lines; in the ensuing years, the couple have
1-9 shared a happy and rewarding partnership, raising a close-knit
1-10 family that includes a daughter, Deborah, and a son, Jamie, as well
1-11 as Mrs. Smith's younger brother, Warren, whom the couple welcomed
1-12 into the fold after her parents passed away; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Having moved his family to Corpus Christi when he
1-14 accepted a managerial position with a shoe store in 1953, Mr. Smith
1-15 eventually opened his own business, the Red Carpet Cleaning
1-16 Company, and while running this successful enterprise, was ordained
1-17 a deacon in the Calvary Baptist Church in 1965; and
1-18 WHEREAS, This important milestone marked yet another turning
1-19 point in his career and, shortly thereafter, while volunteering as
1-20 a part-time youth director with the church, Mr. Smith made the
1-21 pivotal decision to sell his carpet cleaning business and move to
1-22 Fort Worth to attend the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,
1-23 from which he was graduated in 1973 as the oldest member of his
1-24 class at the age of 40; and
2-1 WHEREAS, After his graduation from the seminary, Mr. Smith
2-2 returned to the Calvary Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, where he
2-3 served as the church's education director and as the director of
2-4 the area's association of Sunday schools before being called to
2-5 Freeway Forrest Baptist Church in Houston; in his new position, he
2-6 was elected president of the Pastors Conference, becoming the first
2-7 minister of education to serve in that capacity, and during his
2-8 accomplished tenure with that group, he significantly increased the
2-9 organization's membership; and
2-10 WHEREAS, In 1978, this remarkable gentleman joined the First
2-11 Baptist Church in Killeen where he provided exceptional leadership
2-12 as the church's minister of education for many years and was the
2-13 person responsible for handling benevolent requests; it was while
2-14 serving in that position that he first became aware of the problem
2-15 of hunger in the area when many desperate families began to appear
2-16 at the church to ask for food; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Determined to see that needy individuals in the
2-18 community would not go hungry, Mr. Smith founded the Killeen Food
2-19 Care Center in 1987 after countless hours of hard work; taking a
2-20 substantial pay cut, he left his post with the church to assume the
2-21 directorship of the new center and soon had secured a plentiful
2-22 food supply from a local grocery store and a community development
2-23 block grant that enabled the center to relocate to a larger
2-24 facility in 1989; and
2-25 WHEREAS, An unselfish man who cares deeply for others,
2-26 Mr. Smith is highly regarded in Killeen for his tremendous
2-27 compassion, dedication, and generosity; a trusted friend and a
3-1 compassionate listener, he always finds time to visit the sick and
3-2 elderly and to help others with their problems, in addition to
3-3 providing a comforting presence during times of sorrow, as well as
3-4 times of joy; and
3-5 WHEREAS, For his exemplary work in behalf of his fellow
3-6 citizens, this distinguished gentleman received the 1988 Golden
3-7 Deeds Award from the Killeen Exchange Club and also has been
3-8 honored by the Central Counties Chapter of the National Association
3-9 of Social Workers and by the Greater Centriplex Civitan Club; and
3-10 WHEREAS, Cherished by his community for his selflessness,
3-11 integrity, and sense of humor, Raymond Smith has greatly benefited
3-12 the citizens of Killeen in countless ways and truly merits our
3-13 highest praise and recognition for his continuing contributions in
3-14 this regard; now, therefore, be it
3-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-16 Legislature hereby commend Raymond Smith for his many significant
3-17 contributions to the betterment of his community and extend sincere
3-18 best wishes to him for continued success and happiness in the years
3-19 to come; and, be it further
3-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-21 prepared for Mr. Smith as an expression of highest regard by the
3-22 Texas House of Representatives.