By: Montford S.R. No. 105
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 In Memory
1-3 of
1-4 The Honorable John C. White
1-5 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins citizens
1-6 across the nation in mourning the death of esteemed statesman
1-7 John C. White on January 20, 1995; and
1-8 WHEREAS, Born on November 26, 1924, on a small tenant farm
1-9 in Clay County, this distinguished gentleman was the third and
1-10 youngest child of Ed H. and Carrie Lou White; he attended rural
1-11 schools and graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1942; he
1-12 worked his way through school at Texas Tech University and earned
1-13 his bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1946; and
1-14 WHEREAS, In 1950, at the age of 25, he ran for and was
1-15 elected to the job of Texas Commissioner of Agriculture; he
1-16 defeated a field of five candidates and was the youngest person
1-17 ever elected to statewide office in Texas; and
1-18 WHEREAS, John White held that position for over 26 years;
1-19 during his tenure, he turned the agency into a modern regulatory
1-20 agency that was a model of efficiency and served as an example to
1-21 other state offices; the Texas Legislature, the Texas Research
1-22 League, and state auditors cited his agency for its economy and
1-23 effectiveness; and
2-1 WHEREAS, A lifelong member of the Democratic Party, he was
2-2 active in politics on the state and national level; he was selected
2-3 to serve on the National Democratic Policy agricultural panel in
2-4 Chicago in 1953, the first of a long series of tasks he performed
2-5 for his party; and
2-6 WHEREAS, In 1960, John White coordinated efforts to get out
2-7 the vote in rural and city areas for the presidential race in
2-8 which John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson carried the state;
2-9 he also served as a delegate to the Democratic Convention in
2-10 Los Angeles; and
2-11 WHEREAS, In 1964, Commissioner White campaigned personally
2-12 for the Lyndon B. Johnson and Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic ticket
2-13 and they carried the state; in 1968, Hubert Humphrey selected
2-14 John C. White to head the Humphrey campaign, and Humphrey carried
2-15 the state in spite of the national victory of Richard M. Nixon;
2-16 and
2-17 WHEREAS, In 1972, he was a chairman for the presidential
2-18 campaign of George McGovern; in addition, he helped formulate
2-19 agricultural platform proposals for the national campaign that
2-20 same year; and
2-21 WHEREAS, In 1977, President Jimmy Carter selected him to
2-22 serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Deputy Secretary White
2-23 served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1979
2-24 through 1981, and he continued to be one of the key national and
2-25 state political leaders; and
3-1 WHEREAS, His decency, perseverance, and humor were a model
3-2 for many; he dedicated his life to service to the nation and the
3-3 Democratic Party; and
3-4 WHEREAS, A lobbyist on behalf of Texas interests in our
3-5 nation's capitol, he was ably and loyally supported in his
3-6 activities by his lovely wife, Wynelle Watson; and
3-7 WHEREAS, An advisor to presidents and other national figures,
3-8 John C. White will live in memory as one of the great political
3-9 figures of our time; his presence will be keenly missed; now,
3-10 therefore, be it
3-11 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-12 74th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the members
3-13 of his bereaved family: his wife, Wynelle Watson White; his sons,
3-14 John Richard and Edward Prince White; and his stepchildren,
3-15 Russell W. Coffee, Jr., Craig Allen Coffee, and Kay Lynn Andrews;
3-16 and, be it further
3-17 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his
3-18 family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate,
3-19 and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-20 John C. White.
3-21 ______________________________________
3-22 President of the Senate
3-23 I hereby certify that the above
3-24 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-25 on January 30, 1995, by a rising vote.
4-1 ______________________________________
4-2 Secretary of the Senate
4-3 ______________________________________
4-4 Member, Texas Senate