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