By: Barrientos S.R. No. 724
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 In Memory
1-3 of
1-4 Mary Joe Carroll
1-5 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas and citizens
1-6 across the state were deeply saddened to learn of the death
1-7 of distinguished attorney and former Parliamentarian of the
1-8 Texas Senate Mary Joe Carroll on March 17, 1995; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The brilliant litigator and feared courtroom
1-10 adversary was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on June 25, 1914,
1-11 the daughter of Joseph H. and Mary Douglas Durning; when she was
1-12 two years old, Mary Joe moved with her family to Sherman, where she
1-13 attended the public schools and graduated from high school second
1-14 in her class; and
1-15 WHEREAS, An outstanding student, Mary Joe received scholarships
1-16 to The University of Texas by winning the interscholastic league
1-17 state championship in debate; she earned an honors bachelor of arts
1-18 degree and a master of arts degree; and
1-19 WHEREAS, Mary Joe married H. Bailey Carroll, who was then
1-20 an instructor in history at the university; the couple resided in
1-21 Austin and raised their family there; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Bailey and Mary Joe maintained a close relationship
1-23 with The University of Texas, where he held the rank of professor;
2-1 Bailey also served as the executive director of the Texas State
2-2 Historical Association and was designated managing editor of
2-3 the original two-volume Handbook of Texas; Mary Joe, as
2-4 associate editor, was a member of the small staff which prepared
2-5 and published the volumes; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Since she was a high school student, it had been
2-7 Mary Joe's dream to become a lawyer; in 1944 she began to take
2-8 one or two courses at The University of Texas School of Law, and
2-9 in 1955 she was awarded the law degree that she had wanted for so
2-10 long; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Ranked first among the applicants taking the
2-12 June, 1955, bar examinations, Mary Joe Carroll was credited by
2-13 the state's newspapers with being the first woman to achieve that
2-14 distinction; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Soon after her 41st birthday, Mrs. Carroll began
2-16 her stellar career as a lawyer with the firm then known as Looney,
2-17 Clark and Moorehead and successfully handled some of the firm's most
2-18 celebrated cases; and
2-19 WHEREAS, In 1961, Mary Joe served in the Texas Senate as
2-20 Parliamentarian for Lieutenant Governor Ben Ramsey and rendered
2-21 superlative service in that capacity; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Mary Joe's experience as Parliamentarian caused
2-23 her to be selected to draft legislation of all types, from rules
2-24 regulating highway construction requirements to rating insurance
2-25 boards; and
3-1 WHEREAS, A woman of rare ability and unquestioned integrity,
3-2 Mary Joe Carroll was chosen to draft an education code for the
3-3 State of Texas; the code she drafted was contained in a particular
3-4 measure that was defeated, but her basic plan and its format is
3-5 substantially duplicated in the measure which ultimately passed
3-6 and became the first of the Texas codes; and
3-7 WHEREAS, Highly regarded as an attorney, Mrs. Carroll
3-8 represented the Texas Farm Bureau, the Licensed Beverage
3-9 Distributors Association, and the Texas National Guard Armory
3-10 Board; and
3-11 WHEREAS, Her expertise in drafting legislation caused her
3-12 to be employed to draft the open meetings law and later the open
3-13 records law; and
3-14 WHEREAS, The most constant aspect of Mary Joe Carroll's
3-15 legal career was appellate briefing and argument, and her
3-16 last two appellate appearances, shortly before and after her
3-17 80th birthday, both resulted in victories for her; and
3-18 WHEREAS, An exemplary role model for all young attorneys,
3-19 Mary Joe Carroll made innumerable contributions to her profession
3-20 and her state; and
3-21 WHEREAS, The impact of this outstanding woman on the
3-22 State of Texas was immeasurable, and she will be greatly missed;
3-23 now, therefore, be it
3-24 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-25 74th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the
4-1 members of her family: her son, J. Speed Carroll; her grandson,
4-2 Charles Durning Carroll; her adopted son, Burgain G. Hayes and his
4-3 wife, Kathy; and her grandchildren, Christine, Katie, Burgain IV,
4-4 and Mary Margaret Hayes; and, be it further
4-5 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her
4-6 family as an expression of profound sympathy from the Texas Senate,
4-7 and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
4-8 Mary Joe Carroll.
4-9 ______________________________________
4-10 President of the Senate
4-11 I hereby certify that the above
4-12 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
4-13 on April 18, 1995, by a rising vote.
4-14 ______________________________________
4-15 Secretary of the Senate
4-16 ______________________________________
4-17 Member, Texas Senate