SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 981

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens of Carrollton in mourning the loss of Carl Benjamin "Catfish" Montgomery, who died April 17, 2007, at the age of 87; and

WHEREAS, Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, Carl Montgomery moved with his family to North Texas when he was six weeks old; he grew up independently in Carrollton so that he could keep his eligibility to play sports at Carrollton High School; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Montgomery was captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams at Carrollton High School and was selected the school's outstanding athlete in 1938; he also served as president of his senior class and of the student body; and

WHEREAS, He received a scholarship to Southern Methodist University but transferred after his freshman year to North Texas Agricultural College and then to North Texas State Teachers College; in 1942, he joined the United States Navy and worked in physical rehabilitation; he married his college sweetheart, Kay Baker, in 1943; and

WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Montgomery went on to earn his bachelor's degree from North Texas State Teachers College, now the University of North Texas; after a stint with the Veterans Administration in McKinney, he put his entrepreneurial talents to use and established Montgomery Chemical, Janitorial Supplies and Janitorial Services; he later opened Carl's House of Furniture and Appliances; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Montgomery's legacy was his devotion to community service; he was a longtime active Shriner and served on the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board; a charter member of the John L. DeGrazier Masonic Lodge, he received the group's 60-year pin and the Golden Trowel Award; and he was a member of the Royal Order of Jesters and was a Scottish Rite Mason; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Montgomery was a member of the Hella Temple and devoted thousands of hours to the Hella Shrine Circus; a longtime Methodist, he was active in the University Park United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Catfish Montgomery was devoted to his family and was an inspiration to others, and he will continue to live in the hearts and minds of those he left behind; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Carl Benjamin Montgomery: his wife, Kay Montgomery; his sons, Baker and Bill Montgomery; and his eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Carl Benjamin Montgomery. Shapiro

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 7, 2007, by a rising vote.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate