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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of Pastor Dr. Kenneth Eugene Carter Jr. of |
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Tyler on April 6, 2025, at the age of 90; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Kenneth E. Carter Sr. and Doris McAuliffe |
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Carter, Ken Carter was born in San Antonio on February 18, 1935; he |
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and his beloved younger sister, Camille, were mischievous partners |
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throughout their childhood; he graduated from Amon |
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Carter-Riverside High School in Fort Worth and earned his |
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bachelor's degree in economics from the Rice Institute; he met his |
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future wife, the former Mary Alice "Freddie" Frederick, while |
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serving on the student council; they wed on February 14, 1955, and |
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went on to share 70 years together; they were blessed with two |
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children, Kathy and Buddy; and |
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WHEREAS, Pastor Carter served in the U.S. Army Corps of |
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Engineers, attaining the rank of first lieutenant; he remained in |
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the Army Reserve for two years while employed by Ford Motor Company |
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in Dallas; at a church retreat, he felt his call to the ministry, |
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and he gave up his successful career to enter Perkins School of |
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Theology at Southern Methodist University; he served as youth |
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minister at Kirkwood United Methodist Church in Irving and before |
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completing his bachelor of divinity degree with honors, he was |
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named pastor of Wheatland United Methodist Church in Dallas; |
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attendance more than doubled during his tenure; in 1967, he was |
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appointed senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in |
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Carrollton; he and his wife trained in a new program, Evangelism |
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Explosion, and they were instrumental in bringing it to thousands |
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of people in North Texas; under Pastor Carter's dynamic leadership, |
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membership in the church grew exponentially; he was awarded an |
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honorary doctor of divinity degree from Asbury Theological |
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Seminary; after 16 years at FUMC, he joined A. L. Williams and then |
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became senior vice president of Resource Services, a firm |
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implementing fundraising for church-building programs; and |
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WHEREAS, While the passing of Ken Carter brings great sadness |
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to his family and friends, he leaves behind a legacy that will long |
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be treasured by all those who held him dear; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of Pastor Dr. Kenneth Eugene |
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Carter Jr. and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Mary Alice Carter; to his daughter, |
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Dr. Kathryn Allyson Carter; to his son, Kenneth E. Carter III, and |
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his wife, Lori McAmis Carter; to his grandchildren, Joshua, Samuel, |
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and Benjamin; to his great-grandchildren, Noah, Grae, Myles, Eli, |
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Wade, and Charlie; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Ken Carter. |