SR356 - In memory of Carole Stewart Keeton of Austin.

        SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 356       In Memory   of   Carole Stewart Keeton            WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and   commemorates the life of Carole Stewart Keeton, a highly esteemed   Texan and a pioneering public servant, who died on March 26, 2025,   at the age of 85; and          WHEREAS, Born September 13, 1939, Carole Keeton was the   second child and only daughter of Madge Anna Stewart and W. Page   Keeton, legendary dean of The University of Texas School of Law;   enthusiastic and driven from an early age, Carole attended The   University of Texas in the early 1960s, which helped to lay the   foundation for her distinguished career of public service and a   lifelong dedication to her community and state; and          WHEREAS, Carole broke barriers in Texas politics and   government throughout her career, and in 1972, she became the first   woman elected president of the Austin Independent School District   Board of Trustees; she went on to become the first woman to serve as   mayor of Austin in 1977 and committed her efforts to fostering the   growth and development of the city, and she remains the only woman   to have held the office; and          WHEREAS, In 1994, Carole Keeton became the first woman   elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, and in 1998, she earned   the similar distinction of being the first woman elected Texas   Comptroller of Public Accounts; she served in this capacity from   1999 to 2007, during which time she demonstrated a robust   commitment to fiscal responsibility and good governance as well as   a dedication to economic transparency and a principle-driven work   ethic; and          WHEREAS, A powerful voice for Texans, Carole made an impact   that extended well beyond her official duties, particularly on   issues of education and government efficiency; her influence   resonated across party lines, and her snappy delivery and personal   aphorisms endeared her to many and served to highlight her sharp   wit and her keen insight into the challenges faced by everyday   Texans; and          WHEREAS, While her professional accomplishments were   remarkable, Carole found the greatest reward in her role as a   mother and grandmother; she raised her four sons with care and   devotion and instilled in them the value of hard work and the same   diligence and intrepidity that defined her civic service; she   treasured time spent with her grandchildren, who were a source of   much pride and joy to her, and she was a model of grace and   resilience to her loved ones; and          WHEREAS, A woman of strength, perseverance, and   generosity, Carole leaves behind a distinguished legacy of   service shaped by her notable achievements and her spirit of   determination; she will continue to be a source of inspiration to   others long into the future, and her memory will be dearly   cherished by her loving family members and by the many people who   were privileged to know her and to share in her life; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th   Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved   family of Carole Stewart Keeton; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for   her 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 Carole Keeton.     Eckhardt       Alvarado Hall Middleton   Bettencourt Hancock Miles   Birdwell Hinojosa of Hidalgo Nichols   Blanco Hinojosa of Nueces Parker   Campbell Huffman Paxton   Cook Hughes Perry   Creighton Johnson Schwertner   Flores King Sparks   Gutierrez Kolkhorst West   Hagenbuch Menéndez Zaffirini     Patrick, President of the Senate             ________________________________          President of the Senate               I hereby certify that the     above Resolution was adopted by     the Senate on March 31, 2025, by a     rising vote.             ________________________________          Secretary of the Senate             ________________________________           Member, Texas Senate