[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 27 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E319-E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             SALUTING BILL AND ELLEN CARTER OF HOUSTON, TX

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 10, 1995
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, they were not born in Houston, or 
even Texas, but Bill and Ellen Carter personify the ``can do'' spirit 
that has made Houston a great city and Texas a great state. In the 36 
years since they moved to Houston--and as a result of their own hard 
work and sacrifice--Bill and Ellen Carter have enjoyed tremendous 
success as business owners. Their success demonstrates that even today, 
Texas remains a place in which a person can advance as far as his 
talent, dedication and hard work can carry him.
  Bill and Ellen Carter were recently profiled in a feature story in 
the Houston Post that detailed their love of Houston, as well as their 
 [[Page E320]] amazing business acumen in the 35 years since they 
scraped together $15,000 to purchase a gun club in north Harris County. 
Today, the Carters own four retail gun stores, a public shooting range, 
as well as three commercial game ranches. Carter's Country's sales have 
increased from $32,000 in the first year of operations to approximately 
$25 million last year.
  Mr. Speaker, as a longtime and loyal Carter's Country customer, I 
want to add my voice to those paying tribute to this remarkable couple.
  Raised in a small farming community in central North Carolina, Bill 
Carter joined the National Guard when he was just 14 years old--adding 
a few years to his age in order to enlist. Following his discharge from 
the National Guard, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In the 
National Guard and the Marine Corps, his lifelong interest in firearms 
deepened.
  Bill was sent to Korea and briefly considered a military career but 
ended up leaving the Corps with the intention of getting a college 
degree. Instead, he became a merchant seaman and, in the course of his 
travels, visited Houston often. He met his future wife in New Jersey 
and, eventually, Bill convinced his bride to move with him to Houston.
  He worked as an iron worker while Ellen worked as an emergency room 
nurse at Hermann Hospital. Soon, Bill was making firearms for his 
coworkers out of a makeshift shop in his garage. Many weekends, in 
order to test his firearms, Bill would arrive at a local shooting range 
at sunup. He spent so much time there, in fact, that the owner 
eventually offered to sell him the shooting range for $15,000. And so 
was founded the Carter's Country empire.
  As a result of their hard work and dedication, Bill and Ellen 
Carter's business expanded rapidly in the 1970's and 1980's. Today, 
despite this expansion, Carter's Country remains a family business 
serving the needs of hunters and sportsmen throughout the greater 
Houston area. Carter's Country employs 100 associates, who Bill Carter 
calls ``the heart and soul of Carter's Country.''
  Mr. Speaker, Bill and Ellen Carter's story is the quintessential 
Texas story of humble beginnings; of hard work and initiative and 
dedication; and of well-deserved success. I hope you will join with me 
in saluting Bill and Ellen Carter and wishing them and their family 
continued success and happiness in the years ahead.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  

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