[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 105 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1479-E1480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE CARL S. SMITH OF HOUSTON, TEXAS
______
HON. KEN BENTSEN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 29, 1998
Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a legend in
both Houston and Texas politics, my constituent, the Honorable Carl S.
Smith, who died Tuesday afternoon, at the age of 89.
Carl S. Smith dedicated his life to public service. He was first
appointed as Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector in 1947. He was
elected in 1948 and re-elected an unprecedented 12 times, serving a
total of 51 years. In fact, Carl was so dedicated to public service
that he never considered his job ``work.'' That's not just an
assertion--Carl never retired. Throughout all these years, Carl helped
Harris County residents meet their common obligations to one another
and to their government by making it more convenient for citizens to
pay taxes and register to vote. He was also responsible for car
registration, alcohol license fees, and a host of state levies.
Carl lived a long and good life. He was born just as the combustible
engine was first being applied in cars. He ended his life riding the
crest of the information age. Not only can Carl's life chart the course
of American history, his acts of courage foreshadow great changes in
American history. For example, in 1952, Carl was the first county
official to promote an African-American employee to an important
government position, a deputy clerkship. This was a small but
significant act in the early days of the Civil Rights movement.
Additionally, Carl was an advocate for the elderly. He wrote the
statewide property tax exemption for senior citizens that was later
adopted as a constitutional amendment. Finally, Carl was able to adapt
to the times. In the past few years, Carl received accolades for
automating and computerizing his office's operations.
Carl's dedication to public service is an example to all Americans of
what government is capable of accomplishing. Carl was first elected to
office just two years after our victory in World War II, when it was
thought that we could accomplish anything. He held on to that belief
even in this cynical era where government is among the least trusted of
public and private institutions. He is a model to all Americans
involved in public service and especially elderly Americans. A few
years ago, Carl joked that while his body had aged, his doctor said he
had the ``mind of a 20-year-old.''
While he was tax assessor at the time of my birth and I remember
learning his name at an early age, I first came to know Carl when I
became the Chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party in 1990. Ever
since then, whenever I was in the Harris County Administration
Building, I would stop to say hello. Whether I was there on business or
to register a car, Carl would always call me in to sit down and talk
politics in his office, which consisted of maps, floor to ceiling
boxes, and records. Just a few years ago, I was picking up new license
plates, and Carl summoned me to another part of the office where he was
helping staff and conducting a seminar. In his 51 years at the helm, it
is fair to say that Carl S. Smith probably did every job there was to
do in the Tax Assessor-Collectors' Office he ran.
Carl S. Smith was a good and great man. He was my constituent, but
more importantly, he was my friend and one whose counsel I often
sought. As much as Harris County loved and respected Carl, his family
has suffered an even greater loss.
I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record at this point an
article and obituary which appeared in the Houston Chronicle on July
29, 1998.
[From the Houston Chronicle, July 29, 1998]
Carl Smith, Tax Chief for 51 Years, Dies
(By Bob Tutt)
Carl S. Smith, who served 51 years as Harris County's tax
assessor and collector and was the senior elected official
here, died Tuesday afternoon. He was 89.
His death came at St. Luke's Hospital where he had been
confined just over two weeks for treatment of heart problems
and other complications.
The Harris County Commissioners Court appointed him to the
tax assessor's office in 1947 upon the death of the
incumbent, Jim Glass. The next year Smith won election to the
post, then was re-elected 12 times. If he had completed the
last two years of his term, he would have been 91.
County Judge Robert Eckels announced Smith's death during
Tuesday's session of Commissioners Court, prompting gasps
from the audience.
``The county has lost someone who's been an institution
here,'' Eckels said. ``He was a great leader . . . and
someone who cared a great deal for the people of this
country.''
Eckels then led the court in a moment of silence in Smith's
memory.
Commissioner Jim Fonteno, a 24-year veteran of the court,
said Smith made him look like the new kid on the block.
``He's been a good one,'' Fonteno said. ``He's been
dedicated. He'd get with you too. If you said something he
didn't like, he'd take you to task on it.''
District Clerk Charles Bacarisse joined other department
heads in praising Smith, calling him an ``icon'' of county
government.
``He clearly was a man of honor and integrity and ran his
office in an honorable fashion,'' Bacarisse said.
Jack Loftis, Chronicle executive vice president and editor,
reflected, ``To say that Carl Smith was the consummate public
official would not be giving him proper credit for the 51
years of honest and gracious service he provided to the
citizens of Harris County. He was an extraordinary man in
every way.''
Eckels added, ``I remember that he would be down here many
times at midnight helping people to file their taxes by the
deadline so they wouldn't have to pay a penalty.''
The court appointed Loretta Wimp, Smith's chief clerk, as
temporary tax assessor-collector. Later it will appoint an
acting assessor-collector to serve until a replacement is
elected in November.
Under state law a successor to fill out Smith's term will
be selected in an election held as part of the Nov. 3 general
election. Had Smith died after Aug. 30, Commissioners Court
would have named his successor.
Smith had considered retiring in 1996. He said he decided
against it because his doctor had pronounced him very fit and
he wanted to oversee installation of a new computer system to
process motor vehicle titles and licenses. David Mincberg,
the Democratic County Chairman, also had urged him to run
again.
At the time, Smith joined, ``My doctor said I have the mind
of a 20-year-old, but that's stretching a bit.''
He noted at the time that his years of service in the
county's employ would make him eligible for a pension greater
than his $93,000 salary.
In winning re-election in 1996 Smith captured almost 60
percent of the vote. He and state District Judge Katie
Kennedy turned out to be the only Democrats to win county-
wide elections that year.
Reflecting on his tenure in office, Smith said he took
special pride in establishing tax office substations around
the county to dispense automobile and voter registrations and
provide other services.
That, he pointed out, enabled citizens to avoid long lines
at county offices downtown.
Smith also said he was proud of efforts he and the late
state Sen. Criss Cole made in support of state legislation
allowing homestead exemptions to reduce property taxes for
senior citizens.
Smith boasted that in keeping with changing times he had
computerized and upgraded his office's operations.
His responsibilities also included directing registration
of voters and maintaining voter registration rolls.
A native of Lindale in Smith County in northeast Texas,
Smith spent most of his life in Houston. A graduate of Reagan
High School, he got a law degree from the Houston Law School
in 1934, in addition to taking courses at the University of
Houston.
Smith had served as president of the Tax Assessor-
Collectors Association of Texas as well as the International
Association of Assessing Officers.
His wife of 59 years, Dorothy, died in 1991. They were
parents of two daughters, Nancy Stewart and Pam Robinson,
both of Houston.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Geo.
H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, 1010 Bering Dr. Services will
be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bethany Christian Church, 3223
Westheimer.
____
Carl S. Smith
Harris County will miss its long-time public servant
The secret of Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Carl
Smith's five decades in office has to be that he changed with
the times yet managed to remain an old-fashion public
servant. His reputation is that of an effective manager and
an admirable man.
In his last terms in office, Smith became used to hearing
about himself as ``an institution'' and ``the dean'' of
Harris County government. He made no bones about his
advancing years, sometimes joking that he could tune out
nonsense by turning down the volume on his hearing aids.
Smith was appointed to head the tax office after the death of
the incumbent, Jim Glass, in 1947, and was fond of noting
that he was elected in 1948, the same year Harry Truman was
elected president.
``Youth and inexperience are no match for age and
determination,'' Smith would say, crediting the comment to
former President George Bush.
[[Page E1480]]
Well liked and respected at Commissioners Court, Smith was
revered by many of his employees, from whom he insisted on
unwavering courtesy to the public. A number of Smith's
employees have been with him for decades. It was frequently
said that when Smith finally left office, the average age of
tax office employees likely would decline significantly.
Smith, a native of Lindale, Texas, took a law degree from
Houston Law School before a great many of his Harris County
constituency were born. Talk around the county was that
Smith, one of the Harris County's last remaining Democrats
elected countywide and serving his 12th term, was clinging to
the office to keep it out of Republican hands. But there is
no denying he managed an efficient shop.
Through the years, Smith fought off usurpers to his domain
of tax collection and tax bill distribution, voter
registration, motor vehicle registration, alcohol license
fees and other state levies. Smith fended off a proposal by
powerful former Mayor Bob Lanier to give a portion of his
office's tax collection function to a law firm. And in his
most recent re-election, Smith put down a challenger's
campaign to shutter the tax office, pass voter registration
duties to the county clerk and privatize tax collection.
Smith, in 1952, was the first county official to promote a
black employee to an important government position, a deputy
clerkship. And he wrote the statewide property tax exemption
for citizens over 65 that was later adopted as a
constitutional amendment.
Smith's wife of 59 years, Dorothy DeArman Smith, died in
1991. They were parents of two daughters, Nancy Stewart and
Pam Robinson, both of Houston.
His mind clear, his wit sharp and his sense of humor
intact, Smith's heart failed him in the end. He died at 89 at
St. Luke's Hospital, where he was being treated for heart
problems. Carl Smith will be long missed and remembered
always.
____________________