[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 115 (Thursday, September 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1573-E1574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING BILL CARR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 12, 2002

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and my colleague Gene 
Green, I rise to honor the memory of an extraordinary woman, Billie 
Carr, known far and wide as the ``Godmother of Texas Liberals,'' who 
passed away on September 9, 2002, at the age of 74. Her death is a 
tremendous loss not only for her family, but for Texas and the nation. 
Ms. Carr will be long remembered as an unapologetic partisan, a 
champion of civil rights, a challenger of the status quo and a 
visionary who fought to forward the goals of the Democratic Party of 
the local, state, and national level.
  Billie Carr was an exceptional individual whose life underscored what 
it meant to be an American. Known as a hard driving Democrat, revered 
by many, reviled by others and intimidated by none, Billie Carr was a 
kind and caring human being whose commitment to the American democratic 
experiment made our state and nation a better place. She once told me 
that political parties did not exist for the benefit of the 
politicians, but rather the politicians existed for the benefit of the 
parties and their volunteers. And she never let me or any other elected 
official forget it. She understood not only the function of politics 
better than most, but the purpose as well.
  Billie Carr, was first exposed to politics as a 26-day-old infant 
when her parents took her to a session of the 1928 Democratic National 
Convention, held that year in her native Houston. At the age of 18, 
Billie discovered what would become the true loves of her life, David 
Carr and politics. In the early 1950's, David was elected president of 
the United Steelworkers Union at the plant where he worked, and 
together, Billie and he learned the political ropes by working with 
union officials and labor organizations. In what would be a key to her 
political education, Billie volunteered for the Truman campaign in 
1948, establishing herself as a tough political insider.
  In 1953, in what would serve as the beginnings of the liberal 
movement within the Texas

[[Page E1574]]

Democratic Party, Billie along with the legendary Frankie Randolph, 
enraged at local and state Democrats who had endorsed Republican Dwight 
D. Eisenhower for president, took action. On Texas Independence Day of 
that year, they formed the Harris County Democrats, a liberal arm of 
the party that eventually became a powerful voice in the Harris County 
and Texas Democratic Parties.
  Billie Carr was not only instrumental in the development and success 
of the Texas Democratic Party, but she was also influential on the 
national level, having attended every national convention since 1952. 
In 1968, infuriated by the direction of the state party, Billie led a 
challenge to the entire Texas Delegation, along with a busload of over 
100 people, some of whom went on to become members of Congress, to 
protest the selection of delegates. As a testament to her tenacity and 
resolve, in 1972, she was elected as a national Democratic 
Committeewoman from Texas and later was a member of the Democratic 
National Committee's, Executive Committee.
  During her more than fifty years of political involvement, many 
turned to Bill Carr for wisdom and guidance, including former President 
Bill Clinton who came under Billie's tutelage when he worked in Texas 
for the McGovern campaign in 1972. Billie Carr, a woman of 
irreproachable integrity, never used her status for personal gain, 
instead she believed the way to expand her movement was to bring people 
together under a unified front. Her unflagging drive and passion for 
each of her causes, has had a profound impact on the politics of Texas.
  Throughout her tenure, Billie Carr sought to reinforce the tried and 
true notion that politics are best influenced, and best practiced, when 
done so at the grassroots level. She came of age simultaneous with the 
outgrown influence of money and media in politics. And she fought to 
the very end to ensure that volunteers and old-fashioned shoe leather 
remained as influential in elections as they did in the policy 
effected. Few would realize that the return of grassroots politicking 
recently heralded in a front page New York Times article is a 
phenomenon, which can be attributed in part to the tenacity of Billie 
Carr's life work.
  Although Billie Carr has served the Democratic Party well, she 
considered her most important role to be mother, grandmother and 
friend. She is survived by three sons, David, Billy and Michael Carr, 
three grandchildren and many friends. It is fair to say that she was as 
devoted to them as they were to her. In an age when many politicians 
sought to coin family values, Billie Carr practices them to the fullest 
extent.
  Mr. Speaker, many in Texas and across America mourn the loss of 
Billie Carr but rejoice in her memory and the contributions she has 
made to the betterment of our nation.

                          ____________________