[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 166 (Friday, October 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF OL' BILL--MR. BILL CARTER

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, way out west, Texas that is, where one 
can always find a back road and porch with a rocking chair, are towns 
like Spring, Texas and Laredo, Texas. Here, one could always find Mr. 
Bill Carter telling stories about how he grew up, sharing past hunting 
adventures, and explaining how he started Carter's Country.
  Ol' Bill in his starched jeans, crisp shirt, and worn boots was a 
fine businessman, hunter, husband, father, and devoted family man. He 
spent his entire life building his family business, enjoying the 
outdoors, and serving his community. Spring, Texas and the entire state 
of Texas lost a legend of a man on October 2, 2018.
  Bill was born in 1934, in a small town in North Carolina. As a child, 
his love for firearms began at the age of eleven when he bought a used 
Winchester 22 pump. During this time, his love of the outdoors grew. 
And at an early age he began delivering papers, he was an entrepreneur 
in the making.
  During high school years, Bill joined the North Carolina National 
Guard. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps. His 
lifelong passion for firearms deepened. He considered a career with the 
Marine Corps, but decided to leave in 1956 to continue his education.
  After returning from the Korean War, Bill realized college was not 
for him. He became a seaman on a merchant ship. While sailing routes 
from Houston to New Jersey, he discovered a love for the Houston area. 
At the end of his shipping route, he met his future wife, Ellen, in New 
Jersey.
  Bill and Ellen married and soon talked her into moving to Houston. He 
got a job as an ironworker, and Ellen worked in the emergency room as a 
registered nurse at Hermann Hospital. He soon started doing custom gun 
work in his garage for his ironworker friends. His wide-ranging 
knowledge of guns made him well known in the Houston area. Through Bill 
and Ellen's hard work and dedication, they purchased 15 acres of land 
and a gun club on Aldine Westfield near FM 1960.
  In 1969, business was booming so they purchased a larger piece of 
property off Treaschwig in Spring, Texas. This location is currently 
Carter's Country headquarters. Ellen retired from nursing and helped 
with everyday business. They had two kids, Billy and Lori. Billy and 
Lori took over many Carter responsibilities and both play an important 
role in the Carter legacy.
  Bill's love of outdoors and passion for hunting brought him to 
ranching. In the late 70s, he purchased Sombrerito Ranch in South 
Texas. He treasured managing a 100% native South Texas deer herd. His 
bucks have the famous 10-point genes. His 11,000 acre ranch was 
originally part of the Spanish land grant, and now it is known for 
producing some of the best trophy bucks in North America.
  Today, the Carter's have four retail stores, a gun range, and elk and 
whitetail hunting ranches. It is my hope that Bill's legacy will be 
remembered and folks will see if a humble southern boy with modest 
beginnings can achieve his American dream, they can too. Of course--
with hard work, perseverance, passion and dedication. I consider it an 
honor to have known this true Texas cowboy and have him as a friend.
  My thoughts are with the love of his life, Ellen, and their two 
children. They all share the same passion for the great Texas outdoors. 
His memory will live on, in the many lives he touched along the way. 
Texas will miss Ol' Bill, Happy Trails.
  Semper Fi.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________