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The school's namesake
Carter Lomax, a shining star in life and education, served
his country and career to its fullest. Mr. Lomax was born in
Henry Prairie outside the area of Franklin, Texas, on October
15, 1917, as the baby of nine children. When he was six months
of age, his mother died, and his 18 year old sister, Lucile,
became “mom” to her baby brother.
He graduated from Humble High School where he was a
superior athlete in football, basketball, and track. After high
school, he was offered a full scholarship to Southwest Texas
State Teachers College in San Marcos where he was once again an
outstanding athlete in football, basketball, and track. In
1940, he was given the all conference rating for his excellence
in basketball. In 1941, he graduated from SWTSC with a degree in
history and physical education. Immediately after graduation,
he went into the Air Force and was accepted into Officer
Candidate School in Florida. He became a Second Lieutenant.
After serving 52 months in WWII, he was discharged with the rank
of Captain. While at San Marcos, he met Lenora Koehler, his
future wife. They began their 64 years of marriage on June 16,
1943. He went to Blythe, Needles, Cucamonga, among other places
and served the last part of his time in the service on Guam,
after the surrender of Japan, relieving the battle weary US
troops there.
He began his coaching career in 1946, in Kingsville, Texas,
and then moved to Sugar Land, Texas, where he coached and taught
math during 1947-1949. In the fall of 1949, he moved to Pasadena
as head basketball and assistant football coach at Pasadena High
School. During this time, he also worked on his Masters Degree
in Education at the University of Houston. He served as
Assistant Principal at both Southmore and South Houston
Intermediate schools and was named Principal of Southmore in
1959. In 1961, he became Principal at Jackson Intermediate and
moved on in 1962 to become Assistant Principal at South Houston
High School. His next big challenge was opening Sam Rayburn High
School as Principal in 1964, where he remained for the next 17
years until he retired. Shortly after retiring, he moved to
Lake Jackson.
For someone otherwise known as “Coach” to many, he was also
much-admired as father to his three children. His two
daughters, Ann Prophet and Lora Lea Haschke, followed their
father’s footsteps into education and became teachers in
Pasadena. His son, Carter Lomax, Junior, is a doctor in
Michigan.
Mr. Lomax was a charter member of the Central Church of
Christ in Pasadena, where he served as an elder for many years.
One of his favorite sayings was, “Be friendly, fair, firm,
and consistent” with consistent being the hardest to accomplish.
His spirit of character, strength, and dedication to
children and to education will long be remembered by many and
will live on in Carter Lomax Middle School.
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