The school's namesake
The school is named after longtime Pasadena ISD administrator and teacher Carter Lomax. 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.