Latest news with #CaroleKeeton
CBS News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Why are flags in Texas at half staff? Honoring Carole Keeton
Texas and American flags are flying at half staff in the Lone Star State on Friday to honor longtime public servant Carole Keeton . Keeton, also known as Carole Strayhorn, died on Wednesday at age 85. Keeton served two terms as the Texas State Comptroller , the first woman to occupy that office. She was also a three-term mayor of Austin and served on the Texas Railroad Commission and the Austin ISD Board of Trustees. She also mounted unsuccessful bids for governor and the U.S. House of Representatives. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation on Thursday for flags to be lowered to half staff until sunset on Friday. Flags at the state Capitol and state cemetery will also be at half staff on the day of her burial, the proclamation said. "As a mark of respect for her public service as school board president, state insurance commissioner, mayor, railroad commissioner, and comptroller, it is fitting that flags be lowered to half-staff in her honor," Abbott said in the proclamation. "On behalf of Texas, the First Lady and I offer our thoughts and prayers on behalf of the Keeton family in their time of mourning. I urge all Texans to appropriately remember Carole's service to Texas." In an obituary published online , her sons wrote, "Her tireless dedication and ability to get things done were unmatched. She stood firm on principle, always focused on what was best for those she served and doing the right thing the right way."
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why are flags at half-staff in Texas? When they're raised again after Carole Keeton death
As you go about your day today, you may notice Texas flags flying at half-staff across the state. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the flags at half-staff for the memorial of former Comptroller of Texas. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset Friday, March 28, and should return to full-staff by sunrise Saturday. Former Austin Mayor, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton dies and longtime public servant, known for breaking barriers in state and local government. She made history as the first woman elected as both the mayor of Austin and the Texas state comptroller. Throughout her career, Strayhorn was known for her independent streak, bold leadership, and commitment to fiscal responsibility. In addition to serving as Austin's mayor from 1977 to 1983, and then Railroad Commissioner from 1994 to 1999, she held office as Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts from 1999 to 2007. She also ran as an independent candidate for governor in 2006, challenging then-Gov. Rick Perry. Strayhorn was the mother of former White House press secretary Scott McClellan and came from a family deeply involved in public service. She died Wednesday at the age of 85. "Texas has lost a longtime leader and dedicated public servant with the death of Carole Keeton," a release from the governor's office states. "As a mark of respect for her public service as school board president, state insurance commissioner, mayor, railroad commissioner, and comptroller, it is fitting that flags be lowered to half-staff in her honor." There are specific holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website. That includes: Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Patriot Day. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. National Firefighters Memorial Day. President Dwight Eisenhower also issued a proclamation on the proper times for flying the flag at half-staff when government officials die. That includes: 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. 10 days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or a retired chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. From the date of death until interment for an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives. The date of death and the following day of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials. From the date of death until interment for the governor of a state, territory or possession. The president may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff to commemorate the death of other officials, former officials or foreign dignitaries, in addition to tragic events. For instance, on Oct. 7, Abbott declared Monday a statewide Day of Observance for Israel in Texas and asked residents to hold a moment of silence for the people of Israel and the seven Americans who remained hostages. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why are flags at half-staff in Texas? Honoring Carole Keeton Strayhorn
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Austin Mayor Carole Keeton dies at 85: 'One tough grandma'
Carole Keeton, who went from being a 37-year-old mayor of Austin as a single mother of four boys to the "one tough grandma" in charge of Texas' finances a generation later, was remembered as a political trailblazer with a dervish-like personality that "filled a room." She died around midday Wednesday surrounded by family in the home in Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood that her grandparents had built. She was 85. "Mom was first in a lot of things — first woman mayor of Austin, first woman comptroller, but first of all she was a mom and a grandma," said her son Brad McClellan, an Austin lawyer. "Always the most important things were her sons — my brothers — and her grandkids. There's no question about that." Keeton, the daughter of a legendary dean of the University of Texas law school and the mother of a White House press secretary, served three terms as Austin mayor from 1977 until 1983. Austin's current mayor, Kirk Watson, said Keeton's imprint on the city and on Texas is lasting and genuine. "Carole Keeton was a historic figure in Austin and the state," said Watson, whose first stint as mayor came after Keeton was the first woman to hold that office. "Importantly, she gave so much of herself to the city and state she loved and to the people both as a community and individually." Before serving as mayor, Keeton was the first woman to preside over the Austin school board. And after her city service, she was three times elected to statewide office. "She was a powerful personality that filled a room and pushed people to think about the future but also made you laugh at the drop of a hat," Watson said. Keeton — who also was known as Carole Keeton, Carole Keeton McClellan, Carole Keeton Rylander and Carole Keeton Strayhorn during her long public service career — after serving as mayor, made an unsuccessful bid in 1986 to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. J.J. "Jake" Pickle, running as a Republican in the heavily Democratic district. Eight years later, she was elected to one of three seats on the Texas Railroad Commission. In 1998, she won a razor-close race to be the state's top financial officer. An irrepressible campaigner, Keeton announced that she would challenge incumbent Gov. Rick Perry in the 2006 Republican primary. It was an uphill battle from the start, so she shifted gears and rebranded herself as an independent. Keeton came in third in a crowded field that also featured Democratic former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell and entertainer Kinky Friedman, who also ran as an independent. An attempted comeback as a candidate for Austin mayor in 2009 also came up short. Keeton' father was W. Page Keeton, who was the UT law school's dean from 1949 until 1974. And her youngest son, Scott McClellan, served as White House press secretary during President George W. Bush's administration. During her career holding statewide political office, Keeton embraced the nickname of "One tough grandma," which became both her moniker and her campaign slogan. Known for a rapid-fire speaking style that included her own coined aphorisms, including "the Girl Scout Cookie Index" to measure economic conditions and "too much month at the end of the money" to illustrate the challenges of people living paycheck to paycheck, Keeton campaigned as a relatable everywoman in Texas. More: Strayhorn calls for energy referendum Former Austin Mayor Ron Mullen, who served on the City Council in the late 1970s and early 1980s with Keeton and succeeded her as mayor, said she "was really quite an achiever." "To think about the frontiers that she overcame being a woman," Mullen said. "She was a unique person who really was a high achiever to help our city grow and flourish." Brad McClellan, one of Keeton's four sons, said his mother's public life was just part of his upbringing and continued after he and his brothers had grown and started families of their own. He recalled that in her first campaign for mayor, she was the only woman in the crowded field. She earned a spot in the runoff and won the race in a nail-biter that was not finally decided until the wee hours of the morning after the election. Supporters of the other candidates, McClellan recalled, said the rigors of being mayor of Austin was "too tough for a woman." "This is 1977 Austin, Texas, even then the most progressive liberal city in Texas," he said. But, McClellan added, even as a single mother, Keeton had more than enough energy for every aspect of her life. "She'd be doing laundry in the middle of the night, and then get up to take us to school," he said. "And then she'd go to City Council. I don't think she ever slept." Keeton remained politically involved even after her days of seeking public office had ended. In 2012, her organization Austinites For Action helped pass a proposition to improve access to health care in Travis County with a modest increase in property taxes. And in her only social media post on the platform Threads on Nov. 1, just days before Election Day, Keeton made an impassioned plea on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee and then-Vice President Kamala Harris as well as for U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who was challenging incumbent Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate. "I vote for protecting individual freedoms and rights in law and in reality, putting families first, a government for all the people unifying and caring not controlling, and a government in the sunshine for truth," she wrote under the handle "onetoughgrandma." Such actions, McClellan said, underscored her commitment to public spiritedness. "She was born in Austin, Texas, and died in Austin, Texas," her son said. "She loved this city and this state more than anything besides the family." In addition to Brad and Scott McClellan, Keeton is survived by sons Mark and Dudley McClellan, and nine grandchildren. Keeton's family will be holding a private service for her and will organize a public memorial in the next couple of months, according to her obituary. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Former Austin Mayor, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton dies
