February 28, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 37 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE RAINWATER FAMILY AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF 
                           CARROLLTON, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2019

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate trailblazers 
for equality like the Rainwater Family of Carrollton, Texas during this 
Black History Month. Over the last 100 years, each generation of the 
Rainwater family has persistently worked to grow Carrollton, Texas, 
into a diverse, inclusive, and loving community.
  Born on February 3, 1912, Annie Heads Rainwater was the sixth child 
of Walter and Nancy Heads. In 1932, Annie married Charlie ``Wash'' 
Rainwater, son of George W. Rainwater and Delia Bush. Annie and Charlie 
had eight children, two of which passed away as infants. Annie and 
Charlie lived on the family farm belonging to Annie's grandparents--
located in present day Carrollton, Texas. Annie was a homemaker and 
Charlie managed the family farm. Together, they attended church and 
spent time instilling Christian values of charity, hard work, and 
friendship in their children.
  In 1962, Dallas' school district desegregation plan was slowly being 
put into place. In Carrollton, a then-rural school district to the 
northwest, Annie Heads Rainwater's six children had no neighborhood 
high school. Under segregation laws and as was customary, black 
students were not allowed to attend the all-white Carrollton High 
School just minutes away from the Rainwater family farm. Black students 
were bused 20 miles to all-black Booker T. Washington High School in 
Dallas, and later, 30 miles north to Denton's all-black Fred Moore 
High.
  To Mrs. Rainwater, the school system had failed her family. As a 
recent widow, Mrs. Rainwater filed civil action in U.S. District Court 
against Carrollton's school district, demanding desegregation. Her 
younger daughters, Nancy and Betty, were named as plaintiffs in the 
case. Later that year, Judge Sarah T. Hughes ordered Carrollton to 
integrate its high school. In fall 1963, Mrs. Rainwater watched as 
Nancy and other teenagers became the first black students to attend 
all-white R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas. Annie Heads 
Rainwater lived until 1992. In 1994, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD 
recognized Annie for her bold perseverance against many odds by 
dedicating Annie Heads Rainwater Elementary in her honor.
  Today, Annie Heads Rainwater's son, Rev. Willie Rainwater, continues 
to carry the torch for justice and freedom through his work at Christ 
Community Connection. Willie and his wife, Juanita, work diligently to 
provide scholarships to underprivileged students in Carrollton-Farmers 
Branch ISD. Additionally, Willie and Juanita started the Martin Luther 
King, Jr. parade that celebrated its 25th anniversary last month.
  Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
Rainwater Family for their significant contributions to the Carrollton, 
Texas community.

                          ____________________