Dr. Hiram Thomas Carr, Jr.

Dr. Hiram Thomas Carr, Jr.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with Kevin Clowe officiating.

Hiram Thomas Carr, Jr. is the only Carr in this line to be named after his father, which made him Junior. He never used the “Junior.” When he became an older brother to two sisters, he was introduced to them as “Bubbie” (a common practice then in some rural areas.) To parents, friends, and classmates, he remained H.T. but when he joined the Navy his shipmates called him Tex. By the time he was in dental school, he called himself Hiram and Hiram he remained.

Hiram was born July 20, 1929 in Slaton, Texas. His parents were Hiram Thomas Carr (now “Sr.”) and Ella May Watson Carr, who were married August 6, 1924. Their first child, a daughter, died at birth. Hiram had two younger sisters: Alice Ruth Carr, b. October 15, 1931 who married Don Standley, and Helen Bonita Carr, b. August 26, 1934 who married Walter Meyer.

Hiram Carr, Senior was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad’s Harvey Houses as a baker. His wife, Ella May, who had been a teacher, was now a mother and homemaker. Hiram attended first grade at Slaton, but after that year the family moved to other small towns in Texas: Hackberry, Buffalo, and Tahoka. Hiram started high school in Tahoka, but after one year, the family moved to Post, which is where Hiram graduated in 1947. While in high school, Hiram participated in football, basketball, tennis, and track. On Saturdays he worked in a grocery’s meat market. Friday and Saturday nights he and friends enjoyed “goat-roping” on horseback. Goats were used because calves were too expensive. On Sundays, the family attended the Baptist church. Hiram worked as a roughneck in the oilfields the summer after graduating from high school. In the fall of 1947 he entered Howard-Payne College in Brownwood. There he played football and worked in the Athletic dining rooms to pay room and board. After a summer working in the oil fields Hiram moved to Canyon and enrolled at West Texas State College where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. Mornings and after school he drove a school bus for the Canyon School District. He continued working as a roughneck during summers and Christmas vacations. He graduated from WTSC in 1951 with a B.S. Degree in Biology.

Hiram enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1952. He was sent to San Diego for boot camp, where he was appointed Recruit Chief Petty Officer. At the end of this 12-week period, he was elected Honor Man of the Company by his peers. After completing Sonar School, he was transferred to Norfolk, VA, his home port, and boarded the U.S. John W. Weeks, DD701, the destroyer which was “home” for the next four years. He was fortunate to be assigned to a ship which was scheduled for a Round-the-World cruise which lasted about 14 months, five of which were spent in Korea. While there, duties consisted of shore bombardment, and transporting U.S. military personnel to Japan for R and R. The cruise was a great opportunity to see the world at the government’s expense. After this cruise, Hiram became Chief Petty Officer, and continued to look for mermaids on shorter cruises until he was honorably discharged in December 1956 as an S02. He lived in Canyon and continued to work in the oilfields. He also took three Chemistry courses at Texas Tech in Lubbock. One year he taught Science in a small rural school and drove their school bus.

On May 31, 1959 he married Charlyn Mitchell Weigle, a first-grade teacher at Brownsfield. They moved to Denton to earn Masters Degrees at NTSC. Their only child, a big 8 lb. 11oz. boy was born there May 14, 1960. They named him Charles Thomas, but called him Bebop, a type of music popular at that time. (After starting first grade, he insisted on being called Tommy.)

After completing graduate studies and receiving Masters Degrees in August, they moved to Brownfield for six months while Hiram worked as a roughneck. When he got a job in a chemistry lab in Odessa, the family moved there. After a few months, Hiram began working for the Texas Pure Food and Drug Department as an inspector of food establishments located throughout the state.

In the fall of 1962, the lives of this family changed for the better when they moved to Louisville, KY. Hiram entered the University of Louisville School of Dentistry; Charlyn began teaching 4th grade at Hazelwood Elementary and Bebop started going to Olene’s Day Care, where he has lunch, a nap, a small group of kids to play with, and two loving female caregivers. After four years of study, Hiram graduated in June 1966 with a D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. One hurdle remained: taking and passing State Boards to earn a license to practice dentistry. Hiram passed both Kentucky and Texas boards. During the summers in Kentucky, Hiram worked in the lab at Fort Knox. Because of the G.I. Bill, his wife’s teachings, his summer jobs and thrifty lifestyle, Hiram was not one cent in debt when he graduated.

Hiram wanted to return to Texas. He had a solo practice in Canyon for three years before forming a partnership with four other dentists. The group built a new building, complete with its own lab. They called themselves the Amarillo Dental Group. After successfully practicing dentistry for 31 years, Hiram retired in 1997. During those years he was active in professional organizations, and took numerous Continuing Education Courses. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Canyon, and civic organizations such at Rotary. He was a Shriner. He was a Cub Master when his son was a Cub Scout. The family continued to live in Canyon because they enjoyed their home, their neighborhood, and the small-town atmosphere, even though both parents worked in Amarillo and commuted daily.

Meanwhile, Hiram was active as a Naval Reservist by serving one weekend a month at the Amarillo Reserve Center, and providing dental services at military bases two weeks every year. He was retired from the Navy with the rank of Captain July 20, 1989.

Hiram and Charlyn sold the home they had lived in forty years (1426 Hillcrest in Canyon) in 2007 and moved into a retirement community called The Continental in Amarillo.

As of this writing, Hiram has an adult son Tom, who is a dentist in Amarillo, a daughter-in-law Sheree, three grandchildren, Ryan, Jon, and Jordan, a daughter-in-law, Ricki, two great-grandchildren, Rylee and Regan, and one wife Charlyn, to whom he has been married 59 years.

Since retiring, Hiram is involved in “American Supports You, Texas”, and serves when needed in military rites at veterans’ funerals. He attends annual reunions of servicemen who served on his ship, “The Weeks”. He is considered their official photographer.

Hiram has the distinction of being the first in his line of Carr’s to graduate from college. He is the first to earn a post-graduate degree, be a professional member of his community, and be addressed as “Doctor”. In addition, he is the first to attain the rank of “Captain” in the U.S. Navy.

From Tom:

To me, my dad was a good man, always home every night, always available to help with my schoolwork. He taught me the value of an education (both of my parents have three college degrees). He also taught me to get up every day and be a productive member of society. He taught me how to play chess. We played tennis together and went skiing together. He taught me the value of an education. He showed me the commitment of marriage. He was kind to everyone and put others first. He was a quiet, gentle soul and he was a Christian. He’s at peace now.

8 Replies to “Dr. Hiram Thomas Carr, Jr.”

  1. As the mother in f their two grandson’s, I can attest to the love HT had for them. You will not find better grandparents. For that, I am eternally grateful… I can’t speak for a Ryan, but I know Jonathan loved Doodah with all his heart… he will be missed.

  2. My prayers are with the family of Dr. Carr. My mom (Lorene Crawford) worked with Charlyn Carr years ago, and I recall her speaking of the Carrs fondly. May God grant you peace and understanding during this time.

  3. Charlyn I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. HT was an amazing man; of course had an amazing wife. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Tom and the family.

  4. I have the honor of serving as Dr. Carr’s grandson’s commanding officer in the Coast Guard. While I have never met Dr. Carr I can attest that his professionalism, compassion, dignity, courage, chivalry, nobility, kindness, and unassuming wit carry on as a legacy in his grandson. I would have been honored to meet Dr. Carr.

  5. We were neighbors and patients of Dr. Carr and Charlyn during the late 1960s. Charlyn was helpful during our son’s illness. We remember with fondness our association.

  6. It was a pleasure to get the opportunity to meet your father Tom. I enjoyed our conversations. Our deepest sympathies to you and your family.
    Ron, Deb, Hayden and Lucy Alexander.

  7. Thank you dr carr thank you. For all you did for the disabled American veterans. #26 thank you for your service.to our country. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. On behalf of the Disabled American veterans. Chapter 26. We give our condolences.
    Wayne Powell commander disabled American veterans chapter 26

  8. Dr. Carr demonstrated professionalism, compassion, dignity, courage, chivalry, nobility, kindness, and an unassuming wit in his approach to others; never to be underestimated. Rest In Peace kind man and faithful friend,

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