Big Country remembers Jimmy Carter: Reflecting on a legacy of service & faith

BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Today, Americans across the nation are mourning the loss of Jimmy Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States. As the nation reflects on his contributions, our community is reflecting on his time in the Key City.

Carter and his works have impacted many members of the Big Country community, whether that’s from first-hand encounters to legislation passed in office to his ventures after his presidency.

In 1976, while campaigning against incumbent President Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter delivered a speech at the Abilene Civic Center, which was only a quarter full. Among those in attendance was Rick Ellis, who, upon leaving the building, noticed a group of men talking with Carter. Intrigued, Ellis decided to join the conversation, seizing the opportunity to interact with the future president.

“I didn’t get to shake his hand, but I made eye contact with the man and felt his sincerity, engagement, and drive. Carter was open and friendly but powerful. It was Abilene, and I figured we had a circle of Baptist and Church of Christ men sizing up this peanut farmer running for president, never mind he was already a governor of Georgia,” Ellis recalled. “I’ll never forget the question one of the gents asked. ‘Mr. Carter, is it true you are a Christian?’ The circle immediately went still; no one spoke. Jimmy Carter looked the questioner straight in the eye and answered with considerable force, ‘Mister, Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life.’ I can still see Carter’s sincere and intense expression in my mind… like it was yesterday.”

On November 1, 1980, Jimmy Carter returned to Abilene for a rally at the Abilene Airfield as part of his re-election campaign. According to Spirit of Abilene, he addressed a crowd of about 5,000, discussing his hopes and plans for a second term. This rally took place just days before the Tuesday election, where Ronald Reagan emerged victorious.

After leaving the White House in 1981, Jimmy Carter devoted much of his life to humanitarian work, focusing on peace efforts, global health initiatives, and more. One nonprofit he has worked closely with is Habitat for Humanity, which has a local presence right here in Abilene.

In 1984, Carter launched the Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity. This annual event brings together hundreds of volunteers from across the U.S. to build affordable homes for families in need. Habitat for Humanity Abilene has called Carter “the greatest spokesman in the world for ending poverty housing,” recognizing his advocacy for affordable housing and hands-on involvement in the project.

“The cause of ending poverty housing was not merely something he put his name behind. He put action behind his words. For the last five decades you were just as likely to find him behind a nail gun as you were to find him behind a podium,” Habitat for Humanity Abilene shared online. “Thank you for your service, sir. We are happy that you get to rejoin your wife and the love of your life, Rosalynn. And in a very different way, we now get to say the same thing to you that we say to all of our partner families when they move into what we like to call their “forever home.”

Though Jimmy Carter may not have crossed paths with many of us in the Big Country, his impact was still felt deeply. As news of his passing spreads, members of our community have shared heartfelt condolences, memories, and thoughts on the lasting legacy he leaves behind.