When Rep. Tommy Carter, D-Elkmont, took office 36 years ago, Richard Nixon was in his first term, a first-class stamp cost 6 cents and the Beatles were still together.

On Monday, the Alabama Legislature’s final day of session, the House of Representatives gave Carter, who is retiring after this term, a grand send-off. The occasion included a standing ovation and a resolution commending Carter for his years of service.

The resolution read, in part:

“Tommy Carter is truly the gentleman from Limestone. He has always led by example, offering quiet, yet quality, leadership; providing dignified and distinguished direction; and supplying solid statesmanship and sensible stewardship. Simply stated, he is what an elected official should be…”

The resolution goes on with a few more “whereases,” but Carter said the greatest honor on his final day in the House was the unanimous passage of a law that would “streamline” the veterinary medicine profession together with stricter regulations on medications veterinarians can distribute.

“I’ve been working to get that bill passed for a long time,” said Carter, who sponsored HB462, which passed 104-0. The legislation also includes penalties for unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine and sets minimal passing scores for licensing.

Carter said his only regret on his final day was that “the standing ovation went on way too long.”

He will leave office after this year’s general election.