In 2008, with most major newspapers, including the Express-News, undergoing dramatic downsizing and coverage reductions, he retired from journalism and returned to his hometown of Houston.
His award-winning work for the San Jacinto College paper earned him a spot on the staff of The Daily Texan at the University of Texas.
His Daily Texan colleagues included several young writers destined for long careers in sports journalism, among them Kirk Bohls, Richard Justice, Danny Robbins, Buck Harvey and Alan Truex.
After three years, Carter returned to his hometown and joined the sports staff of the Houston Chronicle, originally as the beat writer for Southwest Conference athletics.
In 1983, Carter was the first to report Clyde Drexler's decision to leave the University of Houston and enter the National Basketball Association draft as a junior.
Carter was honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors in 1986 for his in-depth coverage of the circumstances that led to the resignation of University of Texas football coach Fred Akers.
In 1988, with A&M facing the threat of additional NCAA sanctions because of football rules violations under Sherrill, Carter was among the most vocal critics of the Aggies' coach.