H.R. No. 133
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and inspiring life drew to a close with the
death of beloved Austin supercentenarian Richard A. Overton on
December 27, 2018, at the age of 112; and
WHEREAS, The grandson of slaves, Richard Overton was born to
Gentry Overton Sr. and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Franklin in St. Mary's
Colony in Bastrop County on May 11, 1906; he grew up with three
brothers, Hilliard, Irwin, and Gentry, and six sisters, Annie,
Lola, Dora, Lillie Mae, Tenola, and Geneva; a hard worker, he held
numerous jobs in his youth, from landscaper and homebuilder to
furniture store employee; after enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942,
he was deployed to the Pacific theater; his all-African American
battalion, the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, helped free the
island of Angaur from Japanese forces; he was recognized for his
expert marksmanship and attained the rank of corporal; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Overton returned to Austin in 1945 and built a
house on Hamilton Avenue, where he resided for the rest of his life;
he went back to work in the furniture business, and for many years
he was employed by the Texas Treasury Department; while Ann
Richards led the agency, the gregarious veteran formed a friendship
with the future governor, and he liked driving huge deposits to the
bank in a golf cart; he kept busy selling fruit and mowing lawns as
well; and
WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Mr. Overton became a
local legend, watching over his neighbors and greeting them from
his front porch; his circle of admirers continued to widen, and in
2013, he was lauded by President Barack Obama at a Veterans Day
ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery; that same year, the Austin
City Council proclaimed his birthday Richard A. Overton Day, and in
2017 the city conferred the honorary name Richard Overton Avenue on
his block; when Governor Greg Abbott presented the Overton family
with a Texas flag in Mr. Overton's honor, he shared stories of how
the centenarian had challenged him to a wheelchair race; in his
later years, Mr. Overton continued to enjoy attending Shoreline
Church, caring for his cats, and indulging in whiskey, coffee, ice
cream, and cigars, and he happily welcomed visitors from near and
far to his front-yard birthday parties; and
WHEREAS, Richard Overton gained international fame as the
oldest living U.S. veteran, but it was his charm, wit, kindness, and
optimism that won the hearts of his fellow Texans, and he will be
remembered with great admiration and affection by all who were
fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Richard A. Overton and
extend sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Richard A.
Overton.
Cole
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 133 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 6, 2019.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House