H.R. No. 345 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The recent death of retired Major General Otto 1-2 E. Scherz on February 14, 1993, at the age of 71, has brought great 1-3 sadness to the many friends, colleagues, and relatives of this 1-4 esteemed citizen of San Angelo; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A native Texan, General Scherz was born in Tom Green 1-6 County to Phillip and Norma Sonnenburg Scherz on July 15, 1921, and 1-7 was graduated from San Angelo High School in 1938; and 1-8 WHEREAS, After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1942 1-9 with a bachelor's degree in science and a military commission, he 1-10 embarked on an extraordinary military career that began with an 1-11 exceptional record of service in World War II; a year after his 1-12 graduation, he married the former Gwendolyn Gay Brown in San 1-13 Angelo, beginning a lifetime of loving partnership; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to 1-15 the 561st Field Artillery Battalion, he fought bravely in the five 1-16 major battles of the European Theater, which included serving as a 1-17 battery commander in the perilous Battle of the Bulge; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Returning to civilian life after the war, General 1-19 Scherz pursued graduate studies in landscape architecture at Texas 1-20 A&M University and later moved to San Angelo to join his father in 1-21 the family business, Scherz Nursery; during those years, General 1-22 Scherz became an active member of the community and, as a committed 1-23 patriot, maintained military readiness as a member of the Texas 1-24 Army National Guard with the 961st Field Artillery Battalion; and 2-1 WHEREAS, His civilian life was once again interrupted in 1961 2-2 during the Berlin Crisis when he was called on to lead the 3rd 2-3 Rocket-Howitzer Battalion; in just a few years, he earned the rank 2-4 of colonel and was assigned as the division artillery commander of 2-5 the 49th Armored Division; and 2-6 WHEREAS, An outstanding officer, he continued to serve his 2-7 country with characteristic leadership and dedication, commanding 2-8 units of the Texas Army Guard and fulfilling a variety of vital 2-9 roles for the military and, in September 1973, was promoted to the 2-10 rank of brigadier general as assistant division commander of the 2-11 49th Armored Division; and 2-12 WHEREAS, In 1976 he enjoyed the further honor of promotion to 2-13 the rank of major general while serving as a commander in the Texas 2-14 Army National Guard; and 2-15 WHEREAS, General Scherz was awarded numerous well-deserved 2-16 medals throughout his remarkable career, including the Legion of 2-17 Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Lone Star Distinguished Service 2-18 Medal, and he was selected for the Texas National Guard Hall of 2-19 Honor in 1987; and 2-20 WHEREAS, He remained active in retirement, spending leisure 2-21 hours with his beloved family and serving as president of the board 2-22 of Fort Concho where he will be remembered for his efforts to 2-23 preserve this historic frontier outpost; and 2-24 WHEREAS, Dedicated to the welfare of the citizens of San 2-25 Angelo throughout his life, General Scherz was active in the 2-26 community, serving in a leadership capacity in many worthwhile 2-27 organizations, including the Downtown Lions Club, the San Angelo 3-1 Symphony, the Angelo Community Theatre, and the First United 3-2 Methodist Church; and 3-3 WHEREAS, An accomplished professional, General Scherz also 3-4 was a member and former chairman of the first State Licensing Board 3-5 of Landscape Architects and a longtime member and former president 3-6 of the Texas Landscape Architects; and 3-7 WHEREAS, Throughout his lifetime, this extraordinary 3-8 gentleman dedicated himself to the preservation of our nation's 3-9 most cherished ideals, making numerous lasting contributions to the 3-10 community that he cherished and earning the respect and admiration 3-11 of the many individuals he came to know; a man of uncommon courage 3-12 and generosity, his memory will continue to serve as an inspiration 3-13 to all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it 3-14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 3-15 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Major General Otto 3-16 E. Scherz and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his 3-17 family: to his wife, Gwendolyn Brown Scherz; to his daughters and 3-18 sons-in-law, Ann and Tom Madison of San Angelo and Cynthia and 3-19 Michael Burns of Sarasota, Florida; to his grandchildren, Phillip 3-20 and Merriet Madison of San Angelo and Collene and Jillian Burns of 3-21 Sarasota, Florida; to his sister and brother-in-law, Lola Mae and 3-22 John Banta of Waco; to his brother and sister-in-law, Harold and 3-23 Clara Loyd Scherz of Austin; and to the other members of his 3-24 family; and, be it further 3-25 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-26 prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas 3-27 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 4-1 Major General Otto E. Scherz. 4-2 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of 4-3 Major General Otto E. Scherz. 4-4 Junell 4-5 H.R. No. 345 4-6 _______________________________ 4-7 Speaker of the House 4-8 I certify that H.R. No. 345 was unanimously adopted by a 4-9 rising vote of the House on March 11, 1993. 4-10 _______________________________ 4-11 Chief Clerk of the House