By: Junell H.R. No. 345
73R5850 PFG-D
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.