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