|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Friends and family are mourning the loss of |
|
W. A. Orton, Jr., of Baytown, who died on October 25, 2012, at the |
|
age of 86; and |
|
WHEREAS, "Skeeter" Orton was born on March 1, 1926, in |
|
Baytown, and his keen interest in sports was evident from an early |
|
age, when he became a bat boy for a local semipro baseball team; he |
|
played football at Robert E. Lee High School and Stephen F. Austin |
|
State University, and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in |
|
government and physical education at Sam Houston State University, |
|
where he presided over the Baytown Club; during his service in the |
|
U.S. Army, Mr. Orton joined a military football team that won the |
|
European championship in Germany; and |
|
WHEREAS, Following his discharge, he went to work for the |
|
Humble Oil and Refining Company, later known as Exxon; he retired in |
|
1986; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Orton's passion for athletics continued through |
|
his involvement in youth sports, and he mentored hundreds of boys |
|
while coaching baseball, football, and basketball; he dedicated |
|
many long hours to giving instruction on the finer points of games, |
|
and with his kindness, patience, and calm demeanor, he taught |
|
lessons that went far beyond sports; he was honored for his work |
|
with the Baytown Community Service Award and the Optimist Youth |
|
Club Award; and |
|
WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Mr. Orton was deeply engaged in |
|
his community; he was a charter member of the Bay Area Heritage |
|
Society and held a place on the inaugural board of directors of the |
|
Baytown YMCA; he served as an assistant scoutmaster and worked with |
|
the East Harris District Scout Board and the Sam Houston Area |
|
Council; in addition, he was a valued member of the board of |
|
directors of the Hill Country ExxonMobil Retirees Club; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Orton also took great pleasure in attending |
|
sports events, and he was such a well-known fan in Fredericksburg |
|
that he received a Spirit Stick citation from the high school |
|
cheerleaders and was asked to throw out the first pitch at several |
|
baseball contests; other pastimes he enjoyed included listening to |
|
music, going to movies, reading, and studying history; and |
|
WHEREAS, For nearly six decades, he enjoyed the love and |
|
support of his wife, the former Wanda Jones, whom he met when they |
|
acted together in a play at Lee College; married in 1954, the couple |
|
were blessed with a daughter, Jan, and their family later grew to |
|
include a granddaughter, Olivia, and a grandson, Scott; and |
|
WHEREAS, A beloved mentor known for his optimism and an |
|
infectious smile, Skeeter Orton was a positive influence in the |
|
lives of countless young people, and he leaves behind a legacy that |
|
will resonate in the community for years to come; now, therefore, be |
|
it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of W. A. Orton, Jr., and |
|
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
|
wife, Wanda Orton; to his daughter, Jan McGowen; to his |
|
grandchildren, Olivia and Scott McGowen; and to his other relatives |
|
and many friends; 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 Skeeter |
|
Orton. |
|
|
Smith |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 755 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
rising vote of the House on March 20, 2013. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|