III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 10 

Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 8, 2019 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. CRUZ, and Mr. PETERS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

JANUARY 17, 2019 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton. 

Whereas, on May 11, 1906, Richard Arvin Overton was born 

to Gentry Overton, Sr., and Elizabeth ‘‘Lizzie’’ Overton 

in Bastrop County, Texas; 

Whereas, in 1940, Richard Arvin Overton enlisted in the 

Army and began his military service at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas; 

Whereas, from 1942 to 1945, Richard Arvin Overton bravely 

served in the Pacific theater, including in Guam, Palau, 

and Iwo Jima, with the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, an all African-American unit, until the conclusion 

of World War II; 


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SRES 10 ATS 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton attained the rank of corporal 

in the Army; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton earned the Combat Infantry 

Badge, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army 

Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service 

Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, 

and the Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton returned to Austin, Texas, 

after the end of World War II and resided there until his 

death; 

Whereas, on November 11, 2013, Richard Arvin Overton was 

honored by former President Barack Obama at Arlington 

National Cemetery for his courage and commitment to 

service in combat zones such as Pearl Harbor, the Marshall Islands, Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima; 

Whereas, on January 3, 2015, Richard Arvin Overton represented The Greatest Generation at the 2015 United 

States Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas; 

Whereas, on May 3, 2016, Richard Arvin Overton became the 

oldest surviving veteran of the Armed Forces after the 

death of Frank Levingston, a fellow World War II veteran; 

Whereas, on May 11, 2016, Richard Arvin Overton attained 

110 years of age and became a supercentenarian; 

Whereas, in Austin, Texas, May 11th of each year is designated as ‘‘Richard Overton Day’’ in honor of Richard 

Arvin Overton’s birthday; 

Whereas, in 2017, the city of Austin, Texas, officially renamed the street on which Richard Arvin Overton resided 

to ‘‘Richard Overton Avenue’’; 


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SRES 10 ATS 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton died on December 27, 2018; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton will be laid to rest with full 

military honors at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, 

Texas; and 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton is a United States hero who 

exemplified strength, sacrifice, and service to the country: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) extends its heartfelt sympathy to the family 

3 of Richard Arvin Overton on the occasion of his 

4 death; 

5 (2) honors the life of Richard Arvin Overton 

6 and his service to the United States; 

7 (3) honors and, on behalf of the United States, 

8 expresses deep appreciation for the outstanding and 

9 important service of Richard Arvin Overton to the 

10 United States; and 

11 (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

12 the Senate communicate this resolution to the House 

13 of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy of 

14 this resolution to the family of Richard Arvin 

15 Overton. 

Æ 


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