IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 37 

Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 11, 2019 

Mr. WILLIAMS (for himself, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. WRIGHT, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. 

THORNBERRY, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. WEBER of Texas, 

Mr. ARRINGTON, Mr. FLORES, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. CLOUD, Mr. 

GOODEN, Mr. BABIN, Mr. ROY, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BRADY, Mr. MCCAUL, 

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. CARTER of Texas, 

Mr. RATCLIFFE, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. OLSON, Mr. HURD of Texas, Mr. 

VELA, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. CUELLAR, and Ms. JACKSON LEE) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

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 

United States Army and began his military service at 

Fort Sam Houston, Texas; 

Whereas, from 1942 to 1945, Richard Arvin Overton bravely 

served in the Pacific Theater, including stops in Guam, 

Palau, and Iwo Jima, with the 1887th Engineer Aviation 


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•HRES 37 IH 

Battalion, an all African-American unit, until the conclusion of World War II; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton attained the rank of corporal 

in the United States Army; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton earned the Combat Infantry 

Badge, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good 

Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, 

World War II Victory Medal, and the Expert Rifle 

Marksmanship Badge; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton returned to Austin, Texas, 

following the conclusion of World War II, and resided 

there until his death on December 27, 2018; 

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, which was held in San 

Antonio, Texas; 

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

oldest surviving American veteran following the death of 

Frank Levingston, a fellow World War II veteran; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton became a supercentenarian 

on May 11, 2016; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton’s birthday, May 11, is officially designated as ‘‘Richard Overton Day’’ in Austin, 

Texas; 


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•HRES 37 IH 

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

‘‘Richard Overton Avenue’’; 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton shall be laid to rest with full 

military honors at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, 

Texas; and 

Whereas Richard Arvin Overton is an American hero who exemplified strength, sacrifice, and service to the United 

States of America: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) extends its heartfelt sympathies to the fam3 ily of Richard Arvin Overton; 

4 (2) honors the life of Richard Arvin Overton 

5 and his service to the United States of America; 

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

7 expresses deep appreciation for the outstanding and 

8 important service of Richard Arvin Overton to his 

9 country; and 

10 (4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 

11 House communicate this resolution to the Senate 

12 and transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to 

13 the family of Richard Arvin Overton. 

Æ 


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