AUSTIN, Texas – A bill to rename part of Airport Boulevard after a notable Austin figure who rose to fame as the formerly oldest World War II veteran is going before the Texas Senate.
- Bill to rename part of Airport Boulevard
- Would honor WWII vet Richard Overton
- Overton gained celebrity status, lived to 112
The road could soon be renamed “Richard Overton Memorial Highway” if House Bill 1821 is approved. Overton passed away in Austin last year at the age of 112.
The bill, authored by State Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin, is seeking to rename a portion of State Loop 111, also known as Airport Boulevard. The roadway would be renamed in Travis County between its northern intersection with Levander Loop and its intersection with Parkwood Road.
In 1942, during World War II, Overton enlisted in the Army at Fort Sam Houston. He spent three years fighting in the South Pacific, with stops in Guam and Iwo Jima.
After the war, Overton settled in Austin. He died December 27, 2018, after battling pneumonia.
Overton gained celebrity status in Austin as he became known for his love of cigars, whiskey and sitting on the porch of his home. After his passing a growing memorial sprang up on the lawn of the home where Overton lived for 70 years.
The bill is expected to pass in the Senate.
Legacy of Richard Overton: