Nat Reese Gleaton - AHS Baskerball coach.

(Jan. 26, 1921 - Nov. 3, 2010)

Nat R. Gleaton, 89, of Abilene, passed away Wednesday, November 3, 2010. The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday at North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange Street. Services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Dr. Eduardo Rivera officiating. Burial will follow at Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood.

Nat was born January 26, 1921 in Comanche, Texas to George and Zody Gleaton. He married Dorothy Ross on February 8, 1946 in Odessa, Texas.

Nat graduated from Blanket High School and Daniel Baker College of Southwestern University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He was President of the Student Body in 1949. He was named Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1948 - 1949, and Outstanding Alumnus of Southwestern University 1987. He received his Master of Education from McMurry University in 1955. He was an American History teacher for 17 years, four years at Coleman and 13 years at Abilene High School. He was also Head Basketball Coach and Assistant Football Coach at Abilene High.

Nat was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, the Propheteers Sunday School Class, and the United Methodist Men. He served on the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and the Administrative Board. He was a member of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and served on the Military Affairs Committee at Dyess Air Force Base. He was also a Mason.

Nat was also a businessman. He went into the insurance business on June 1, 1966. His primary company was American General Financial Group. His concentration was life insurance to families and business clients. Nat had many friends and clients in the Abilene area. He made the Million Dollar Round Table in the first year! This is an independent international association of the world's most successful life insurance salesmen, less than three percent of all life insurance salesmen attain membership in any given year. Nat has been in the Million Dollar Round Table every year for 33 years. He always took personal care of his policyholders.

Nat served his country as an Engineer Gunner on B-17 (Flying Fortress) 8th Air Force in "European Theater" during WWII and was called back in 1950 during the Korean War. He was the recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation. Nat was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, three sisters, and an infant son, Billy Reese Gleaton.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy; a son, Ross and wife Connie, of Tucson, Arizona; a daughter, DeLys Larson of Tampa Bay, Florida; a sister, Sarah Davis of Brownwood, Texas, granddaughter, Adriane Fergus and husband Marvin of Dallas, Texas; great-grandsons, Jack and Connor of Dallas. Texas; grandchildren, Tiffany and Jeremy Larson of Tampa Bay, Florida, Cody Gleaton of Albuquerque, New Mexico and several nieces and nephews. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech, Abilene, Texas 79601.
 
Online condolences can be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com
 

Robert E. "Bob" Groseclose - AHS track coach.

Birth:  Mar. 26, 1920   Death:  Dec. 8, 2002

Coach Groseclose was a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. He led Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) to 19 conference championships while producing 14 individual national champions and world record holders in six events, coached the Indians from 1960 through 1989. He never fully recovered from a stroke he suffered Sept. 11, 2000.
 
Burial: Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, Monroe (Ouachita Parish), LA.
 

William Dorris "W.D., Shorty" Lawson

Birth:	Aug. 26, 1922 Centerville (Hickman County), Tennessee
Death:	Aug. 7, 2010 Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee
In Memory of William Lawson William D. "Shorty" Lawson, 87, formerly of Abilene, died Saturday, August 7, 2010, in a nursing facility in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. He was born August 26, 1922 to Lydia Belle (Worley) and Shade W. Lawson in Centerville, Tennessee. Shorty graduated from DuPont High School in Old Hickory, Tennessee in 1941, David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1943, Abilene Christian College (now University) in 1945, and received a Master of Science Degree from Abilene Christian University in 1964. He was a member of Rural Hill Church of Christ in Nashville and a former longtime member of the University Church of Christ while living in Abilene, Texas. Shorty came to Abilene in 1943 to attend ACU and lived in Abilene from 1943 until 1998 when he returned to Nashville. He married Norma Jean Stewart of Nashville in 1998. For 41 years (1945-86), Shorty Lawson positively influenced the minds and hearts of athletes and students that filtered through Abilene High School. During the 15 years he was football and baseball assistant coach, the football team won 6 consecutive District Championships, 3 consecutive state titles, and 49 consecutive games; and the baseball team won 2 state championships and was runner up 3 times. But Shorty was more than a coach and teacher. He was an encourager, a confidant, and a friend to the athletes who, in turn, deeply respected him. (Almost as important as his coaching was the fact that he also taught all the students how to drive through his popular driver education classes!) Never "Mr. Lawson", seldom even Coach Lawson… he was affectionately called "Shorty" by almost everyone. After teaching and coaching for 15 years, Shorty was moved into the role of AISD Assistant Athletic Director for 14 years; and then named Athletic Director for his last 12 years. During this time, he continued his influence, giving great emphasis to elementary athletics, physical education, health, and safety. But Shorty didn't just belong to Abilene. His fame was widespread. He was inducted into the National Athletic Administrators Hall of Fame in 1986. At his induction into the National High School Hall of Fame in 1993, it was said that "Shorty Lawson and football and basketball officiating were synonymous terms" and that "he was instrumental in helping many new officials through a program he designed". Shorty officiated over 300 high school football games from 1943-79, including four state football championships. He officiated high school basketball from 1946-75, working more than 30 regional high school tournaments. In 2005, Shorty was inducted into the Big Country Hall of Fame. At the college level, he officiated Southwest Conference football and basketball. In football, his work included three Cotton Bowl games, one Sugar Bowl, one Orange Bowl, one Liberty Bowl, two Fiesta Bowls, and two Sun Bowls; in basketball, 12 NCAA regional basketball tournaments and 13 NAIA national basketball tournaments. Shorty served one term as president of the Southwest Basketball Officials Association, two terms on the SFOA Board, and has been inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Texas Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame, received the Distinguished Service Award by the National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association, and the Southwest Basketball Officials Association. He was named Texas Athletic Director of the Year in 1981. But his influence and hard work didn't stop there either… Shorty contributed to his community, his church, and his family in many ways. He was active in the summer baseball youth program for 22 years; a Deacon at the University Church of Christ for 20 years; president of the Boys Club and the Optimist Club; and a member of the Athletic Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Shorty lectured at Coaching Clinics, College Work Shops, Athletic Director Meetings, Clinics for Army and Air Force, and Athletic Teams in Abilene Schools. Further, he was selected by the U.S. Army to serve as a sports consultant for Army Personnel in Hawaii, and by the U.S. Air Force to serve as their sports consultant in Hawaii, Guam, Philippines, Taiwan, South Vietnam, Thailand, Okinawa, Japan, and Korea. Shorty was preceded in death by his father in 1979 and his mother in 1999; his wife, Norma in 2001; and a sister, Jean Mangrum on February 1, 2007. Survivors include three sons, Jimmy (Ann) Lawson of Boston, Massachusetts, Don (Loryn) Lawson of Trabuco Canyon, California, and Dr. Bobby (Gail) Lawson of Abilene, Texas; a brother, Jimmy Lawson of Old Hickory, Tennessee; two sisters, Bitsy Oliver of Old Hickory, Tennessee and Dee Martin of Dearborn, Michigan; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Lawson, Bicky Tolar, Amy Estes, Meredith Lawson, Sean Lawson and Scott Lawson; also four great-grandchildren, Elijah and Kate Tolar and Ethan and Gage Estes. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the University Church of Christ with Eddie Sharp officiating. Burial will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Kathryn S. MORROW (  Oct. 17, 1905 - Jun. 7, 1998)

Born to:
  W.T. Haskell Stubblefield (1857 - 1958)
  Nita Jones Stubblefield (1869 - 1934)

In 1939, Kathryn STUBBLEFIELD married Harry MORROW.  She had already been teaching English at Abilene High School for several years prior to her first marriage. She continued her teaching career at Abilene High School for an additional 30+ years and was best known to her students and community as Kathryn S. MORROW.

On 2 Oct 1973, Kathryn married Carl E. BOTKIN. Carl was the longtime owner-operator of Botkin's Cleaners in Abilene, TX. 

Charles Ted "Chuck" Sitton, Sr

Abilene, TX

Charles Ted Sitton passed away Friday, April 15, 2016 in Abilene, Texas. A private family burial will be held on Monday, April 18, 2016, followed by a memorial service at 1:30 PM at University Church of Christ. Ted's grandsons, Colby Freeman and Kirby Freeman, will officiate the service. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap, Abilene.

Ted was born in Stamford, Texas on January 30, 1932, one of six children, to Pat and Lillian Sitton. Ted met the love of his life, Gloria Pace when they were in the 3rd grade. They were married on July 15, 1951 and were happily married for 62 years. Through his many years as a football and track coach, Ted coached at Graham High School, Abilene High School and Abilene Christian University. - Known to most as Coach Sitton, to his family he was lovingly known as Papaw. If you played football or ran track with Ted or for Coach Sitton, you knew he loved you. From his high school days playing as a Stamford Bulldog to ending up coaching as an ACU Wildcat, you knew he was something special. As special as he was as a coach and player, he was that much greater as a husband, dad, brother, friend and Papaw to his family and friends. He was truly a special man and will be missed by us all. Besides his love for football he loved the outdoors and was able to spend a lot of quality time with his family and friends at Stamford Lake and Brownwood Lake or hunting big bucks in Shackelford County.

Survivors include his son, Gary Sitton and wife Gwen, his daughter, Cara Sue Sitton, all from Abilene, and his daughter, Jani Freeman and husband Steve from Brownwood. His grandchildren are Kellie Sherwood and husband Austin, from Albany, Texas, Abbey Sitton from Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, Lindsey Sitton from College Station, Texas, Colby Freeman and wife Courtney from Lantana, Texas, Kelsi Firth and husband Chad from Brownwood, Texas, and Kirby Freeman and wife Andrea from Waco, Texas. His great grandchildren are Averie, Gracie, Kennadie, and Jersie Freeman from Lantana, Texas, and Ady and Wyatt Firth from Brownwood, Texas. Survivors also include his brother Phil Sitton and wife Pat of Waco, Texas; sisters Patsy Bohannon of Lake Forest, California, Carolyn Coggin of Andrews, Texas, and Jeanie Williams of Tomball, Texas; his brother-in-law Gene Hickey of San Antonio, Texas; and sister-in-law Lois Pace of Laurel, Mississippi. He is also survived by many loving niece sand nephews.

Ted was preceded in death by his son, Chuck Sitton; his wife, Gloria Sitton; a sister, Peggy Hickey; and brothers-in-law, Charles Williams and Roy Pace.

Memorials may be made in honor of Ted Sitton to the Chuck Sitton Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund, Abilene Christian University, Box 29132, Abilene, TX 79699-9132.

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Reflections upon the death of Coach Sitton and the Champion '61 Track Team by Tommy Yarbro 

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Coach Sitton was in his first year of coaching at Abilene High in 1960-'61, having replaced the departed heralded Coach Bob Groseclose.  We on the track team were defending Texas State Champions of 1959 and 1960.  Coach Groseclose stated, when he departed in August of 1960 to coach track at Northeast Louisiana State University, that he left the best high school track team ever when he left AHS.  The '61 team went undefeated in track meets  that year, and we won the State Championship by the largest number of points in the history of Texas track championships.  Coach Sitton was a great coach, and a great person for us to be with.  When we had a reunion of AHS state track champions in Abilene in May, 2009, he attended the event, and seemed very proud of all of us, even to that day.  The '61 team included captains David Winkles and Jerl Franklin.  The rest of us included seniors Jerry Grider, David Glover, Jack Harrison, and Tommy Yarbro.  Juniors included Chuck Evans, Jack Middlebrooks, and Jerry Newman.  David Jefferies was the only sophomore on the state championship team.

Back in those days, as there was not an actual track meet to determine the 1961 National Championship team.  Therefore, the National Championship team was decided upon the best running event times and performances by the field events from all US high schools.  Abilene High was named the National Champions, due to our performances.  It is noteworthy. because that is the only National Championship ever won by any team sport in the history of Abilene High School to date.  

Miss Mary Edna Worthy

Mary Edna Worthy, 90, passed away at home Monday, September 7, 2009. A longtime resident of Roscoe, Texas, Mary Edna was predeceased by her parents, Edward James Worthy and Vesta Frances McCauley Worthy, as well as her sister, Virginia Worthy Alvis.

Her survivors include her three nephews, James E. Alvis and his wife Sharon of Austin, John W. Alvis and his wife Judy of San Marcos, and Thomas M. Alvis of Austin. She is also survived by a grandnephew and two grandnieces: John Reagan Alvis and his wife, Kerri, of Lockhart, Texas, Rebecca Alvis Dultmeier and her husband, Steve, of Spring Hill, Florida, and Amy Victoria Alvis of Austin, as well as four great-grandnephews and nieces.

Born October 2, 1918, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Mary Edna soon moved to New York City with her family where she lived briefly as a child before moving to Roscoe, Texas. In Roscoe, Mary graduated from high school in 1935, and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939, and her Master's degree in 1952, both at Hardin-Simmons University. Thereafter, she accumulated enough hours during continuing education courses at the University of Texas-Austin, Southern Methodist University, McMurry College, and Minnesota State College, St. Cloud, Minnesota, to obtain another degree.

Before her retirement, Mary Edna's entire professional career was devoted to education and teaching. She taught science in the public school systems of Roscoe, Abilene and Balmorhea, and the communities of Roscoe, Sweetwater, and Abilene are full of former students who were not only ably taught by "Ms. Worthy", but who remained forever fond of their former teacher over the ensuing years. So revered was Mary Edna by her former students that, years following her retirement, they recently honored her for her devotion and dedication to their education over the years. That Mary Edna was 'loved" by her students is an understatement.

In addition to her family, neighbors, students, and friends, Mary Edna also loved animals and was, up to her passing, a loving shepherd of an assortment of dogs and cats throughout her adult life-a fact to which her favorite veterinarian, Bud E. Alldredge, Jr, and staff of Sweetwater, Texas can well attest.

When Mary Edna was not otherwise involved with her family, students, and friends, she enjoyed traveling, making frequent jaunts to New York, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and other destinations, Anyone that knew Mary Edna knew that she was well read and was an able and enthusiastic conversationalist on almost every subject, including politics, She also loved music and capitalized on every opportunity to see musical productions in Dallas. Mary Edna was also a lifelong baseball fan and could also hold her own in college "football talk."

Throughout her life Mary Edna was a devoted Christian and she was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Roscoe where she participated in many church activities. Mary Edna's "King James Version" of the Bible was a guiding light throughout her long life, and she took comfort in its promise of everlasting life.

Mary Edna's sense of humor and wit will be missed by all who knew her-traits that were loved by those lucky enough to have crossed her path in life and who will always remember that special twinkle in her eyes.

The family wishes to thank all of the friends, neighbors, professionals and church members whom helped keep a watchful and loving eye on Mary Edna in her latter years, especially in the face of her lifetime habits of self-reliance and independence.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, September 17th, 2009, at First Baptist Church, 401 Main Street, Roscoe, Texas, 79545. Rev. Phillip Thomas will officiate. Services are under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home in Sweetwater. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Taylor-Jones Humane Society, 3811 N. 1st Street, Abilene, Texas, 79603-6827, or to the First Baptist Church, Roscoe, Texas.

From THE ABILENE (TX) REPORTER (9/15/2009)