Richard Arvin Overton (May 11, 1906 – December 27, 2018) was an American supercentenarian who at the age of 112 years, 230 days was the oldest verified surviving U.S. World War II veteran and oldest man in the United States. He served in the United States Army. In 2013, he was honored by President Barack Obama.[2][3][4][5] He resided in Austin, Texas, from 1945 until his death in 2018.
Early life and education
Overton was born in Bastrop County, Texas,[6] to Gentry Overton Sr. and Elizabeth Franklin Overton Waters.[7]
Overton worked at local furniture stores before taking a position with the Texas Department of the Treasury (now part of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts) in Austin. He was married twice but did not have any children.[12]
Overton gained media attention during the 2013 Memorial Day weekend when he told Fox News he would spend his Memorial Day "smoking cigars and drinking whiskey-stiffened coffee."[13] Overton had been known to smoke about a dozen cigars a day. On that same Memorial Day, Overton met with Texas GovernorRick Perry. Overton was also invited to the White House where he met with President Barack Obama, and to the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, where he was singled out by name for praise by the President.[5][14][15]
Overton is the subject of a 2016 documentary, Mr. Overton, in which he is interviewed about his daily routine, thoughts on his longevity, and his military service.[17][18] On May 3, 2016, he became the oldest surviving American veteran after the death of Frank Levingston.[19][20][21]
On May 11, 2016, Overton became a supercentenarian.[6] Following the death of Clarence Matthews (born May 1, 1906) on July 22, 2017, Overton became the oldest living American man.[22] Overton was hospitalized for pneumonia in December 2018. He was placed in a rehabilitation center, where he died on December 27, 2018, aged 112 years and 230 days.[23]
Overton lived in Austin, Texas. On December 11, 2014, Austin Community College recognized Overton with an honorary associate degree, the college's highest distinction.[24] He was a Member of the Church of Christ and attended church regularly.[25]
On July 1, 2018, it was reported that Overton became a victim of identity theft. A suspect of unknown origin opened a fake banking account with Overton's Social Security number, accessed his personal checking account, and used the money to gather savings bonds. Overton also had a GoFundMe account which raised over $420,000 for his in-home care.[26] On July 5, 2018, Overton's family announced that Bank of America had restored the funds to his account.[27]
After his death, a portion of Airport Boulevard in Austin was named in his honor.[28]
^National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, U.S.: Ancestry.com Operations Inc:::2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; ARC: 1263923. World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park. College Park, Maryland, U.S. transcription of record here; accessed September 1, 2015.(subscription required)
