WWII Veteran Turns 111

Nation’s oldest veteran celebrating his 111th birthday in Texas

KXAN StaffPublished: May 11, 2017

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It would be hard to believe anyone in Austin hasn’t heard of Richard Overton.

The World War II veteran’s journey through this life has been well chronicled. He’s been honored with plaques and memorial gardens. He’s visited the White House to meet President Barack Obama. Thursday, the county’s oldest living veteran will again be honored with a permanent display of recognition that anyone walking or driving through his East Austin neighborhood can see. 

The city is renaming Hamilton Avenue, a street Overton has called home for over seven decades, Richard Overton Avenue. “They’re putting the sign out here, putting the street sign all the way out there,” Overton told KXAN. Richard is celebrating his 111th birthday Thursday. He considers the city’s birthday gift humbling. That’s saying a lot considering Overton has seen many things, as he says, “all over the world – water, land, and air.” read more here