HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF FORMER TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN CLIFFORD OTTO; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 141
(Extensions of Remarks - August 07, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E736-E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF FORMER TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN
CLIFFORD OTTO
______
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 7, 2020
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service
of former Texas State Representative John Clifford Otto who passed away
after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer on August 1, 2020.
Representative Otto served the people of House District 18 with
distinction for six terms in the Texas House of Representatives.
John Otto was born on October 14, 1948 in Dayton, Texas to John
Clifford Coffelt Otto and Susan Eugenia Forrest. John graduated from
Dayton High School in 1966 where he was a pitcher on the baseball team,
member of FFA, and was drum major for the DHS band. He married his high
school sweetheart, Nancy Whitman, in 1969.
In 1970, Otto graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's
degree in Business Administration Accounting. While at Texas A&M, John
Otto was a member of the Corps of Cadets; Ross Volunteer Honor Guard,
official Honor Guard of the Governor of Texas; and the nationally
famous Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. In his senior year at Texas A&M, he
was head drum major of the Texas Aggie Band. On July 24, 2020, Texas
A&M University announced that the Aggie Band will forever be led with
the ``John C. Otto '70 Drum Major Baton.''
Following his graduation as a Distinguished Military Graduate, Otto
received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
where he served as a finance officer at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Otto
served in the Army for eight years on active duty and in the Army
Reserves before being honorably discharged. After his military service,
John and Nancy Otto returned to Texas. John worked for Peat, Marwick,
Mitchell in Houston for five years, then returned to Dayton to open a
private practice, as a Certified Public Accountant serving clients for
35 years.
Prior to his service in the Texas Legislature, John was a member of
the Dayton City Council, trustee of the Dayton Independent School
District, board member of the Liberty County Central Appraisal District
and the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, and director of the Dayton
Community Development Corporation.
In November 2004, John Otto was elected to the Texas House of
Representatives where he served House District 18 for six terms. During
his service, Representative Otto represented the people of Liberty, San
Jacinto, Walker, Polk, and Montgomery Counties. Representative Otto
served on numerous committees in the Texas House, but the bulk of his
time was spent on the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.
Representative Otto served as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee,
during his final legislative session he drafted and authored a bill
that balanced the State Budget of more than 200 billion dollars. He
loved serving in the Texas House and considered it a high honor and
privilege to represent District 18.
During his tenure in the Texas Legislature, Representative Otto
received numerous awards and distinctions. During his first term Otto
was named ``Freshman of the Year'' by the House Republican Caucus,
``Rookie of the Year'' by Texas Monthly Magazine, and ``Most Valuable
Freshman'' by Capitol Inside. In 2008, he earned the ``Legislative
Achievement Award'' from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.
He was also named ``One of the 10 Best Legislators in Texas'' by Texas
Monthly in 2008 and 2015. Representative Otto additionally also
received the ``Citizen of the Year'' award from the Liberty-Dayton Area
Chamber of Commerce, ``Fighter for Free Enterprise'' award from the
Texas Association of Business and named to the Texas PTA Legislative
Honor Role. On June 15, 2020, the Dayton City Council renamed a portion
of State Highway 146 the John Otto Expressway in recognition of his
service to the citizens of Dayton.
John and Nancy were active members of the First United Methodist
Church in Dayton, TX where they both sang in the choir and John served
in many capacities including church treasurer for over 25 years.They
recently transferred their membership to the
[[Page E737]]
A&M United Methodist Church. Following his retirement from the Texas
Legislature and private sector, John and Nancy moved to Bryan, Texas.
From 2017 until the time of his death, John served as the Assistant
Vice Chancellor and Director of Local Government Relations for the
Texas A&M University System. He considered this his dream job, working
with former colleagues in the Legislature and advocating for his
beloved Texas A&M University and other schools and agencies in the TAMU
System.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Whitman Otto; sons
and daughters-in-law, Bryan and Lisa Otto, Jason and Brandee Otto;
grandchildren, Brendon Olson, Maddie Olson, Hadley Otto, Bailee Otto,
Emilee Otto, and Malloree Otto. Also surviving are his mother, Sue Otto
Fendley; and siblings, Susan Harris and husband Wayne, Glenn Otto,
Danita Otto Stovall and husband Bryan; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces,
nephews and special friends Dr. Robert and Susan Seaberg.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the family of Representative
John Clifford Otto for his lifetime of faithful service and devotion to
his country, state, community, and university. My thoughts and prayers
remain with his family and friends.
____________________
