Richard Hightower

Memorial Services for Richard Guy "Dick" Hightower, 77 of Tyler, will be held on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at 3:00 PM at Marvin United Methodist Church with Dr. John Robbins officiating. Private burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Hightower passed away on December 6, 2007 in Ozona, Texas while hunting with friends. He was born on August 3, 1930 in Wichita Falls to the late Paschal Guy and Opal Sims Hightower. He was raised in Tyler and graduated from Tyler High School. He later graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1951, where he was a consensus All-American football player. He was an All-Southwest Conference linebacker for three years (1949, 1950, and 1951) and an All-American center. He was later voted into Southern Methodist University's Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Hightower was president of Hightower Lumber Company, past president of Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and the Tyler Area Builders Association. In 1978, he was a recipient of the T.B. Butler Award which is presented annually by the T.B. Butler Publishing Company, publisher of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and Tyler Courier-Times Telegraph. The recipient of this award is selected based on outstanding contributions in the fields of leadership, service or improvements in the community of Tyler during the calendar year. Mr. Hightower was named outstanding citizen in 1977. He previously served on the board of Mother Francis Hospital, East Texas Medical Center and Southside Bank. He was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church in the Friendly Sunday School Class. He was also a member of Willowbrook Country Club. He was a pilot and greatly enjoyed his time spent flying. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, and mostly spending time with his family and grandchildren. Mr. Hightower was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Sue Ann Hightower; and brother, Jack Hightower. He is survived by a loving family including his wife of 16 years, Ann Hightower of Tyler; three sons, Patrick Glen Hightower and fiancé Sabrina Corley, Jack Russell Hightower and wife Susan, and William Shelton and wife Cici, all of Tyler; two daughters, Wendy Hightower Fulgham Walker and husband, Cullom of Tyler, and Anna Shelton Pfohl and husband Ron of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Erin Hightower Mann and husband Sean, Katherine Anne Hightower, Hallye Sue Fulgham, Jack Fulgham, Samantha Sims Fulgham, Richard Zachary Hightower, Hannah Elizabeth Hightower, Lily Ann Hightower, Whitney, Mary Lauren, Clay, and William; a niece, Debra Townsend and husband, Kenny; and a sister-in-law, Gloria Drennan. Pallbearers will be James Cleo Thompson, Val Joe Walker, Sam Stollenwerck, Chad Hanna, Sr., A.J. Triggs, Jimmy Wynne, and Mike Hoover. Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 5:00-7:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, Texas 75703. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Richard Hightower to Marvin United Methodist Church, 300 West Erwin, Tyler, Texas 75702. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Richard Hightower

August 3, 1930 - December 5, 2007