Roll Call Tribute
Dittman "Dit" Harrison '53 May 23, 2018 3:06 PM updated: May 23, 2018 3:10 PM
Henneke Funeral Home obituary
1515 Montezuma St
Columbus, TX 78934
(979) 732-2143
Dittman "Dit" Webster Harrison
September 29, 1931 - April 28, 2018
Dittman Webster Harrison, 86, passed away on April 28, 2018 in Columbus, Texas. Dittman was born at Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas on September 29, 1931. He was the eldest son of Robert Dittman and Dorothy Webster Harrison. Public schooling in Houston included Oren M. Roberts Elementary, Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School, where he graduated in August of 1949. After two years at Texas A&M, where he was a member of the Freshman Drill Team, he transferred to Southern Methodist University for two years, from 1952 to 1954. Here he was a member of the Pershing Rifles and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In his younger days, he was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and a member of the Order of DeMolay from 1948 to 1949.
In 1956 and 1957, he was employed by the Houston Lighting and Power Company, working in the Downtown Network system. On January 26, 1957, Dittman and Cherry Hale Hines were married in Beaumont, Texas. After a few months in Houston, he and Cherry moved to the Harrison Ranch near Alleyton, Texas, where he worked for a while with his uncle, operating the ranch. In 1960, he built and operated a feedlot known as "Double D Feeders" on some of the Harrison acreage. In 1970, he sold the feedlot to Blue Ribbon Packers. During this ten year period, he bought and operated the Bedford Gardens Apartments, a 218 unit complex in seven buildings, in Houston, Texas. In 1975, he organized the Columbus Construction Material Company, operated it for five years and sold it in 1980. Beginning in 1965, Dittman's parents, his uncle and his aunt, divided the C.A. Dittman Estate lands among the C.A. Dittman great-grandchildren. He acquired enough acreage to begin ranching on his own by 1970, continuing until 1995, when a transfer was made to the Harrison & Waligura Cattle Co. (John Waligura had married Dit and Cherry's daughter, Holly).
Dittman was one of the founders of the Colorado County Peace Officers Association in 1971. From 1961 to 1970, he was Racing Secretary and Steward of the Columbus Race Course. He was a member of the American Jockey Club and the Texas Horse Racing Commission. In 1969, Dittman and some friends organized the Columbus Investment Club, investing primarily in real estate; he was elected President for Life in 1980. The club disbanded in 1994.
Dittman and Cherry have two children, Hines Dittman Harrison and Holly Harrison Waligura. Hines is married to Peggy Elliott and they now reside in Columbus, Texas. Holly married John Waligura and they live on the Harrison Ranch. Dit and Cherry have four granddaughters: Maggie Waligura, Keli Harrison, Rose Harrison and Caroline Waligura. He is survived by his older sister, Pricilla Harrison Clardy of Auburn, Washington.
One of Dit's many hobbies was to collect and refurbish old cars and old tractors; another was collecting anything that has to do with railroads, from old spikes and rails to shares of stock in railroad corporations. Needless to say, Dittman and his wife were frequent travelers on special, sightseeing trains. Dit's real passion, however, was his family.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 11:00 am at Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Houston Hospice - El Campo, P.O. Box 1417, El Campo, Texas 77437 or local charity of your choice.
Service
Graveside Service
Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery
Columbus, TX
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
11:00 am
1515 Montezuma St
Columbus, TX 78934
(979) 732-2143
Dittman "Dit" Webster Harrison
September 29, 1931 - April 28, 2018
Dittman Webster Harrison, 86, passed away on April 28, 2018 in Columbus, Texas. Dittman was born at Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas on September 29, 1931. He was the eldest son of Robert Dittman and Dorothy Webster Harrison. Public schooling in Houston included Oren M. Roberts Elementary, Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School, where he graduated in August of 1949. After two years at Texas A&M, where he was a member of the Freshman Drill Team, he transferred to Southern Methodist University for two years, from 1952 to 1954. Here he was a member of the Pershing Rifles and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In his younger days, he was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and a member of the Order of DeMolay from 1948 to 1949.
In 1956 and 1957, he was employed by the Houston Lighting and Power Company, working in the Downtown Network system. On January 26, 1957, Dittman and Cherry Hale Hines were married in Beaumont, Texas. After a few months in Houston, he and Cherry moved to the Harrison Ranch near Alleyton, Texas, where he worked for a while with his uncle, operating the ranch. In 1960, he built and operated a feedlot known as "Double D Feeders" on some of the Harrison acreage. In 1970, he sold the feedlot to Blue Ribbon Packers. During this ten year period, he bought and operated the Bedford Gardens Apartments, a 218 unit complex in seven buildings, in Houston, Texas. In 1975, he organized the Columbus Construction Material Company, operated it for five years and sold it in 1980. Beginning in 1965, Dittman's parents, his uncle and his aunt, divided the C.A. Dittman Estate lands among the C.A. Dittman great-grandchildren. He acquired enough acreage to begin ranching on his own by 1970, continuing until 1995, when a transfer was made to the Harrison & Waligura Cattle Co. (John Waligura had married Dit and Cherry's daughter, Holly).
Dittman was one of the founders of the Colorado County Peace Officers Association in 1971. From 1961 to 1970, he was Racing Secretary and Steward of the Columbus Race Course. He was a member of the American Jockey Club and the Texas Horse Racing Commission. In 1969, Dittman and some friends organized the Columbus Investment Club, investing primarily in real estate; he was elected President for Life in 1980. The club disbanded in 1994.
Dittman and Cherry have two children, Hines Dittman Harrison and Holly Harrison Waligura. Hines is married to Peggy Elliott and they now reside in Columbus, Texas. Holly married John Waligura and they live on the Harrison Ranch. Dit and Cherry have four granddaughters: Maggie Waligura, Keli Harrison, Rose Harrison and Caroline Waligura. He is survived by his older sister, Pricilla Harrison Clardy of Auburn, Washington.
One of Dit's many hobbies was to collect and refurbish old cars and old tractors; another was collecting anything that has to do with railroads, from old spikes and rails to shares of stock in railroad corporations. Needless to say, Dittman and his wife were frequent travelers on special, sightseeing trains. Dit's real passion, however, was his family.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 11:00 am at Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given to Houston Hospice - El Campo, P.O. Box 1417, El Campo, Texas 77437 or local charity of your choice.
Service
Graveside Service
Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery
Columbus, TX
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
11:00 am
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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