Remembering John Otto ’70

Former Texas Rep. John C. Otto, Jr. '70 passed away Aug. 1 in Houston after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Otto was a reliable supporter of Texas A&M in the state legislature, where he chaired the House Appropriations Committee and served in other key positions. In February 2017, The Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Advocacy Network presented Otto with the inaugural Olin “Tiger” Teague '32 Award, recognizing Otto’s outstanding contributions and government service on behalf of Texas A&M.

Otto was elected to the Texas House in 2004 and represented District 18 for six terms. In 2017, he became assistant vice chancellor and director of local government relations for The Texas A&M University System. 

As a senior accounting major at Texas A&M, Otto served as head drum major of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. A week before Otto’s passing, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp '72 announced that the mace, or baton, used by A&M’s head drum major to lead the band had been named in Otto’s honor. Sharp also presented Otto with an inscribed replica of the mace.

Read more at tx.ag/JCOttoJr70.