Peppy Blount

Memorial services for Ralph Eugene Peppy Blount, 85, will be 2 p.m., Friday, June 25, 2010, at the First Christian Church with Dr. Richard Emerson, the Rev. David Farmer and Dr. Jim Lewis officiating under direction of Rader Funeral Home. Family graveside services in Grace Hill Cemetery will precede the memorial service. He died Tuesday morning, June 22, 2010, at his home.

Born October 19, 1924, in Ferris, Texas, to Alma Shipp and Ralph Eugene Blount, he was a direct descendant of William Blount, one of the signers of the United States Constitution.

His family moved to Big Spring, Texas, when he was four. Following graduation from Big Spring High School he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. At 19, he was the youngest pilot of a B-25 bomber strafer in the South Pacific during World War II, and during his military career earned more than 15 military decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three clusters, two Presidential Unit Citations and six major Battle Stars.

Peppy entered the University of Texas at Austin in 1946 as a freshman where he was elected to the Cowboys; named a Good Fellow and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. That same year, he was elected as the youngest member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 91st District while simultaneously playing football for the Texas Longhorns on championship Cotton, Sugar and Orange Bowl teams. He also lettered in basketball and baseball.

He extended his interest in sports by becoming a football official in the Southwest Conference and the old American Football League for 20 years.

While serving three terms as a member of the Texas Legislature Peppy sponsored the legislation creating the Colorado River Municipal Water District in Howard County.

Following his years in Austin, and three years in Tyler, Texas, as a landman for a major oil company, Peppy began his law practice in Longview in 1956. Fifty years later he was honored by the State Bar of Texas for his years as a practicing attorney. He was a member of the Gregg County Bar Association.

In the General Election of 1962, he was elected Gregg County Judge on a write-in ballot, the highest elective office ever achieved in the State of Texas by a write-in ballot on voting machines.

Peppy was the co-emcee for the East Texas segment of the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for 33 years, helping to raise over $7 million for MDA research and patient care.

He is the author of four books published by Eakin Press of Austin.

He served his community well as the first elected Potentate of Sharon Shrine Temple, two terms as President of the East Texas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and served as a trustee on the Boards of Longview ISD, Jarvis Christian College and LeTourneau University. He also served on the Boards of the Salvation Army, Longview Symphony, American Heart Association, Longview Museum of Art, Beacon Hospice and Juliette Fowler Homes in Dallas. He was a Past Master of James F. Taylor Masonic Lodge #169, a Knight Templar of York Rite Bodies and Past Commander of the Council of Kadosh. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He had been honored by being named a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, awarded the Silver Beaver Award, Order of the Arrow; chosen Man of the Year by the Federated Women's Club; awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution's Medal of Honor; elected to the Commemorative Air Force's Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas; and the Southwest Football Official's Hall of Fame.

Peppy was a former Chairman of the Official Board of First Christian Church and the KFRO voice of the Loyal Men's Bible Class for many years. He was named an Elder Emeritus of his church.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Helon Kaldenberg.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 63 years, Eva Jean Finch Blount, and his three sons and their families: Ralph Blount of Austin; John "Jeb" Blount and wife, Lyn of Longview; Stephen Blount and wife, Linda of San Antonio; his eight beloved Blount grandchildren: Robert Mathis, Kathryn Dell, Allison Finch, John Reid, Robert Rowland, Charlotte McHenry, Macon Howard and Jane Anne; also a niece, Kim Kaldenberg of New York City.

The family will greet friends following the memorial service at First Christian Church.

Memorials may be sent to the building fund of First Christian Church, 720 Sixth St., Longview, TX 75601 or to a charity of your choice.

A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com