E. Alton Sartor Jr.

1917 - 2012

E. Alton Sartor, Jr.

Emmett Alton Sartor, Jr., born in Shreveport, LA on November 28, 1917, died peacefully at his home in Shreveport on Friday, November 16, 2012. He was 12 days short of his 95th birthday.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church in Shreveport. Burial will be at Forest Park Cemetery immediately following the service. There will be a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Monday at Rose-Neath Funeral home at 1815 Marshall St.

Alton was the son of Dr. Emmett A. Sartor and Addie May Lane Sartor. He attended Alexander and South Highlands grade schools and graduated from C. E. Byrd High School in 1934. After attending Kemper Military School for one year, Alton transferred to Washington and Lee University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree in 1938, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Washington and Lee was a special place for him with many fond memories of his time there. While in college, he met Jean Paxton Oliver, a Sweet Briar College student. He made many trips over the mountains to visit her. They married in 1940 and began their life together in Shreveport.

Following his graduation from college, Alton joined the business founded by his grandfather, the C. W. Lane Company, which engaged in the management of various oil-gas minerals, agricultural lands, and commercial real estate development.

Alton was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942. After initial training at Camp Beauregard, he was transferred to the Army Finance Training Center. Subsequently he was sent to Officer Candidate School where he graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He was assigned to organize the 30th Finance Unit and was sent overseas where he served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy until the end of the war. He was a Captain at the time the war ended and continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1953. He was always proud of his time spent serving our country.

After World War II, Alton returned to Shreveport where he resumed his work at the C.W. Lane Company, eventually rising to be Vice-President, then President and Chairman of the Board. The Lane Company was the only company he ever worked for, other than the Army. This company, founded in 1924 is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. Alton's devotion to the family business continued virtually his entire adult life, until physical incapacity intervened when he was over 90 years of age. Few businesses have such longevity and many attribute the sustained success of the C.W. Lane to the integrity of his leadership and the even-handed nature of his interactions with all the shareholders over a career that lasted almost 70 years.

Alton served his community in many ways. He was long active in Washington and Lee alumni affairs and served as the President of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association in 1964-65. He was a life-long member of J.S. Noel, Jr. Memorial United Methodist Church, which was built by his great-grandfather. He served in many capacities at Noel Church over his lifetime, including being named Chairman of the Board. In addition, he actively supported many local cultural activities. He served a term as President of the Little Theater in Shreveport, was active in the Cotillion Club, serving as a President of the Cotillion Club, and was King of the Cotillion in 1988. He also served on the Board, and a term as President, at Southfield School, where all four of his children attended. He also served as Chairman of the Budget Committee of the Community Chest (now known as the United Way). He was a 50 year member of the Downtown Rotary Club, including a term as Director, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in that organization. He was a member of many other social and business organizations including the Shreveport Club and the Business Owners and Management Association (BOMA), where he served as president of the NW Louisiana Chapter.

Alton's unique attributes included infinite patience and selfless dedication to his family and community. He defined himself by service to others. His generosity, kindness, selflessness, and integrity were universally recognized. Doing what was right was his duty; alternatives were not even considered.

He was predeceased by his wife Jean Oliver Sartor. He is survived by his brother, C. Lane Sartor and his wife Gloria, two daughters, Jean Sartor Hillman and her husband John, and Elisabeth Sartor Harden, and two sons, Ryan Balfour Sartor and his wife Emily and Alton Oliver Sartor and his wife Belinda. His grandchildren include Ryan McDade Sartor and his wife Elizabeth, Emily Sartor Patterson and her husband Brad, Emmett Alton Sartor, Rita Abigail Sartor and Evan John Hillman. His great-grandchildren include Isaac and Eleanor Sartor and Claire and Tyler Patterson.

Honoring Alton as pallbearers will be Robert King, Ralph Richardson, David Richardson, Harrison Smith, Stacy Williams and Alton's grandsons Evan Hillman, Ryan Sartor, and Alton Sartor. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Shelby Smith, Delton Harrison, Dayton Waller, Charles W. Lane, III, and the former Cotillion Kings.

There are many people who deserve special thanks. Christine Hart, Helga Mandygo, Roosevelt Hawthorne, and Tracey Bernsteine provided compassionate support that allowed him to remain at home during his later years. The family deeply appreciates the sustained support and invaluable assistance of Lane Sartor, Ralph Richardson, and Stacy Williams for both Alton and his immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to Washington and Lee University, 204 West Washington Street, Development Building, Lexington, VA 24450 or Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon, Shreveport, LA 71101 or the charity of one's choice.