Walter Scott Light

1931 - 2025

Rancher, wildcatter, hunter, pilot, and devoted husband and father, Walter Scott (Scotty) Light was born in Denton, Texas, in 1931, and was brought to the Light Ranch near Artesia Wells, Texas by his parents, Sarah Leverett and George E. Light, Jr., when he was three weeks old. The 40,000-acre ranch was part of the original 93,000 acres purchased by his grandfather, George E. Light, a founder of S.M.U., and his brother. David Light, in 1905. Scotty and his older brother, George III, grew up on the ranch, speaking Spanish, working cattle, hunting, riding their horses, and helping with visitors when the ranch was operated as a guest ranch. Scotty's first brand was "36," the year he started his own herd of cattle. The brothers were taught by a private tutor at the ranch for several years and later attended school in Cotulla. At the ages of 10 and 12, they drove themselves to meet the bus at Artesia Wells. When it rained, they would get "stuck" and go hunting. The Light boys' first car, a Model A Ford convertible, was a gift from Campbell "Ammunition" Brown, an ammunition dealer who sold supplies to surrounding south Texas ranches.

During WWII, the Lights served as spotters for all aircraft flying over the ranch and reported sightings to the telephone switchboard operator, who then contacted military authorities. They identified the airplanes from silhouette models hanging in their room. The Light family spent many summers in Port Aransas, where Scotty met Patsy Pittman in 1948, whom he later married in 1953.

After graduation from Cotulla High School, Scotty attended New Mexico Military Institute, where he was captain of the rifle team, played polo, water polo, and graduated from Junior College as a Distinguished Military Student. He later attended the University of Texas and S.M.U. He received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army, transferring to the Air Force. His training as a pilot in the Air Force led to his lifelong love of flying. His favorite airplane was " the one he owned at the time." Although too young to be involved in WWII, Scotty was fascinated with military history and vehicles. Through the years, he renovated used military vehicles, jeeps, command cars, and a Bren gun carrier. His interest in vehicles extended to his personal cars, owning over 80 over the course of his life; he and his son modified and rebuilt several of them.

After his military service, he worked at the ranch and later became a permit man for Atlantic Oil Company. He opened the first office for his independent venture, Lightning Oil Company, in Cotulla in 1957. He learned surface geology for two years from geologist, Ruben Cotulla, and drilled his first wildcat wells in several South Texas counties, discovering the North Washburn Field near Los Angeles, Texas in 1958. Later that year, Scotty and Patsy moved to San Antonio, where he was an independent oil and gas operator for 68 years. He participated in many pigeon shoots, earning top honors. As a lifelong hunter, he had the greatest pleasure guiding others. Many weekends and holidays were spent between the Light Ranch and Big Oak Ranch, where Scotty organized a group of hunting buddies for their annual hunt. An active Republican, he served as regional chair for five counties during Richard Nixon's successful Presidential campaign and Bexar County Co-Chair for George H.W. Bush's campaign for the Senate in 1964. Scotty was appointed advisor to the Department of Commerce Advisory Board for Energy Matters, serving for several years. The board recommended double hulls for oil tankers before the Valdez oil spill. He was appointed a delegate to the State Republican Convention for many years, and was an alternate delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1964, and a delegate in 1978. In 1991, he was an Ambassadorial Appointee to Ecuador by President George H.W. Bush, although, because of a change in the administration, he did not serve. Scotty was well known as an "ideas man" and loved having a project to work on. In the later part of his life, he and Patsy took on the restoration of a historic property, converting it into a boutique hotel, cantina, and restaurant on the square in Goliad, TX.

Memberships include Order of the Alamo, The Argyle, Conopus Club, Club Giraud, Goliad Club, Director Emeritus of the San Antonio Rodeo and Livestock Show, Independent Petroleum Association (past regional vice-president), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Producers and Royalty Association, and Alamo Heights United Methodist Church where he served as Troop 59's Scoutmaster for 7 years, and a member of the Board of Stewards, where he assisted in relocating the church from their former home on Broadway. He read the Bible every night.

Scotty is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patsy Pittman Light, and his parents, George E. Light, Jr., and Sarah Leverett Light. Scotty is survived by his children, Walter S. Light, Jr., Laurie Saunders (Bill), and Myssie Acomb (Barry), grandsons William (Claire) and Forrest (Andrea), and cherished great-grandchildren Dos, James, Thomas, brother George Light III, nephews George IV (Cuatro), Gary (Bubba), niece Sarah K, and their families. Scotty's family would like to thank the following for their compassionate care: Tina, Gracie, David, Raquel, Maria, Lauren, Armin, Oscar, and Olivier.

Services will be held on Wednesday, November 19th, at Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, 825 E Basse Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributing to one of the following organizations that were important to Scotty.

KLRN

PO Box 9, San Antonio, Texas 78291-0009

https://pbs.klrn.org/donate/

SA Stock Show and Rodeo Scholarship Fund

723 Frost Bank Center Drive, San Antonio, TX 78219

https://www.sarodeo.com/p/get-involved/contribute/memorial-donation

San Antonio Conservation Society

1146 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78210

https://www.saconservation.org/donate/

Brackenridge Park Conservancy

PO Box 6311, San Antonio, TX 78209

https://brackenridgepark.org/support/

Alamo Heights United Methodist Church

825 E Basse Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209

https://www.ahumc.org/give/