William Albert Newton

July 21, 1912 - December 24, 2012 William Albert Newton, 100, passed away on December 24, 2012 at home in Littleton, Colo. He was born on July 21, 1912 in Decatur, Ill., to Walter and Nellie Newton. Bill grew up in Decatur and Urbana, Urbana, Ill., and St. Petersburg, Fla. At 12, William joined a Boy Scout troop in Urbana, where he progressed to Eagle Scout with 42 merit badges. It was during his scouting years that he learned a Sioux Indian dance that ultimately led to him becoming the third Chief Illiniwek at the University of Illinois from 1931-1935. The Chief symbolized the “Tribe of Illini” and performed the Indian dance between halves with the university band at football games. It was a prestigious honor to hold at the university. Until his death, Bill was the oldest surviving Chief Illiniwek. He graduated with honors in geology from the University of Illinois in 1935 and worked for the Illinois Geological Survey before returning to the university to earn a masters of science degree in geology in 1937. Bill then attended Stanford University for two years in pursuit of a Ph.D. From 1940-1949, Bill worked for Carter Oil Company, a division of Standard Oil of New Jersey, before breaking out on his own in to become a consulting petroleum geologist in Denver. With recommendations from Carter, he is got off to a fast start. He never had to look for a client. Bill later became the first President and Chairman of Rocky Mountain Natural Gas, the company that brought natural gas to Aspen and surrounding Rocky Mountain communities. He was an active member and avid golfer at Columbine Country Club, where he twice served as mayor of Columbine Valley. Bill married Brenda Cranmer in 1939, culminating a courtship that began in the second grade. They were happily married 54 years before her death in 1993. In 1996, he married LaVerne Kelly, of Littleton. He often said that he was “lucky to have married the two true loves of my life.” He is survived by his wife and his three children, Dr. Neil Newton and daughter-in-law Margaret, of Hallowell, Maine; Christopher Newton and daughter-in-law Mary, of Sewickley, Pa., and Nelle Placek and son-in-law, David, of Mill Valley, Calif. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Tyler Newton of Greenwich, Conn. (wife Mia); Timothy Newton, of New York, N.Y.; Amanda Gray, of Portland, Maine (husband Adrian); Christopher Newton, of Ferndale, Mich.; Brittny Newton, of Washington, D.C.; Miles Newton, of Hopewell, Pa., (wife Katy); Brenna Meese, of San Francisco; and Kennedy Placek, of Mill Valley. His great grandchildren are Emily and William Newton, of Greenwich. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.