Donald Owen Thornton

Donald O. Thornton 1935 – 2016 Donald (Don) Owen Thornton of Waterwood passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016. A service of celebration will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, at Sam Houston Funeral Home, 1700 Normal Park Drive in Huntsville, Texas. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send a contribution in Don’s memory to the Cy-Fair Educational Foundation to provide scholarships for students wishing to pursue a career in education. (CFEF, 11803 Grant Road, Suite 115, Cypress, TX 77429, 281-807-3591) Don is survived by his soul mate, best friend, and wife of almost 62 years, Dixie; daughters Kathy Risien and Kelly Stewart; son-in-law Willis Stewart; five granddaughters Jenlizbeth, Cassidy, Jessica, Cameron, and Connie; two grandsons Camden and Will; and three great grandsons, Stone, Strake, and Fletcher. Other survivors include Lance, Wart, Palin, his faithful four-legged companions, as well as countless friends. Donald Thornton was born on October 14, 1935, in Chester, Texas, to Tullos and Inez Thornton. Don’s father owned and operated the town’s only hardware store (actually a “mini” Wal-Mart), and his mother assisted Tullos wherever and however she could. From them, Don learned conservative values and the critical importance of hard work and saving money. Don attended every level of school in Chester and graduated from the high school where he was involved in as many activities as were available. He was especially interested in sports and played football, basketball, and baseball. He was named an all-star in each of these sports. His classmates consistently voted Don the “Class Favorite.” Following high school graduation, Don attended Lamar University to acquire the credentials needed to become a teacher. He majored in government and history and earned his Bachelor’s degree. Later, he earned his Master’s degree from Sam Houston State University. Staying in his native East Texas, Don spent the first years of his teaching and coaching career in Hardin and West Hardin. After a successful launching of his career, Don moved with his family in 1963 to the Cy-Fair area. Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D. hired him to teach government at the high school. But this assignment lasted just a short while. The superintendent quickly recognized Don’s unique talents and leadership abilities and moved him to a central office role after a mere two years of teaching government at Cy-Fair High School. This promotion marked the beginning of Don’s most crucial roles during his 28 years in the district and his lasting legacy to the Cy-Fair Community. In 2014, the 75th Anniversary Committee named Don Thornton as one of the 75 most influential people in the district’s history. In honoring Don, the Committee enumerated his many leadership roles in the district – administrative assistant to the superintendent, personnel director, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and superintendent. The Committee also described Don as a foundation builder who created structures, programs, and strategies that still inform district practices today – staffing patterns, team teaching, formats for candidate interviews, and bond studies, to name a few. The ultimate conclusion was that Don Thornton was a creative visionary and the one person most responsible for shaping and molding C.F.I.S.D. to be cutting edge, innovative, and successful. The district honored him as a building namesake with the opening of Thornton Junior High School in 1993 (now called Thornton Middle School). “This influential superintendent is considered by many to be the “architect” of modern-day C.F.I.S.D., as he established processes and cultural norms that subsequent leaders valued and chose to maintain.” When he retired in 1992, Don continued to be drawn to the world of education, so he worked as an adjunct professor at Sam Houston State University, teaching courses on the superintendency and supervising student teachers. Eventually, he settled into retirement and spent his time golfing, RV traveling with Dixie and their three furry children, attending their grandchildren’s many activities, socializing with their Waterwood neighbors, and participating in activities at the Point Blank Community Church. Don Thornton will be dearly missed.

Donald Owen Thornton

October 14, 1935 - March 31, 2016