William Aden Mann – Commander, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

MANN, WILLIAM ADEN (Age 83)

On June 27, 2001. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died at his home in Gonzalez, Texas, after a long illness.

An attorney, entrepreneur and retired U.S. Navy Commander, Mr. Mann was born on the farm in Colmesneil, Texas. Upon retirement from the Navy, after 20 years, he lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland and practiced law in Washington, DC, from 1961 until 1994. Admitted into the state bars of Maryland, D.C. and Texas, he tried over 700 cases in his career and served as defense counsel in the Watergate Burglary trial including petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Mann was involved in the enthusiastic inception of numerous banks and business ventures including The Flying Scotsman Steam Trains U.S. Tour which he organized with Winston Churchill, Jr., John Hanson Savings and Loan Association, Lincoln National Bank, the Business Bank, Gifford’s Ice Cream, Douglass Scotch Ltd., Renault Wineries and Henny Penny Fried Chicken, among many others.

Upon his move to Texas in 1994, he purchased KCTI radio in Gonzalez, where he wrote and performed a weekly ”Texas Heroes” radio show and continued his law practice until illness forced his retirement, though not his colorful presence at the office, earlier this year.

He earned his BA from the University of Texas in 1939, his MBA from Harvard Graduate School in 1950 and his Juris Doctorate from George Washington University Law School in 1956.

Mr. Mann was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 43 years, the former Nell Lynch of Madisonville, TX and brother, Sam Mann of Colmesneil, TX. He is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Marina Cassinari Oaks of Gonzalez, TX; brother, Tom Mann on Colmesneil, TX; sisters, Blanche Anglin of Baker, LA, Peggy Manry of Woodville, TX, Patsy and Susie Sutton, both of Houston, TX. Survivors also include his son, John Mann of Hume, VA; daughters, Julia Pardo of Washington, D.C. and Mary O’Dea of Georgetown, TX; grandchildren, Mary Catherine Jones of West Lebanon, NH, William Mann Carleton of Alexandria, VA; Caroline Carleton of Marblehead, MA, Susanna Carleton of Boulder, CO, Nathaniel Aden Mann and Mary Nell Mann, both of Hume, VA, William Brice Kelly and Aden Lynch Kelly, both of Georgetown, TX; step-children, Michael Oaks of Washington, D.C., Susie Botha of Boulder, CO, Steven Oaks of Austin, TX and step-granddaughter, Jacqueline Oaks of Austin, TX; great-grandchildren, Timothy William Jones and Carolyn Julia Jones of West Lebanon, MA.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 30, 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Gonzalez with the Rev. Brad Russell, officiating. Graveside services and interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday, July 16 at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tabernacle of Witness, 617 St. Paul, Gonzalez, TX 78629. Arrangements under the direction of Buffington Funeral Home, 830-672-3322.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard