Class of 1955
1955 Maroon Spotlight
Bill Newton
Basketball Co-Captain 54-55; Football 51-55; Basketball 51-55; Teen-Town Council 51-52; Football Queen Publicity Manager 51-52, 53-54; Baseball 51-55; All School Revue 53-54; Annual Play 51-52; Student Council 51-55; Basketball Queen Escort 52-53; Football Queen Escort 51-52.
1955 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Bill Newton participated in football for nine years, basketball for six years, and baseball for four years during his schooling at Perry. Bill is the 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Newton and was born Jan. 24, 1937, in Perry. He has received all his schooling in Perry. He has been a member of the student council five years and the Teen Town council one year. English literature is his favorite subject and hunting and fishing are his favorite hobbies. Bill was a member of the senior play cast and the all-school revue the past three years. He was also co-captain of the basketball team this year. He plans to attend college this fall.
George William “Bill” Newton
January 24, 1937 – January 2, 2024
Bill Newton, a longtime lawyer in Oklahoma, passed away peacefully in his home on January 2, 2024. Born in Perry, Oklahoma, on January 24, 1937, Bill played Maroon football, basketball, and baseball. He attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a “walk-on” member of the football team and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Attending OU, Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1959 and then in 1962, a Bachelor of Laws Degree. After 12 years practicing on his own, he joined forces with John O’Connor. Together, they formed a legal practice that evolved into the firm of Newton, O’Connor, Turner & Ketchum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bill received the Tulsa County Bar Association’s Golden Rule Award for outstanding contributions to the legal profession, for having the highest of ideals, and a willingness to mentor other aspiring lawyers.
Bill served his community for many years as a member and leader of Sunrise South Rotary Club of Tulsa and the Rotary Club of Southeast Tulsa. Bill and his wife, Janie Lou, were longtime members of the First United Methodist Church, where Bill regularly served as a Sunday School teacher.
He also served as the first attorney for the Perry High School Alumni Association and served on the board for many years. In 2009 he was named as a Perry High School Alumni Association Honor Roll Member.
Preceding him in death were his wife Janie Lou Newton in April 2012, his parents G.D. “Ted” and Elizabeth (Woods) Newton, and his brother Jack D. Newton.
Bill was blessed with three children and 10 grandchildren. Son Ted Newton, with wife Amy, reside in Norman, OK, with their four children (Jonathan, with his wife Mandy, Nicolas, Analynn and Sullivan Newton); daughter Jan (Newton) Girouard, with husband Chris, reside in Tulsa, OK, with their three children (Christian Mattox, with husband Glenn Mattox, and Katie and John Paul Girouard); and son Jon Newton, and wife Ashlee, reside in Norman with their three children (Porter, Maggie, and Gracie).
Services will be held Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 12:00, Southwood Colonial Chapel. Burial will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.