Dates
Wylie O. Webb, 90, passed away from multiple myeloma, bone cancer, at his home on June 24, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Anita Glyn Russell Webb, daughter, Aleesa Shawn Webb, and the light of his life, his namesake and grandson, Wylie “Gage” Hahn.
Wylie was the third of six children born to Oval Dee “Jack” Webb and Clyde Othell Lee Webb. He was born in San Angelo, Texas, early in the morning on St. Patrick’s Day 1933. His grandmother delivered him in her maid’s quarters of the wealthy family for whom she worked. At the age of two, Wylie was diagnosed with severe scoliosis (spine curvature greater than 50 degrees) and was sent to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for treatment. His family was of modest means, so he had to stay alone at the children’s hospital for two months. Back and leg braces followed for years; he was never allowed to play sports or do most physical activities. To earn his physical education credits, he walked from Junior High School (later became Edison) to Reagan Elementary School, to assist the janitor in cleaning for the next day of school. Wylie graduated from San Angelo High School in May of 1951 and enlisted in the United States Air Force where he was trained first as an aircraft and engine mechanic, then as a flight engineer for a B-29. Wylie spent a year at the K-9 airbase in South Korea followed by a stint at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma. After being honorably discharged in April 1955, he set out to realize his dream of owning his own business. Thanks to the GI Bill; he was able to attend San Angelo Junior College (SAC) for 3 semesters and then transfer to The University of Texas at Austin where in 1959 he obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration. Shortly after graduation from UT, Wylie came back to San Angelo to gain experience in his field and pass the CPA exam. He worked for Jones, Freeze, Hay & Company Accounting Firm and then for Hall, McCoulsky, and Bachman where he became a partner. In 1977, he achieved his dream by co-founding Webb & Webb Accounting Firm where he retired in 2017. Two of his favorite jobs included the audits of San Angelo ISD and the City of San Angelo.
Throughout his life; Wylie was extremely involved in various civic activities; he served as president, treasurer, or chairman of the following organizations: President of the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce/Board of City Development; chaired the committee to find a replacement for the Miss Wool Pageant which became known as Fiesta del Concho; River Corridor Commission, San Angelo Country Club; San Angelo Jaycees; San Angelo Chapter of the Texas Ex Students Association; West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind; Elks Lodge #1880; Bobcat Boosters Club; Ram Club at Angelo State University; Fort Concho Museum Association; the Mary Ellen Kent Bunyard Family Foundation, and the Concho Valley Arthritis Association, just to name a few!
Additionally, Wylie played a major role in both the school system and City government. In 1968 he was elected to the City Commission and in 1970, he was elected Mayor of San Angelo. Some of the issues he faced during his stint as Mayor were a federal move to close Goodfellow Air Force Base, police chief issues, consolidation of the city and school vehicle maintenance shops, and a continuing drought and water crisis. In fact, a popular television show of the seventies, Laugh-In, awarded Wylie Webb, Mayor of San Angelo, the “Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award” twice. Once for being the official representative of a city with three dry lakes and a $3 million pipeline to another dry hole, E.V. Spence Reservoir, and second for having a city with a “burning lake”. The San Angelo Fire Department was struggling to control brush fires and decided to administer a controlled burn of the weeds and cane at the dry bottom of North Concho/O.C. Fisher Reservoir thus the burning lake. A note of optimism about the water situation: During his tenure as Mayor, underground options were taken and executed on 63 sections of land from Hickory sandstone formations which would establish permanent deep underground water supplies to supplement the three reservoirs which is now, all these years later, slowly paying off.
In 1981, Wylie was elected to the School Board of San Angelo ISD. During his 9 years of service, both as a board member and later president, he was a voice for logical, appropriate and sensible organizational structure as well as strong financial controls. A source of great pride for him was being able to represent the Board and award his daughter, Aleesa, with her diploma.
Three of Wylie’s most outstanding honors were the Distinguished Public Service Award from Texas State Society of Certified Public Accountants in 1969; the Nathan’s Jewelers Scholarship Academic Award to Angelo State University for outstanding support and distinguished service to Angelo State, the City of San Angelo and to this area of West Texas for the 1972-73 academic year; and being selected the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2002.
There will be no services at Wylie’s request. Memorials may be made to either the Mary Ellen Kent Bunyard Family Foundation (PO Box 3949, San Angelo, TX 76902) for which he was a lifetime board member or the nonprofit of choice. He will be remembered for his kindness and absolute integrity.