Published in the Austin American-Statesman on
11/19/2004.
Solon Anthony Bennett Solon Anthony Bennett, beloved husband, father,
and new grandfather passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on November 17, 2004.
Solon was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 21, 1922, to Anthony
and Anna Bennett. He was a graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology in
Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics.
He was preceded in death by his parents who immigrated from Aidin, Asia
Minor, raised their family in Chicago, and resided in Phoenix, Arizona, at the
time of their deaths. Also preceding him in death was a brother, Constantine
Anthony Bennett.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Loretta, and their three
children: daughter, Leslie Bennett of Austin; sons, Chris Bennett and wife Lisa
of San Francisco, California; Stephen Bennett and wife Michelle of Tampa,
Florida, and their son, John Solon Bennett, known as Jack. He is also survived
by his sisters, Rhea Travis of Phoenix, Arizona, and Cleio Bennett of
Scottsdale, Arizona; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Until his retirement in 1986, he served as the Director of Purchases and
Stores for the City of Austin. Prior to that, he was the Director of Purchasing
for Overhead Door Corporation and for the State of Arizona. Solon s career in
purchasing management spanned 35 years and included numerous awards, including
the Albert H. Hall Memorial Award for Purchasing Excellence for contributions
to the public purchasing profession from the National Institute of Governmental
Purchasing, where he served as National President and Chairman of the President
s Council. He also had the honor of having an award named for him, the Solon
Bennett Award for Excellence in Materials Management, given by the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association. It is the highest honor that NRECA s
Cooperative Utilities Affiliate of the Institute for Supply Management can
bestow.
He was a noted author and editor of professional handbooks, manuals, and
articles on purchasing and shared his love and passion for his profession with
his students as an instructor at Austin Community College and the LBJ School of
Public Affairs, and as a lecturer at the College of Business Administration,
The University of Texas at Austin.
His family, friends, colleagues and students knew him for his quirky
sense of humor, unwavering honesty, gentleness and kindness, sense of decency
and fairness, pride at being the son of immigrants and in the country of his
birth, and his love of all things sweet and chocolate. He was a wonderful
husband and father and was extremely proud of his new role as grandfather and
of his grandson, Jack. All who knew him
will miss him dearly, but most especially his wife Loretta, who devoted the
last 4-1/2 years of her life with dignity and grace to caring for him as his
battle with Parkinson s disease progressed.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at
The Summit at Westlake Hills and the staff of Hospice Austin for their loving
care during his final days.
An informal visitation for family and friends will be held throughout
the day and evening on Friday, November 19, 2004, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home.
A Celebration of His Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday,
November 20, 2004, in the Colonial Chapel at Cook-Walden Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Austin Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson
s Foundation or to Hospice Austin.
Arrangements by Cook-Walden.