Mike Witte

Michael Layton Witte originally came from McGregor, Texas, located in central Texas. He attended McGregor Public Schools, except the first grade, which was spent in the Tyler Public Schools. He graduated from McGregor High School in 1967.

Mike was born in Brownsville, Texas on October 17, 1948. He was one of four children in his family with an older sister and two younger brothers.

Mike, a 1971 graduate of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), majored in political science and minored in history. He received a Master of Education from the University of Houston in Victoria.

During his time in higher education, Mike also attended McLennan Community College in Waco and Temple Junior College in Temple, Texas.

Mike began his teaching career in 1971 in Palacios. Assigned to the junior high school, he taught eighth grade American History and one class of World History.

Mike spent 1985-91 in administration as principal of Palacios Junior High School.

Mike came to Palacios to be with his wife, Viv, who was teaching typing and shorthand at the high school. Viv and Mike were married 43 years, living all their years in Palacios.

As a member of the First United Methodist Church, Mike was lay leader, Sunday school teacher, choir member, member of the United Methodist Men, a member of the Administrative Council, a delegate to the church conference and a member of several Emmaus walks. Mike was active in the Palacios Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Palacios City Council, Charter Commission for the city of Palacios, and the city’s Planning Commissioner. He was a life-long member of the Texas State Teacher’s Association and the National Education Association.

Mike’s last years of teaching were at Palacios High School teaching World History, U.S. History, government, economics, and World Geography.

During his 35-year teaching career, Mike was co-sponsor of the Ralph P. Newsom National Junior Honor Society and the sponsor of the Palacios Junior High School Student Council. At the high school, Mike served as a coach of the academic decathlon and was a class sponsor. He also drove the school bus route out to Jensen Point and Caranchua Communities for twelve years.

Mike was an avid reader, a sp0rts spectator, and a big TV watcher, especially of news programs, the History station, and late-night TV. He also enjoyed traveling around the state and nation; coin collecting; playing with their dachshund Little Bit; and telling stories as his former students know.

Survivors include wife, Vivian Marie (Viv) Witte of Palacios; brothers and wives, Chris and Mary Witte of Waco and Steve and Karen Witte of Ennis; sister and brother-in-law, Lynne and Charles Bauman of Charleston, South Carolina; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Charles Emil Witte and wife, Betty of Brenham, and sister-in-law, Susan Dyan Young of College Station. Mike and Viv have eleven nieces and nephews.

Mike’s parents, Dennis and Jo Witte, as well as in-laws, Dennis and Viola Witte, and brother-in-law Melvin D. Young preceded Mike in death. A celebration of Mike’s life will be at the First United Methodist Church in Palacios on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. A family graveside service will be 3p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2014 at McGregor Cemetery, in McGregor, Texas

Because of Mike’s love for teaching, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Mike Witte Scholarship Fund for a student who wants to obtain a degree in secondary education at the junior high or high school level, preferably a government and/or history major. Contributions are to be sent to: The Mike Witte Scholarship Fund, Palacios High School, 100 Shark Drive, Palacios, TX 77465.