KIRKLIN, WILTZ GLEASON "COTTON" (1912 ~ 1997). Wiltz Gleason "Cotton" Kirklin was born on February 4, 1912 in Mooringsport, Louisiana.

He graduated from Baylor University in 1935 and served in the United States Army in World War II where he was wounded in combat. After the war he pursued oil drilling and farming interests in Texas. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Winkler and Ector counties serving during the 53rd and 54th Legislatures from 1953 to 1957. Governor Allan Shivers appointed him to the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools and Mr. Kirklin was reappointed to that Board by Governor Price Daniel.

He served on the Texas Building Commission and as Assistant Commissioner of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. In 1983 Governor Mark White appointed him to the Texas Health Facilities Commission where he served as Chairman and retired in 1986. Mr. Kirklin died on May 7, 1997. At the funeral, former Governor Mark White served as an active pallbearer, while Cemetery Committee Member Ralph Wayne and former Governors Preston Smith and Dolph Briscoe served as honorary pallbearers among many other prominent Texans.

Biographical information taken from Texas State Cemetery file materials.