Oliver C Sutton

Oliver Carter Sutton, Jr. was born in San Antonio, Texas on January 31, 1948 to Oliver C. Sutton and James Marcelle Burley Sutton. His love of travel and adventurous spirit had early roots: he moved to Europe with his mother and stepfather (an Army officer) as a young child and attended elementary schools in England and Germany. 
When his family returned to the United States he attended middle schools in Maine, Colorado, California and graduated from high school in Massachusetts. He returned to Texas for college, and was a proud graduate of Texas Southern University. Oliver worked as an investigator for the Bexar County District Attorney’s office before law school, and continued working in this position after enrolling in St. Mary’s University Law School in San Antonio. He graduated from St. Mary’s in 1976. 
Oliver began his legal career in public service, returning to the Bexar County District Attorney’s office as an Assistant D.A. He went on to serve as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas in Austin, Texas. He then entered private practice in San Antonio. In 1982 Oliver was elected to the Alamo Community College District Board of Trustees, and served on that board until 1986. 

In the late 1980’s he relocated to New York City to join Inner City Broadcasting Corporation, a company founded by his father, Oliver Sr., his uncle Percy Sutton, and Hal Jackson. During his tenure at Inner City he was the Station Manager of radio stations WLIB and WBLS and Director of Business and Legal Affairs for Apollo Theater Productions. He was also a member of the Inner City Broadcasting Corporation Board of Directors for many years. 

In May of 1997, Oliver became the President of Inner City Broadcasting Corporation Africa. He relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, and oversaw the construction and programming of a radio station there. He then managed the station once it became operational. While living in South Africa Oliver avidly pursued his passion for traveling, visiting 
many countries on the African continent. He continued to represent Inner City Broadcasting’s interest in Africa until he returned to San Antonio. 

After returning to San Antonio, Oliver resumed his legal career. He accepted an appointment as an Assistant District Attorney with the Municipal Courts in San Antonio, where he remained until his retirement in January 2018. Over the course of his lifetime Oliver served on numerous non-profit boards. He was appointed as a Regent of Texas Southern University by Governor Ann Richards and served a four-year term in that position. He also served on the boards of the United Way of San Antonio, The Boy Scouts of America Reach Program, and the Ella Austin Community Centre. He was a member of many professional organizations, including the San Antonio Black Lawyer’s Association, The National Bar Association, and the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyer’s Association. He was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc. 

Oliver was known and admired for his intellect, his sharp wit, his boundless charm, and his great sense of style. He was an avid reader, a world traveler and a lover of fine food and wine. He was a great friend to many. 

He is survived by his children, Oliver C. Sutton III and Samantha Sutton, his daughter-in-law Iessa Mitchell Sutton, his grandsons Oliver IV and Mitchell, sister Carol Sutton Lewis, brothers Robert Heyward and Clay Heyward, many nieces and nephews and cousins, and a great many friends.