Former State Rep. John Otto dies

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Texas A&M University System Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Local Government Relations and former State Representative John Otto passed away Saturday in Houston. He was 71.

Otto has served at the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Local Government Relations for the system since 2017. He served in the statehouse from 2005 to 2017, representing District 18. During Otto’s tenure, he served on the Ways and Means Committee and the Appropriations Committee.

In 1970, Otto graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Accounting. While at Texas A&M, he was head drum major of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band his senior year.

There will be a public visitation and funeral service for Otto on Thursday, August 6 at A&M United Methodist Church in College Station. The visitation is at 1:00 p.m. and the funeral is at 2:00 p.m.

Otto will be laid to rest at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at the State Cemetery in Austin. Among other notable Texans buried at the cemetery are Stephen F. Austin, Gov. John Connally, and Navy SEAL Christ Kyle.