Dr. Donald Clint Streeter

Dr. Don C. Streeter, devoted teacher, actor, choir member, and professor emeritus of the University of Houston, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Treemont Health Care Center on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Born on April 24, 1911, Don had celebrated his 100th birthday with friends and family on Easter Sunday.

Born at home in Huron, South Dakota, the eldest son of Clint Dunn and Lela Gertrude Smith Streeter, he attended Huron College, and then transferred to the University of Minnesota, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1933.

Don taught English, history, math, was sponsor of the yearbook and directed dramatic activities in high schools in South Dakota, Iowa, and at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, Minnesota

After earning his Master’s Degree in Dramatic Art at the University of Iowa in 1938, he remained as a Teaching Fellow. There he met and married Faith Lorraine Frick. They moved to San Marcos, Texas in 1941 where their first daughter, Rebecca Sue was born. During WWII he served as a Warrant Officer in the US Maritime Service in San Antonio.

In 1947 he returned to the University of Iowa, earning a PhD in Rhetoric in 1948, after which the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Their second daughter, Patricia Kay was born there. In Memphis Don designed and headed the first Department of Speech and Drama at Memphis State College. During the following 9 years he helped to found the annual Memphis Shakespeare Festival, produced seven Grand Operas for the Memphis State Grand Opera Association and organized a Children’s Theatre.

The family moved to Houston in 1957 where he chaired the University of Houston Speech Department, developing their first graduate program in Public Address. He retired as Professor Emeritus from the U of H after 20 years, but he did not stop teaching.

His career continued at Alvin Community College, teaching classes on campus and at several prison units of the Texas Department of Corrections. When he moved to Galveston in 1988, he taught at Galveston Community College and at the TexasA&M campus on the Island. He taught his last class at A&M on his 86th birthday in April, 1997.

His career on the stage spanned decades, from participation in high school plays, college theater and community theater to the Arena Theater in Texas City and the Upper Deck Theater in League City, Texas. He appeared in two motion pictures (one as the double for Burgess Meredith) and one documentary for the National Parks Association depicting the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. He sang in operettas and musical shows, and was a choir member and active communicant for 75 years in Methodist, Lutheran and Episcopal churches.

A member of state, regional, and national Speech Communication Associations, Don served the Texas state association as Executive Secretary for 3 years and as President in 1969. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta social fraternity.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clint and Gertrude, by his brother, Captain Robert E. Streeter and wife Olene Devick Streeter, and by Lorraine Frick Streeter.

He is survived by his family in Houston - daughter Rebecca Sue (Tom Jay) and their children John David Jay (Kelly), and Melissa Anne Burgess (Jay Burgess); daughter Pat Streeter and her son Blaine Streeter (Vicky); great-grandchildren Courtney Bolin (Kevin), Taylor Ward, Ryan Brooks Burgess, Kristen and Kimball Streeter, and great-great grandson Cameron Bolin. He is also survived by nieces Madelon Ann Streeter of Gainesville, Florida and Jan Streeter Reisenauer (Rich) and great-nieces Jaycee, Lexie and Marne of Bismarck, North Dakota.

The family would like to express thanks to the wonderful caregivers from Houston Hospice, especially Svanhanel, Paul, Kelly, Brenda, Pam and Elizabeth; and to the exceptional staff at Treemont Health Care including Sherion, Tony, Katrina, Helen, Fatima, Mo, Ruth, Lucille and Leonor, who made Don’s last months such comfortable and happy ones.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Houston, at 10am on Saturday, June 4th. Service to inter the ashes will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Galveston, later in the summer.