Charles William "Tex" Ritter, Jr.

Charles William “Tex” Ritter, Jr. transitioned from this world on Friday, September 8, 2023. The youngest child of Charles Ritter, Sr and Ora Carter Ritter, he graduated from Hatley High School and earned a degree in Agriculture from Mississippi State University (MSU) in 1956. In addition, he received the 1995 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumnus of the Year and the 2002 National Alumnus of the Year. He was also honored with a Doctorate of Public Service from MSU in 2015. He valued education and was a steward of MSU, serving on various committees and establishing the Ritter Award in 1994 to enhance and reward the pursuit of excellence by the fraternities and sororities at MSU.

While at MSU, he joined the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was a Lt. Col. of ROTC Club and the 2nd Lt. of Scabbard and Blade (National Honorary Military Society). He served as the Vice- President of Omicron Delta Kappa, and the VP of the Block and Bridle Club. His leadership skills were recognized by classmates who elected him President of the Student Association.

Upon graduation, he courted and eventually married the love of his life, Carolyn Smithson. He became an international banker and attended the prestigious International School of Banking in Bergen, Norway. After missing his first Father’s Day, Carolyn, “Tex” and Shelley Ritter moved from Memphis, TN to Kosciusko, MS, where he led the Attala Company. He was active in the Corn Millers Association and the Feed and Grain Association, serving as president of each. He joined the Rotary Club, serving as President, and is a distinguished Paul Harris fellow. He served on the Sanderson Farms board from 1998 - 2017 -- the longest serving independent board member.

He served on many local boards including Montfort Jones Hospital, Merchants and Farmers Bank Board, Kosciusko Foundation for Excellence in Education, Kosciusko Heritage Foundation, Kosciusko-Attala Industrial Development Corporation, and Attala County Library. He was inducted into the Mid-Mississippi Library System Wall of Fame in 2014.

He served as Director and Past Vice-President of the Andrew Jackson Council, Boy Scouts of America, and is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Beaver Award.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Smithson Ritter, Daughters Shelley Ritter and Cathy Scholl (Brian), grandchildren Elizabeth and Will Scholl, niece Elizabeth Tubbs, sister-in-law Patsy S. Parker and nephews John Parker (Bianca) and Patrick Parker.

Serving as pallbearers are John Wiggers, Dr. Tim Alford, Bob Jordan, Louis Crowe, Art Cook, Will Scholl, Dr. Brian Scholl, and Sam Smith. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Dr. Charles Sallis, Barney Jacks, John Shaw, John Clark Love, Richard Green, Hugh Potts, Roy Ruby, and Dr. Stanley Hartness.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Kosciusko, Mississippi State University, The W, the Delta Blues Museum, the Skipworth Foundation, or the charity of one’s choice.