Courts Kendall "Bub" Cleveland Jr., philanthropist, war hero, rancher and businessman, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Granbury, TX.

Courts was born Oct. 29, 1922, in Acton to Courts Kendall and Olga Collins Cleveland. He was the fourth child and only son of these Hood County pioneers.

Courts was a member of the first graduating class of Arlington Heights High School in 1940. He played football against the Masonic Mighty Mites. He went on to Texas A&M University and volunteered for duty with his entire class when World War II broke out. Courts was a lieutenant in the 93rd Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron 13th Armored Division under Gen. Patton. He participated in the Allied invasion of 1944, helped liberate several prisoner-of-war camps and personally accepted the surrender of the city of Dusseldorf, Germany. He was wounded several times during combat and was awarded six Purple Hearts. He was honorably discharged Dec. 29, 1945, as an armed reconnaissance unit commander. He returned home and graduated from Texas A&M in 1946 with a degree in animal husbandry.

He had many business ventures. He was a former owner of Clearfork Downs race track in Fort Worth and was an owner of C&C Candy Co., making and selling candy for Tom's Toasted Peanut Co. Courts successfully operated numerous cattle ranches for over five decades.

His great-grandfather, William Green Randle, came to Texas from Tennessee in 1871. The Randle family donated the land for the Acton Cemetery.

Courts was a lifelong member of Acton United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the 50-50 Sunday School Class, which was held in the White Sanctuary, where his father was christened in 1891 and he was christened in 1922.

He became an owner of Comanche Peak in 1970, which he later sold in 1999.

He was a master Mason in Granbury Lodge #392 and a member of Moslah Shrine of Fort Worth. He was also a member of the Hood County Livestock Raisers Association and the Independent Cattlemen's Association. Courts was a key participant in establishment of Longhorn cattle as a recognized breed in Texas.