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Line 27: − + − + − + − + − + − + − + + + + + + − He served on the Landmarks Commission of the Taylor County Historical Society and the Abilene Committee for the Humanities. He was active in the University Baptist Church and thereafter the Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, both in Abilene. For some three decades, he was a [[deacon]] and [[Sunday school]] teacher, his last assignment having been the couples class at Pioneer Drive Church.<ref name=obit/>+ − − Line 47:
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→Career
==Career==
==Career==
Aston was the chairman of the Hardin-Simmons History Department from 1972-92, dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 2000 to 2001, director of the evening college (1972–78), supervisor of the Abilene Photographic Collection (1980–2001), and head of the [[Rupert N. Richardson|Rupert Richardson]] Research Center from 1981 to 2001. A vice president and then president of the faculty, he was named "Faculty Member of the Year" in 1989. He took three periods of [[sabbatical leave]], having conducted research in the [[Dominican Republic]] (1984) and [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]] (2000). In 1993, he taught at [[Massey University]] in New Zealand.<ref name=obit/><ref name=hsu/>
Aston was the chairman of the Hardin-Simmons History Department from 1972-92, dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 2000 to 2001, director of the evening college (1972–78), supervisor of the Abilene Photographic Collection (1980–2001), and head of the [[Rupert N. Richardson|Rupert Richardson]] Research Center from 1981 to 2001. A vice president and then president of the faculty, he was named "Faculty Member of the Year" in 1989. He took three periods of [[sabbatical leave]], having conducted research in the [[Dominican Republic]] (1984) and [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]] (2000). In 1993, he taught at [[Massey University]] in New Zealand.<ref name=obit/><ref name=hsu/>
Aston was affiliated with the Texas Folklore Society based in [[Nacogdoches, Texas|Nacogdoches]], the National Popular Culture Society, and the Southwest Council of Latin American Studies, the latter from 1973 until his death. He was also active in the West Texas Historical Association, having served as its secretary-treasurer (1972–1998), associate ''Year Book'' editor (1976–1998), executive director (1992–1998), and life director (1999 until his death).
Aston was affiliated with the Texas Folklore Society based in [[Nacogdoches, Texas|Nacogdoches]], the National Popular Culture Society, and the Southwest Council of Latin American Studies, the latter from 1973 until his death. He was also active in the West Texas Historical Association, having served as its secretary-treasurer (1972–1998), associate ''Year Book'' editor (1976–1998), executive director (1992–1998), and life director (1999 until his death).
In 1998, as Aston left the position of WTHA executive director, the association relocated from Hardin-Simmons to Texas Tech and became an integral part of the Southwest Collection.<ref name=hsu>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsutx.edu/news%20details.aspx?Channel=%2FChannels%2FContent+Channel&WorkflowItemID=555663dc-220b-4151-8736-b876167d0c3a|title=Former Faculty Member, Historian had Great Impact on the Hardin-Simmons Campus: Dr. B W Aston dies after long illness|publisher=hsutx.edu|accessdate=April 3, 2010}}</ref>
In 1998, as Aston left the position of WTHA executive director, the association relocated from Hardin-Simmons to Texas Tech and became an integral part of the Southwest Collection.<ref name=hsu>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsutx.edu/news%20details.aspx?Channel=%2FChannels%2FContent+Channel&WorkflowItemID=555663dc-220b-4151-8736-b876167d0c3a|title=Former Faculty Member, Historian had Great Impact on the Hardin-Simmons Campus: Dr. B W Aston dies after long illness|publisher=hsutx.edu|accessdate=April 3, 2010}}</ref>
His dissertation at Texas Tech is entitled ''The Public Career of Don Jose Ives Limantour'', the story of the Mexican politician José Yves Limantour,, who lived from 1854 to 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://etd.lib.ttu.edu/theses/available/etd-04282009-31295001162121/unrestricted/31295001162121.pdf|title=The Public Career of Don Jose Ives Limantour (1972)|publisher=etd.lib.ttu.edu|accessdate=April 3, 2010}}</ref>
His dissertation at Texas Tech is entitled ''The Public Career of Don Jose Ives Limantour'', the story of the Mexican politician José Yves Limantour,, who lived from 1854 to 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://etd.lib.ttu.edu/theses/available/etd-04282009-31295001162121/unrestricted/31295001162121.pdf|title=The Public Career of Don Jose Ives Limantour (1972)|publisher=etd.lib.ttu.edu|accessdate=April 3, 2010}}</ref>
His professional publications and lectures include ''Limantour and Mexico's Conversion to the Gold Standard'', ''Boom and Bust Along the [[Texas and Pacific Railroad|T&P]]'', ''The Use of Female Imagery In The Selling of World War II,'' and ''North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico, and the 1994 Gold Rush,'' a study of the [[NAFTA|North American Free Trade Agreement]]''.<ref name=obit/>
His professional publications and lectures include ''Limantour and Mexico's Conversion to the Gold Standard'', ''Boom and Bust Along the [[Texas and Pacific Railroad|T&P]]'', ''The Use of Female Imagery In The Selling of World War II,'' and ''North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexico, and the 1994 Gold Rush,'' a study of the [[NAFTA|North American Free Trade Agreement]]''.<ref name=obit/>
In 1996, Aston and Ira Donathan "Don" Taylor updated and augmented Rupert Richardson's ''Along Texas Old Fort Trails.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https//web.archive.org/web/20100220193021/http://www.amazon.com/Along-Texas-Forts-Trail-Aston/dp/1574410350|title=''Along the Texas Forts Trail'' (paperback)|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=April 3, 2010}]</ref> Aston traveled throughout the United States, [[Canada]], and to some sixty other countries.<ref name=hsu/>
In 1996, Aston and Ira Donathan "Don" Taylor updated and augmented Rupert Richardson's ''Along Texas Old Fort Trails.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https//web.archive.org/web/20100220193021/http://www.amazon.com/Along-Texas-Forts-Trail-Aston/dp/1574410350|title=''Along the Texas Forts Trail'' (paperback)|publisher=amazon.com|accessdate=April 3, 2010}]</ref> Aston traveled throughout the United States, [[Canada]], and to some sixty other countries.<ref name=hsu/>
He served on the Landmarks Commission of the Taylor County Historical Society and the Abilene Committee for the Humanities.
==Family and death==
Aston was active in the University Baptist Church and thereafter the Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, both in Abilene. For some three decades, he was a [[deacon]] and [[Sunday school]] teacher, his last assignment having been the couples class at Pioneer Drive Church.<ref name=obit/>
On August 26, 1961, Aston married the former Lillie Mae Fields (born c. 1940). Aston died at the age of seventy-three in Abilene of a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Verlon R. Aston (1925–1999). In addition to his wife, he was survived by a brother, Weldon Roy Aston (1932-2013), a former [[Certified Public Accountant]] in Fort Worth;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113212165/weldon-roy-aston|title=Weldon Roy Asto |publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}</ref>three nephews and a niece. Interment services were held on March 29 at the family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Tolar in Hood County, Texas. Memorial services were conducted on March 30 at Pioneer Drive Church.<ref name=obit/>
On August 26, 1961, Aston married the former Lillie Mae Fields (born c. 1940). Aston died at the age of seventy-three in Abilene of a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Verlon R. Aston (1925–1999). In addition to his wife, he was survived by a brother, Weldon Roy Aston (1932-2013), a former [[Certified Public Accountant]] in Fort Worth;<ref>{{cite web|l=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113212165/weldon-roy-aston|title=Weldon Roy Asto |publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}</ref>three nephews and a niece. Interment services were held on March 29 at the family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Tolar in Hood County, Texas. Memorial services were conducted on March 30 at Pioneer Drive Church.<ref name=obit/>
Alan Stafford, dean of the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts at Hardin-Simmons, described Aston, accordingly:
Alan Stafford, dean of the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts at Hardin-Simmons, described Aston, accordingly:
Dr. Aston was a wonderful Christian gentleman who dearly loved HSU. [An] outstanding professor who touched the lives of thousands of our students, he was an inspiration to several generations of young HSU faculty members. He told me once that he was excited about coming to work every single day. Working with him always inspired me to do my very best, and much of my career success came from observing and learning from his positive approach to teaching, learning, and life in general.<ref name=hsu/></blockquote>
Dr. Aston was a wonderful Christian gentleman who dearly loved HSU. [An] outstanding professor who touched the lives of thousands of our students, he was an inspiration to several generations of young HSU faculty members. He told me once that he was excited about coming to work every single day. Working with him always inspired me to do my very best, and much of my career success came from observing and learning from his positive approach to teaching, learning, and life in general.<ref name=hsu/></blockquote>
==References==
==References==
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