Cowboy, former Boulder City councilman, Warburton dies

Jace Radke

Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 | 8:33 a.m.

At 6 feet 3 inches, Thomas C. Warburton could cut an imposing figure, but at heart he was just a cowboy who grew up on a Nebraska ranch with his sister, Shirley Marie Stout.

"He was my little brother, so I had to look out for him," Stout said. "When he was 5 years old he thought he was Gene Autry or Roy Rogers. My grandmother used to sew him fancy cowboy shirts."

Warburton, who lived in Nevada for more than 40 years and served as the chairman of the Colorado River Commission and a Boulder City councilman, died Tuesday in his Pahrump home. He was 69.

Warburton, who was born in 1931 near Oconto, Neb., Warburton moved to Winnemucca in 1960 after serving in the Navy. He worked on ranches and later moved to Fontana, Calif., where he met his wife, Patricia, and worked in the steel industry.

Later in the '60s the Warburtons moved to Boulder City and Warburton went to work for Titanium Metals Corp. He became a city councilman in 1969.

Warburton, who was vice president of the Nevada Steel Workers Union, looked out for the working man, said his son, Tommy Warburton.

"He was always for the working man," he said. "Dad wouldn't back up, and he really fought for them."

He later worked as director of Clark County Animal Control and retired in 1989 to work on his ranch in Pahrump.

"Anyone who knows cattle in the state knew our brand, the 2T" Tommy Warburton said.

Warburton also was a member of the Boulder City Horsemen's Association, serving as president of the organization in 1969.

Patricia Warburton said that her husband loved being outdoors, but also enjoyed working as a public servant.

"He was a cowboy's cowboy, and even buckarooed for a while in Winnemucca," Patricia said. "We have about 10 acres in Pahrump, and he loved to go hunting and take care of the horses and cattle, but he also loved politics."

Warburton is survived by his wife; his sister, Shirley Marie Stout of Henderson; his son, Thomas Warburton of Pahrump; two daughters, Gail Cunningham of Las Vegas and Pennie Warburton-Bainbridge of Pahrump; 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Services will be held at the mortuary at 3:30 p.m.