Former Mayor Butler dies

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Former Mayor Roy Butler died Friday at the age of 83.

Butler was elected Mayor of Austin in 1971.  He was re-elected for a second term in 1973.  In 1973 he received the most votes ever cast for an Austin Mayor, a record that he still holds.

Butler was the first elected Mayor.  Before 1971, Mayors were elected by City Council. 

Butler was born in 1926 in Greenville, Texas.  He graduated from The University of Texas in 1948 with a degree in economics.  After graduation, Butler served in the Navy.

While in law school, Butler began buying and selling old cars.  He would go on to become a successful businessman and owner of the largest Lincoln dealership in Texas and Oklahoma. 

In 1972 Butler was named by Time Magazine as the Quality New Car Dealer of the Year. 

Butler's business career would be marked by several successes.  he was a co-founder of Cellular One, now AT&T Wireless, the first cellphone provider in Austin.  He owned five radio stations in Austin.

Additonally, In 1976 he negotiated the Coors beer franchise in Central Texas.  His Capitol Beverage still distributes beer throughout Travis, Hays, Williamson, and Caldwell counties.

“Mayor Butler helped create the face of downtown Austin,” former Austin Mayor Bruce Todd said. “While other developers talked about downtown living, he built the commercial drawing cards that would bring 24/7 life to our downtown.”

Butler leased his property at Sixth and Lamar to companies like Whole Foods and GSD&M.

“We have lost a giant of a public servant whom we are so blessed to have had as our friend and mentor,” Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of President and Mrs. Johnson, said. “We are so grateful to have known him, and we realize that Austin will probably not know his likes ever again.”

Mayor Lee Leffingwell released a statement on Butler's death.  "I am saddened to hear of the passing of Austin’s first publicly-elected Mayor, Roy Butler. Roy was a good friend to me and my Dad and a good friend to Austin. As a young man I met Roy Butler when my Dad served as a Travis County Deputy Sheriff. Roy was a champion for philanthropy and a hero for public safety. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mayor Roy Butler. Austin will cherish his memory."

Congressman Mike McCaul (R-Tx10) also expressed his thoughts on Butler.  “It was such an honor to call Roy my friend. He, Ann and Linda and I have spent many wonderful moments together. He will always be remembered as "Mayor Wonderful". He was the best public servant the City of Austin has ever had. We will miss him and his wonderful spirit. We always expected him to be around. I always told him that he was like a father to me to which he would always reply, "I'm too young to be your father". Indeed, he was the youngest 83 year old I've ever seen. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ann and the family.”