Byron Kidd

Byron was born on March 30, 1929, in Georgetown, Texas, to Rodney James and Von Lunsford Kidd. The second of four sons, Byron had a happy and lively childhood, eavesdropping on conversations on the campus of Southwestern University (where the family lived briefly), and once inadvertently flagging down a train with his red umbrella. In 1938 he moved with his family to a home on 38th Street in Austin, located on the city’s fringes. After graduating from Austin High School in 1947, he studied at the University of Texas until enlisting with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his return to The University in 1953, he completed a B.A. degree in music, B.B.A., and an LL.B. Summer’s were spent as a counselor at the family’s boy’s camp, Friday Mountain, located in the hill country outside of Austin and one summer he drove a touring car of teachers through Mexico.

After graduation from law school in 1959, he accepted a position in the Trust Department of Frost National Bank in San Antonio. With strong feelings for Austin and family, he moved back and practiced law with a local firm before accepting a position with the original Austin National Bank, now Bank of America. Byron retired asVice President and Trust Officer in 1994, just in time to escape the horrors of computers and email. He enjoyed retirement, reading two newspapers daily and taking a long-desired trip to London with his wife. Trips to Port Aransas were another great joy for Byron and the extended family.

Byron’s great love was Doris Allbright, whom he married in 1964. The couple settled in Austin and had two children, Kenneth Byron, and Kathryn Anne. Like his parents before him, Byron was an active member of University United Methodist Church, where he counted the collection for several years and served on numerous committees. A lesser but still passionate love was for all things Studebaker. Byron owned several Studebaker cars, most recently a 1962 Lark, which he and Doris drove to New Orleans on their honeymoon. He estimated they put at least 200,000 miles on that car (the speedometer froze around 180,000). Byron had an impressive collection of Studebaker models parked in his home “garage.”

He was a loving husband, father, brother, son, friend, and colleague – a kind, wise, and reliable person. His father called him “Judge,” which seemed to fit. Family members used to joke that Byron was “born forty,” in that he seemed precociously mature. Those who knew him benefitted time and again from his counsel and his ability to just listen calmly. He was also very funny, having a dry wit that could really take one by surprise.

He is survived by wife, Doris Kidd; children Kenneth Byron Kidd of Gainesville, FL. and Kathryn Anne Benson, of Kansas City, MO., and their respective partners Martin Smith and Lyn Benson; brothers Desmond Kidd and wife Jayne, Dr. Jack Kidd, Walter Kidd and wife Kathy of La Marque, Texas; and many wonderful nephews, nieces, and extended family.

The family welcomes friends for visitation from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar.

Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 3 at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe, St., Austin, TX 78705 or to a charity of your choice.