Ed Baxter

Ed was born in Huntsville, Alabama on November 17, 1930 to Charles E. Baxter, Jr. and Helen Hurley Baxter. He attended Providence Academy primary school in Alexandria, Louisiana, Castle Heights Military Academy during World War II, the University of Tennessee Knoxville, University of Arkansas Fayetteville, and earned his Master’s Degree at St. Edward’s University.

During the Korean War he served in the 522nd Infantry Battalion as a platoon leader and company commander. His unit became a prisoner of war processing unit for repatriated U.S. military members.

He married Helen Louise Murray of Wilmington, Delaware on June 28, 1958.

Ed had a long career with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and was the East Texas District Director and the Government Relations Vice-President with offices in Austin and Washington, D.C. and was an independent Health Consultant for both policy and legislation. He served on the Texas Health Policy Task force, the Long Term Care Advisory Group, The Governor’s Task Force on the Uninsured, and as the Texas Speaker’s Industry Representative on the small group reform effort. He helped develop the first State of Texas Retiree’s health program with state contributions.

He was instrumental in the implementation of the first Texas Uniform Group Insurance Plan. His work with legislative committees in the pursuit of small group reform which expanded coverage for newborns and children is a matter of record.

Ed served on the National Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s Federal Relations Group Task Force working closely with congressional initiatives and studies on delivery and health care reform in Washington. He also served as a member of former Congressman Bill Gradison’s Strategic Legislation Task Force for the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA).

After leaving Blue Cross he was appointed the first Chairman of the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool for the Uninsured by the State of Texas and served as its Chairman for six years.

Most recently he was instrumental in the fund raising effort to build The Long Center for the Performing Arts. He and his wife were avid patrons of the arts, most especially opera.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Helen, daughter, Emily Wynne Baxter O’Brien, son, Charles E. “Chuck” Baxter, IV and his wife Rebecca, and their children, Charles E. “Quentin” Baxter, IV, Parker Hatch Hudson, Spencer Heath Hudson, and Sophie Deborah Hudson. Special cousins are Ms. Bobbie Harper of Palm Springs, California and Sarah Thiemonge of Huntsville, Alabama.

Special thanks to Beth Hellerstedt, M.D. and Texas Oncology for their expert and compassionate care.

Memorial service to be held at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1500 North Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, Texas 78746, on Friday, December 10th, 2010 at two o’clock in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Edward’s University or the Austin Lyric Opera.