Pete Winstead, 84, one of Austin’s best-known civic leaders, passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Winstead was a founding member of the Winstead PC Law firm, which started in Dallas in 1973. The firm expanded to Austin as well as Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, the Woodlands, New York City and Charlotte, N.C. Winstead and his wife, Tomi, moved to Austin in 1987 and Pete became involved in a variety of organizations. He was appointed by Gov. George Bush as the first chair of the Texas Turnpike Authority in 1997. He also played a leading role in the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Real Estate Council, the United Way, St. Edward’s University, the Greater Austin Crime Commission and KLRU Public Television. He also chaired a $50 million capital campaign for the Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas. His firm also touted his work when the firm helped take the Dell Computer Corp. public in 1988. There will be a service to honor Pete’s life next Monday, Aug. 19, at the Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, Texas, from 4 to 6 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pete Winstead Endowment for Student Scholars at the UT Austin Dell Medical School or to the charity of your choice.
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor. More by Jo Clifton