Nolan Paul Read

Nolan began talking at 6 months and never stopped. He had a huge enthusiasm for life. Music was a big part of Nolan’s life. He played the piano in elementary school and accompanied his sister on the violin at Bates Recital Hall at the age of 9. He began to play the trumpet in 6th grade and especially loved the jazz band, where he continued to perform in college. Nolan loved Austin High where he attended as a member of the Academy of Global Studies and participated in the Honor Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. He was proud to represent his school as the keynote speaker at Dedication Day. He graduated from Austin High School in 2013.

Nolan was also an accomplished Boy Scout. He joined Cub Scouts in 1st grade, where his father was recruited to help lead his den. They enjoyed twelve years of Scouts together in Pack 395 and Troop 448. He was the top seller of popcorn for many years, knocking on countless neighbors’ doors giving a full sales pitch. For his Eagle Scout Project he donated laptop computers to Malawi, Africa, where he visited in 2013 and personally delivered and trained the recipients of the computers.

He served as a camp counselor at the Lost Pines Scout Reservation for Boy Scouts from 2013 to 2015. He was a great role model for Scouts to have a positive camp experience.

Nolan was a super Texas Longhorn fan and it started when he was four or five years old when he would go with his grandfather to UT baseball games. Eventually, he went to basketball and football games. In middle and high school he was rarely seen without wearing his UT shirts. Eventually his grandfather had four basketball and four football seats at each game so Nolan could go to any that didn’t conflict with a school night. He attended nearly every home and some away football games. Some of the most memorable games for him were the national championship Rose Bowl game at the end of the 2005 season when UT beat USC and the 2005 national championship in baseball at Omaha. We have many photos of him that include Coach Brown, Coach Royal, DeLoss Dodds, Vince Young and Longhorn players.

Nolan was a proud Butler Bulldog at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he enrolled in the fall of 2013 and was an honors business student. He helped initiate the Butler University Bassoon Reed business which won first place in a business competition. He was an active member of the Butler jazz band, where he frequently played solos, and a basketball band member where he played at almost every game.

Nolan was a dedicated Christian and was an active member of Western Hills Church of Christ in Austin and North Central Church of Christ in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a loving son and grandson and a devoted big brother to Brielle and Lincoln. Nolan’s enthusiasm and energy made him noticed by all.

He is survived by his parents, Bryson and Leah Read, brother Lincoln, sister Brielle, grandparents David and Maxine Fowler, all of Austin, TX, Tom and Joanne Read in Indianapolis, aunts and uncles Teresa and David Price and Katie and Jim Thomas as well as 5 cousins and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of Nolan’s favorite causes. To support the Malawi Project go online to www.Malawiproject.org/donations. Memorial donations to the Boy Scouts of America can be made online at https://www.bsacac.org/memorials.php. Contributions may be made in Nolan’s memory to Butler University, c/o Office of University Advancement, 4600 Sunset Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46208.

Funeral Service will be held, Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 10:00 A.M., at Westover Hills Church of Christ, 8332 Mesa Dr., Austin, TX 78759.