Robert Anthony Proffitt

Tony Proffitt Robert Anthony (Tony) Proffitt, a quiet-spoken and unassuming guy who earned respect as a master political strategist during foru decades of working behind the scenes in Texas state government and politics, died Sunday, Oct. 17, of complications of diabetes and a brief illness with cancer of an unknown origin. He would have been 62 on Wednesday. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wilke-Clay-Fish at 2620 South Congress and a Christian wake service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 4600 E. Ben White with Monsignor Fred Bomar officiating. Burial is at 4:00 p.m. in The Texas State Cemetery. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Proffitt, and a brother, David Proffitt, both of Shawnee Mission, Kan., and a host of friends in Austin and across Texas with whom he shared his life and his work. Tony died at his country home north of Austin, a 33-acre patch of hardscrabble live oak, cedar and rocks he called Stoney Acres where he chopped cedar, raised chickens and delighted in giving brown eggs to friends and associates. Tony’s experience spanned from the Lyndon Johnson White House to current legislative affairs. Through the years he served a who’s who list of Texas political figures as a campaign organizer, media director and as an analyst recognized for his uncanny. Tony came to Texas in 1962 from his native Kansas City. He worked briefly at the Temple Telegram as a photographer before joining the Austin American-Statesman as a reporter. His stint on the Austin newspaper led to his introduction to politics when his editor recommended him for a job with then-U.S. Rep. Jack Pickle. He joined Pickle’s Washington staff in1 965 and was frequently given assignments by the Johnson White House. Tony returned to Austin in the early 1970s and for the next 30 years was involved with many leading Texas public officials, including the late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock for whom Proffitt served off and on for 20 yearsas press secretary, campaign director and fundraiser. Through the years he was also associated with former Gov. Bill Clements, former State Sen. and Insurance Board chairman Joe Christie, former Land Commissioner Bob Landis Armstrong and former State Treasurer Warren G. Harding. He worked in former President Jimmy Carter’s first campaign, mayoral contests in Dallas, Austin, and Houston and was involved in numerous statewide issue campaigns, including the first bond issue which created the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport and the constitutional amendments campaign which legalized liquor by the drink in Texas. Since Bullock left office in 1999, Tony has done legislative and media consulting for a wide range of business interests and nonprofit health and human services advocacy groups. He was born Oct. 20, 1942, in Kansas City, Mo. He attended Rockhurst College in Kansas City. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. The family suggests memorials to Hospice Austin or other favorite charity. Arrangements by Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 442-1446. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com