Sam Rutherford Perry

Sam Rutherford Perry died on September 11, 2026. He was born on May 26, 1934, in Rockdale, Milam County, Texas, to Sam Perry and Melba Mignon Rutherford Perry. He graduated from Rockdale High School in 1951.

He enrolled at The University of Texas in June 1951. While at UT, he was a member and Vice President of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and President of the Interfraternity Council. He was also a member and President of Silver Spurs, an honorary service organization. He was named an outstanding Cactus student and was tapped for membership in the Friar Society. He maintained that these last two honors came late in his UT career, after those who knew him well had graduated.

He graduated from UT Law School in 1957, joined the Texas National Guard, and spent six months of active duty at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, where he completed basic training. It was rumored that those who knew him well sold their war bonds while he was in the service.

He practiced law in Austin with the firm of Sneed, Vine and Perry and its predecessors, first as a partner and then as Of Counsel, until 2004. Thereafter, he retired and maintained that he came into the office late and made up for it by leaving early. He served as President of the Travis County Bar Association in 1977-1978. He was named a Distinguished Lawyer by the Travis County Bar Association in 2002, an honor he always attributed to the cleansing power of the statutes of limitations and the fact that he outlived so many of his contemporaries.

In 1963, he married his best friend and the love of his life, Shirley Bird from Stockdale, Texas. She had a distinguished career at The University of Texas, and married him despite her disdain for his conduct at UT sporting events. Although they worked hard during their professional careers, they took great vacations, usually in cooler climates. In lieu of giving each other presents for Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions, they took trips and planned them with great care. Some of their favorites were London, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Shirley Bird Perry died in May 2011. Although that loss was difficult for him to absorb, the task was made easier by the tremendous legacy she left at UT and by his memories of the great times they had together. His proudest moment came when UT President Bill Powers named the main ballroom in the Texas Union “The Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom.”

He had the great, good fortune to meet Barbara Drake Pitts in 2012, and they enjoyed each other’s company, fly fishing, and music until his death. He was blessed by this relationship, which was the highlight of his last years.

He served on the Board of Directors of Torchmark Corporation, a publicly held insurance holding company, from 2004 to 2013. He was proud of that fact and of the many long-term friendships he had with members of the Torchmark family.

He was an avid (though not an expert) fly fisherman. He fished at many venues, including the creeks on the Byram and Hammond Ranches in Blanco County, and many rivers in New Mexico, Montana, Colorado, Maine, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina, Arkansas, and Alaska.

Sam is survived by Barbara Pitts; his sister, Polly Perry-Vincent; and Dr. L. B. Kubiak, the husband of his late sister, Jenny Kay Kubiak. He is also survived by nephew Dr. Blair Franklin (Kelly) and their children, Sam Franklin (Montana) and their children, Hayes & Carolina; Luke Franklin; and Jake Franklin; nephew Dr. Scott Franklin (Sherry) and their children, Jenna Franklin Whitehead (James); Jace Franklin (Claire) and their child, Miles; and Josh Franklin; nephew Logan Kubiak; niece Lindsay Kubiak; Shirley’s nephew, Charles Cotter, and his children, Jake Cotter (Sarah) and their children, Beckett and Hudson; and Trevor Cotter (Skyler).

He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and especially liked its “Communion Café” service.

Services will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Rd., Austin, Texas, at 2:30 PM on September 28, 2026, with a reception to follow. Interment will occur at a later date.

The family wishes to express their deep gratitude for the years of professional care and personal attention provided by the staff of Westminster in Memory Care and Skilled Nursing, too numerous to name yet deeply appreciated; Michael Pellegrini, M.D.; Sam’s caregivers from Halcyon, especially Farah Nouri beginning in 2020, Neil Gayle beginning in 2025, and Gina Johnson; and Hospice Austin, especially Laquinta Jones, Marlana Saucedo, and Sofia Monsivais.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to “The Shirley Bird Perry Endowment for University History at The University of Texas at Austin,” c/o UT Development Office, 1 University Station, Mail Stop A3000, Austin, TX 78712, or to the charity of your choice.