W. S. Benson Jr.

W. S. Benson, Jr. passed away on February 14, 2021. Walter was born on October 24, 1917 in Austin, Texas, was the son of Walter S. Benson Jr. and Florence Brownlee Benson and was a lifelong resident of Austin, Texas. He had an interesting life and his early years started in Austin were shaped by golf, the outdoors, riding horses and a casual interest in polo. He spent some of his summers during his juvenile years at the Culver Academy in Indiana and rode in the Black Horse Troop and spent much time riding which had an impact on him besides educational experiences. Also, Walter picked up his great golf swing at Old Austin Country Club (Hancock) through caddying and working for Harvey Penick who ended up as his college golf coach and lifelong friend. Walter graduated from Austin High School in 1934.

World War II consumed the nation and he spent three years in England in the Army Air Corp and was a Squadron Communications Officer in the Eight Air Force achieving the rank of Captain in 1944. After returning from England after VE day, Walter met Francis Byrd Bolton of Jacksonville, Texas and were married on July 8th, 1945. Soon afterwards, their marriage produced Barbara Bolton Benson and Walter Scott Benson, III. Walter, Jr. received two degree from The University of Texas, one which was an Electrical Engineering Degree in 1948 after which he spent a short time in Pittsburgh with Westinghouse before Barbara was born.

After graduation and lettering on The University of Texas 1938 SWC Champion team, he spent a lot of his time spare time developing his well-known golf swing and participating in amateur golf tournaments in Austin and around the state of Texas. Some of his golf accomplishments included winning the Harvey Penick Invitational twice, Firecracker (Lions Municipal) twice, Men’s City Championship twice. He on the 1956 Bill Drake trophy for being the best golfer in Austin. Walter gained many friends and great relationships on the golf course that stayed with him to his passing.

When he moved back to Austin, after working with Westinghouse, Walter joined the family business and worked as President of W.S. Benson & Company, Inc. Educational Publishers and was active in the business until 2003. Walter published many great public school textbook programs including: Our Expanding Vision and The Creative Eye with Kelly Fearing; Handwriting for Communication with Lee Little Soldier; Texas: Land of Contrast with Reese and Kennamer; Para Mis Ninos with Carlos Rivera and many other titles and many different authors. His beloved sister, Florence Benson Wilkerson worked with Walter for many of those years tackling the problems and successes in the fast moving educational publishing industry.

Late in the 1960’s, Walter purchased some ranching property and revisited his love of equine activities and started a thoroughbred racing stable and was involved in the care of his farm and raising thoroughbreds until his death. He was a member of the TTBA and was a member of the Board of this organization for several years.

Walter took exceptional care of his wife Francis who suffered with rheumatoid arthritis in her last years and preceded him in death on November 21st, 2005. Also, he is preceded in death by his granddaughter Courtney Amanda Benson who passed on March 26th, 2003, sister Florence Delphine Benson Wilkerson, of Austin, Texas in March 11th, 2017 and half-sister Winfred Heard of San Antonio, Texas. Walter is survived by his son Walter Scott Benson, III and daughter-in-law Cynthia Archer Benson of Austin, Texas and daughter Barbara Bolton Benson-Padgett, son-in-law William Bruce Padgett of Austin, Texas and grandson Walter Scott Benson, IV and wife Tara of Georgetown, Texas. Walter will be missed by all that knew him and his family most of all. A big thank you to Nancy Wilson for being more than a friend to Walter for the last decade.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice or to the Save Muny Conservancy at the link provided here: https://www.themunyconservancy.com/donate.html

The family is requesting that the services be kept private for family members only.