Kent Butler
1951 – 2011
The faculty, students, and staff of The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture are grieving the loss of a friend, colleague, and mentor, Associate Professor Kent Butler. Kent died in a tragic accident while hiking in Yosemite National Park on Friday, May 13, 2011.
Dr. Butler had been with the School of Architecture since 1978. He was most recently serving as Associate Dean for Research and Operations and as the program director and associate professor for the Community and Regional Planning Program.
Kent was a generous and passionate man, driven to improve the world at every opportunity. His infectious enthusiasm for life and his work was evident in the many hats he wore daily at the School of Architecture and within the community. He was also known for his tremendous commitment to students and their personal and professional development.
He had a special way of framing and speaking about community and regional planning that not only inspired students, but also convinced public officials and other stakeholders to take action to improve their communities. Kent was committed to diversity and bringing people together with different backgrounds within the profession, the academy, and the community.
Kent was the ultimate planner: he was an effective and engaging speaker with broad expertise in planning and resource management, and he was connected to and respected by a large and varied network of professionals and advocates. He was a tireless community activist in the best sense, initiating many collaborative projects, and giving voice to many disparate groups around a common issue.
A native Texan, much of Kent’s work was focused on local and state-wide sustainable initiatives. Some of his projects of note included regional visioning and planning for the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, a planning assessment of the Texas Triangle as a mega-region, the development of a habitat conservation plan for endangered species in the Balcones Canyonlands of Central Texas, and regional water planning for the creation of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Kent was personable, optimistic, kind, and passionate. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Memorial services were held Thursday, May 26, 2011, at the University of Texas Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin. The services were videotaped for those not able to attend.
In memory of his life and service to the community, Kent’s family and the School of Architecture have established the Kent S. Butler Memorial Fund to support the Community and Regional Planning Program. To learn more about contributing, contact Luke Dunlap, Director of Development, at 512.471.6114 or luked@austin.utexas.edu. You can also make a gift online.
Many thanks to the family and friends who have contributed to Kent’s photo gallery.
I didn’t get the chance of meeting him but from all of these comments i wish i had the honor of at least shaking his hand. God bless you all.
Kent was an amazing person and I will remember his smile the most. Because of that smile, he was able to engage so many people to get them involved with his passion. I remember a trip to North Texas in which we met with a small city council to figure out how we could help them plan their town center, and he was able to take some of the edge off of the room by just being calm. I’ll also remember Kent for helping to start me on my path to being a planner. He took a chance on me and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
In the too short time I worked with Kent, two things were obvious: He gave the best compliments and, if you ever had to choose someone to describe you to others, you wanted to pick Kent. His generous and positive spirit saw and emphasized the best in others.
In describing the CRP program and students, he explained these students are great people who want to change the world for good, “The kind of people you want to have a beer with.” His admiration for his students was immediately evident. I was convinced and agreed to attend one of their happy hours soon. Kent promised to go, too. I regret we’ll never have that beer. We miss him.
Kent Butler will be greatly missed by so many, as he was a great man on so many different levels. I’m amazed by all of the entries on this website. So many great stories about the many ways that Kent contributed to so many lives as a father, friend, professor, and environmental planner. His contributions in the field of environmental planning, and in particular related to the Balcones Canyon Lands Preserve are truly great accomplishments. Kent was an inspiration to me while I was in the CRP program, and helped me greatly in pursuing my career goals in the field of environmental planning. I was hiking the same trail as Kent (the Yosemite “Mist Trail”) last summer; such an incredibly beautiful place, with incredible water falls. Seems like a fitting place for the final day in the life of a great man. Kent, you will be remembered by many for all of your great contributions.
I am still reeling from the loss of such a wonderful man… much too early in his life. Kent has been closely involved in many aspects of Envision Central Texas since its inception. Most recently, he shepherded four UT C&RP students through two complicated case studies for ECT. He allowed them to strike out on their own, yet was always there to add a suggestion or offer advice when needed. His students flourished under his guidance. The week of his death, we met and he lingered after a committee meeting to say that he thought we were making strides in the development community in that many building professionals now understand why we must build in a more sustainable way. This was not always so. Kent was always kind, always gentle, always thoughtful, always positive, always humorous. I feel so fortunate to be able to have called him a friend and we all will miss him tremendously.
Kent was my professor, colleague, parent of same-aged child, one of those people I always enjoyed in all those contexts, and that I will very much miss.
Austin does not have enough people who contribute time, intelligence, humor, and perseverance to make things better. And now we have one less; it is a very large hole in the social fabric.
I had the great fortune to have Kent as a teacher and advisor during my graduate studies. His warmth and genuine interest in people, students, and his profession made him stand out. I have great memories of Dr. Butler, from field trips to conversations of about future career paths. He had a gentle presence and a great sense of humor, I especially remember that he would try to practice his Spanish every time he had the chance.
Like many of you, I am at a loss of a friend and a mentor. His help and advice have been instrumental in my current professional path, and for this I am extremely grateful. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and others whose lives had been touched by his sudden departure.
I was not on the faculty during Kent’s early years. But, I remember during Kent’s last post-tenure review how a senior faculty member raved about Kent’s most significant contribution in the development of a habitat plan for endangered species in the Balcones Canyon of Central Texas and for the creation of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. I’ve thought of this great contribution every time I met Kent in the school and feel sorry now that I never mentioned my impression of this contribution by him. I will remember his great smile—always with a sparkle in his eye.
Nancy Kwallek, Colleague
For almost three decades, Kent Butler was instrumental in the protection of our Central Texas natural resources. Kent and I first worked together in 1985-87 when his planning efforts supported our citizens’ efforts to create the voter-approved election of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Kent brought all stakeholders (citizens, elected leaders, scientists, cities, and businesses) together to help us create our local groundwater district.
Kent played a big role in our City of Austin Watershed Committee to write and lobby to pass the nationally prominent, Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance in 1986. There isn’t enough space to write about all of his visionary efforts, but most Texans should know that when it comes to the long-term protection of the Highland Lakes, the Edwards Aquifer, Barton Springs, and endangered species, Kent Butler had a guiding hand in most of it.
It is comforting to know that Dr. Butler trained a generation of UT students to do great work in the Austin area and around the world. But with a sad heart I say that Kent Butler will be missed by so many people.
I met Kent in 1978 when he was a new professor at UT and I was a graduate student in the Geography Department. I took one of his classes and I was hooked. Kent was not only a great teacher, but he truly cared about his students. I transferred to the CRP program and Kent became my advisor and my friend. I have fond memories of trips to the Texas coast and of doing planning work that had a real world impact.
I have not kept contact with Kent the last few years, but I knew that he continued to have an impact on central Texas due to news reports of his activities. I feel very
fortunate to have known Kent and I am saddened by his untimely loss. My thoughts are with his family, his friends and colleagues.
I feel lucky to have known Kent for nearly 20 years. He was a great guy and the epitome of an interdisciplinary scientist. He practiced environmental science and sustainability long before most of us knew what this was. He was and had so many great things:
Friend
Gentleman
Gentle man
Smile
Smart
Wise
Generous
Positive
Insightful
Happy
These two videos of Kent show only some of these qualities:
http://www.youtube.com/user/UTesi#p/search/0/XGBeT4hmXF4
http://www.youtube.com/user/UTesi#p/search/1/YTaNCpmp7Yk
Jay Banner
Director, Environmental Science Institute
Kent was not only a professor, but alsoa mentor and friend of mine. He understood what was required to be a proficient, effective planner. I also liked his personal touch. When I gradauted from the CRP program, he sat with my mom and I at the graduation luncheon. The following year, when I came by the school of architecture, he invited me to dinner with his family at EZ’s and we enjoyed catching up with each other. We maintained contact as my career progressed.This spring, in my last email correspondence with him, he mentioned how he had hoped to slow down and looked forward to my visiting with him the next time I was in Austin… I will truly miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. May he rest in peace with the knowledge that all the students he helped and communities he served are enriched because of his influence.
Like many headstrong students, I ignored Kent’s advice to avoid entering the job market until I’d finished my thesis. Instead, the lure of working as a water resources planner and a steady paycheck postponed my degree for years. But Kent’s inspiration was fundamental throughout my graduate school years, and in launching a career he greatly helped shape. He touched so many of us with his dedication, kindness and encouragement to follow his example in making the world a better place.
I am deeply saddened by Kent’s untimely death. He gave so much to his students and community that the hole will be too big to fill. As a person who lived his convictions, I credit Kent with instilling in so many of us, the importance of taking care of the environment and leaving it better than we found it. Kent, you live on in our hearts.
I am deeply saddened by Kent’s untimely death. He gave so much to his students and community that the hole will be too big to fill. As a person who lived his convictions, I credit Kent with instilling in so many of us, the importance of taking care of our environment and leaving it better than we found it. Kent, you live on in our hearts.
Kent was a rare Texan who liked it clean – and was disciplined in his efforts to keep it so. I witnessed him dealing with some utterly stubborn baboons as though they were responsible, trustworthy human beings…remaining focused upon achieving his goal of calm consideration and measured action for the good of everyone. He was truly one of the good ones. He has encouraged my entry into the CRP program, where I’ll enter in the fall – inspired by his example. Godspeed, Kent.
Kent’s passion for the UT Community & Regional Planning program was both overt and communicable. I witnessed it first-hand on a trip to Baton Rouge, LA in the fall 2010 term. I accompanied him and two students as they collaborated in the Scotlandville Comprehensive Community Development Plan. Kent knew that traveling to Southern University to engage the local community and its leaders would also present an opportunity to establish a relationship between two schools of architecture. Acting on the UTSOA’s initiative for diversity and inclusion, he encouraged me to join in the recruitment efforts.
It was so easy to get caught up in the work that he, other professionals and the students were doing. The ideas, designs, and labor all helped to give me more perspective into the field of urban planning. Eventually, I was no longer a recruiter; I became just as devoted to improving this community as they were! And I thank Kent for the context and the experience!
My thoughts, too, are with his family, friends, and students. He will be missed and never forgotten…
I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to know and work with Dr. Butler as a master’s student over the last two years. Kent was a tireless advocate for change. Whether it was to improve the curriculum or recruiting practices, he was always a supportive force willing to take the time to not only listen to students, but to make things happen.
Although I did not take any of his classes, I worked closely with Kent over the last couple years working on improving diversity recruitment strategies for CRP, and more recently as the graduate student member of the SOA Diversity Task Force this year. I very much appreciated his openness to embrace new, different and sometimes challenging ideas as to how to improve the program and college. I was looking forward to finishing up over the summer (and as a CRP PhD student starting this fall) work we started earlier this semester with various members of CRP and SOA re the UT SOA Framework for Diversity… I, along with many others, am now committed more than ever to make sure that Kent’s work will continue to encourage, challenge and inspire those who are charged with moving these initiatives forward.
He will be sorely missed. I hope his family and friends will find solace in knowing that his passion, kindness, humor, and determination will live on through his work as an educator, advocate, mentor, and friend.
It is wonderful to see the photos of Kent’s broad smile, but so sad that his light is extinguished. Kent cared deeply about his work and enabled students and the community in many ways. When I arrived at grad school, he told our class “in undergrad your professors say ‘jump through this hoop’. In grad school, we say ‘the hoops are over there’.” That advice stuck with me because grad school was really the first time I was pursuing my own interests in a genuine way. His advice enabled me to gain so much through the CRP program. He also generously promoted me to employers which ultimately led to my current path in environmental work. I enjoyed reconnecting with Kent during panels and receptions at CRP@50. Most recently, I heard him speak about regionalism and I remembered that planning is about thinking big, broad, and ahead. Kent embodied these qualities and he leaves us with the charge to do better for those who come after us.
Dr. Kent Butler was and I will always remember him as a planner dedicated to improving the world for others. In the summer of 2007, I and a few other CRP students approached Dr. Butler with a vision to improve the diverse make up of CRP students. He embraced this vision with little hesitation. Kent set out over the next 4 years to work with School of Architecture students, alumni, and administration to develop a strategic plan for improving the School’s diversity. With Dr. Butler’s leadership, the School of Architecture has its first ever Diversity Task Force and a Strategic Plan that lays out a road map for how the school will increase the diversity of its students and faculty in the near future.
Dr. Butler was a true Advocacy Planner. His impact in my life will never be forgotten.
I was shocked to hear of Kent’s death (and still am). For the past several months my firm has been working on a small project at the School of Architecture for which Kent served on the building committee. I hadn’t seen Kent for about 20 year, so at our first meeting he and I spent more time catching up, than actually discussing the project. I was reminded what a wonderful person he was……kind, intelligent, passionate, loyal, everything we (should) strive to be. When I got back to the office I even told my staff how much I enjoyed visiting with Kent, and I was looking forward to our future meetings so I could further our relationship. I’m very sad that this won’t happen.
Kent obviously made this world a better place and will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
I will remember Kent as a genuine, fun, provocative, inquisitive mentor that could come up with convincing numbers on all kinds of subjects. I will remember him as an incredibly present person and a kind soul. I will remember him as someone I would like to emulate in many ways. Thanks Kent.
As an incoming CRP student, I did not know Kent very well. However, based on the two times in which we met to discuss our similar interests, I quickly noticed his eagerness and passion towards his work. Because of his enthusiasm, I will be attending UT. He will be greatly missed, but there is no doubt that his influence and passion will continue on. My prayers and thoughts go out to Kent’s family and friends.
I met Kent in the mid-1990s when I worked briefly as a community organizer for Austin’s ACORN branch (METSA-ACORN, officially). As Ed mentioned above, the project was revamping the then-neglected Springdale Park off Webberville Road that had been a dangerous blight for neighborhood residents for some time. I was very young, very distrustful of mainstream institutions and unsure what to expect from these Suits from the University. But Kent’s easy, unwavering dedication and mastery evaporated my preconceptions. He even gave us grubby hippies rides home from community meetings in his “seasoned” Peugeot, if I remember rightly. I knew him only briefly and mostly as an acquaintance, but I’ve remembered him ever since.
As a member of the rescue team that retrieved Kent from the river after his fall I want to express my deepest sympathies to Kent’s friends and family. There’s nothing that can be done or said to make it seem reasonable or right that he has been taken away so suddenly. This is a hard storm to weather and my heart goes out to you all.
I am extremely saddened by the passing of Kent Butler. When I fırst arrived in Austin as an International student back in ‘99, Kent went out of his way to make me feel at home. And how could one not feel at home around him, with his beaming face and gentle demeanor? I will always remember Kent for the insightful, constructive comments he made in class; and will forever be thankful for his contributions to my dissertation. Having moved afar after my graduation, I have not had much contact with Kent, but he has often been in my thoughts…
My condolences to his family and loved ones.
I first met Kent in the early 1980′s, when he served on the city’s Water and Wastewater Commission, and then on one of the task forces that drafted some of the Watershed Ordinances. I was interested in all the MUD (Municipal Utility District) applications being proposed in the Austin area, and opposing their creation. I audited one of Kent’s classes on “Environmental Planning Techniques”. Learning to read a contour map has been of great value to me, as I served on the Planning Commission and Environmental Board. At the end of the semester, Kent took the class on a field trip touring several examples of Water Quality Controls in different parts of the city and its ETJ. He also took us to the US Soil Conservation Service office in Austin, where we each received a Travis County Soil Survey, which I still have and use…
It was always a pleasure to talk to him about all that was going on in Austin – the National study that included Austin and evaluated rainfall runoff and associated pollution (NURP??), the Quality of Life study done by his friend Dowell Meyers in about 1986, and on and on over the years…. most recently at a Save Our Springs gathering where Kent and others discussed the city’s current Water situation, and other ways in which the water needs of the city could be met rather than through completion of the expensive Water Treatment Plant IV.
His wonderful smile, his way of presenting the issues and possible solutions, and working so hard to bring differing opinions to a reasonable accommodation — all have been an important part of the “history” of Austin for the past 30 years. I will miss him, and appreciate all his efforts. I will remember his approach, and hope that we can in some ways replicate his passionate gentleness and concern.
KB was a great mentor to me as a Planning student at UT. During an idle summer day after college I wandered into Kent’s coastal zone planning course thinking I could sit in the back and listen – it was actually a class of 4 students. A few days into it he wrangled me into signing up for the class, and then a few weeks later into applying for the program. As my professor he challenged me to produce some of my best work that would later lead to my ability to start a career. He gave me an internship that lead to study coastal erosion and I also took his course planning a community in Mexico. His mind was so expansive his areas of interest so broad that at times – if I wanted to limit my work to a set amount of time – I would steer clear of him
. Kent wrote me a letter after one semester that really boosted my confidence, and he graciously attended my graduation party.
I really appreciate the sense of dedication and committment to his principals. He didnt sell out or settle for mediocre; or let money dictate his positions. It breaks my heart we’ve lost Kent in such a sudden way, but as I’m thinking about his impact on my life and my memories I am smiling. Kent was very real and shared himself generously with everyone. I saw him make conversation easily with total strangers of all stripes, tell self deprecating jokes and stories, and run around on the beach playing soccer with kids. I’m sure he enjoyed his life, career, and most of all his family. It was also my pleasure to get to know Christy. Our thoughts are with you in this time.
After a few days of shock and awe on Kent’s, our family wanted to unlock us from disbelief and share our fond memories of Kent with the people he cared. We were on an exchange trip in China with a group of graduate students from the SoA collaborating with the graduate students from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in summer of 2007. Our hotel was next to a busy thoroughfare in the town of the field study. At the first breakfast Kent asked: Whose team won the game? We were puzzled. He then explained, it seemed people were honking last night. Jet lag on top of a sleepless night is a toll to many of us. Yet, it brings out one of his finest qualities in addressing challenges – humors. In addition to being remembered as a passionate environmental planner and a dedicated mentor, he’ll be dearly missed as a humorous and kind gentleman.
Kent always impressed me with his humility and his ability to listen, both of which made him a wonderful colleague and a breath of fresh air at the University. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to meet and work with him. His death is a great loss.
I was shocked when I faced unexpected the loss of my teacher and mentor. In my memory, he always smiled and showed deep considerations for all international students including me. I know it is not enough to express my sadness with this sentence. I never forget his smile and soft voice in my mind forever. I will deeply miss you.
I served with Kent on the Sustainable Food Center board for 4+ years where he fought tirelessly for food security, an issue that was a head of “its time” a decade ago, and is on the national agenda today. Kent was a rare, quiet giant with blue eyes that pierced your soul, inviting you in, listening and shaping. His legacy is in the visions he created, lives he shaped, and land he preserved. Here is a poem I wrote in his memory.
Blue
Blue eyes
Water rights
History
Lines streets
Opens doors
Builds dreams
Roots people
Digs hope
Blue eyes
Flow
I first met Kent about 30 years ago. I served on many committtees with him and and was involved in many projects with him. I learned much from Kent, part of which was “sometimes more important than the food you serve is the platter you serve it on”.
Kent was brillant in bringing people together–especially on devisive issues. He was almost always smiling and in a good mood and shared his knowledge and time with many people.
He was a good friend and I will miss him.
I worked with Kent for a number of years through his involvement with the UT Environmental Science Institute. During the 7 years I was with the ESI, I came to realize how unique and important Kent was as a person. More than most anyone else in the university, Kent’s open and sincere interest in working with people from other disciplines was the embodiment of what we created the ESI to foster and encourage.
With Kent, it was always clear from his words and actions that he was open to hearing the opinion of everyone. I feel very strongly that the University of Texas and universities in general could use more faculty like him – people who are willing to step over the divide between disciplines and try to understand the other side.
Kent, we will miss you.
Dr. Nelson Guda
(former ESI Assoc. Director)
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN SO SHOCKED BY THE TRAGIC NEWS OF KENT’S ACCIDENT THAT IT HAS TAKEN ME SOME TIME TO GATHER MY THOUGHTS.
Kent came on board at the School of Architecture at a time when the whole state of Texas was ripe for development. Without his kind of political and legal contributions, persistence and careful education of the agencies, politicians and developers and his support of struggling environmental organizations, much of the success in protecting resources and aesthetic values might have been lost
His was a wide vision. He worked with other dedicated faculty on projects with citizen advisory and environmental associations. I had many an occasion to respect and admire his “savvy” in dealing with frustrated citizens who not only wanted to protect our wider environment, but needed persuasive information to present to make a case for their point of view. Kent provided both.
I knew him as both friend and colleague through more than thirty years. I regret that our paths did not cross often enough after I retired in 1996, but memories of his calm, effective and profound influence in his work have stayed with me. There is no doubt that Kent’s careful and effective persuasion has added to the valued environment we enjoy today.
Together with our family — Margaret, Heather, Ann and Peter, who all shared some
part of their young lives with him and his family in music teaching, baby sitting and social events — Felicity and I send our deepest sympathy to Christy, Lana, Emily, Josh, Nick and other members of the family.
I had the honor and the pleasure of working with Kent on SoA projects during my time with The University. My client became my friend. He was like that. One could not engage him without liking him. He was perceptive, attentive and kind, a gentleman scholar who enriched the lives of many of us at The University. He will be sorely
missed. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Kent Butler was much more than his work or his professional accomplishments.
Kent Butler was one of the best of his species.
I morn his death but celebrate his life. Like many others, how fortunate I was to have been included in his life.
This is the poem I wrote about Kent. My poem wasn’t for Kent but about how he touched the lives of me and others. I rather enjoyed the times when we had lunch and talked about what we could do to make things better in the world, and the opportunities I had to work with Kent on those efforts. It’s how I feel about him:
Our planet slipped the other day
And birds went silent as if to say
A song is lost, I know it’s true.
My heart is thankful to have known
That sweet melody for just awhile
And now life seems so out of tune.
That gentle life of gift and courage
Sang to all of those who heard
A melody we understood
And now repeat in what we do.
Our planet slipped the other day
And birds went silent as if to say
The song is lost, the melody remains.
I was a terrible graduate student. I would not have made it through the program if not for Kent’s encouragement, humor, guidance, and friendship. As humble as he was, he had a confidence about himself that he actively passed on to others. An incredible, charismatic man. Unbelievable…
Kent was a friend, a colleague, a mentor. We have known Kent for 20 years. He welcomed us to the Community and Regional Planning Program back in 1991. A step ahead of us, he guided us through the early years. He was always there for us, for the good and the bad. We will miss him more than we can describe.
He tirelessly joined us (and others) on a campaign to reform street design in newly developing areas. Feeling so many times on the verge of success, we spent years on this effort. At some point, as we were struggling to gain our ground, Kent joined us in our effort. He worked hard (and there was absolutely no funding). He developed models, ran numbers, took the lead at public meetings, organized meetings with the development community, attempted to forge a deal. This was not a battle that we won, but a step nonetheless in a continuing effort to enhance and maintain our great city.
Years later, he with Christy, supported us through a cancer diagnosis. He coordinated a community response. Through months of chemotherapy, dinners arrived nightly at our home. In the end, it was at his home where we celebrated the end of treatment and beginning of the next chapter in our lives.
Kent was not one to invest in half measures. Kent did everything with gusto and determination. When traveling in Portland Oregon on a project, Bob taught him to ski by the light of the moon in just one night on Mt. Hood. He was no good at saying no, and wanted to make sure everything was done right. Yes, he over-committed, but that was because of a big heart. Too often, he worked to the bone–once, right into the hospital with pneumonia. Heart, passion and caring drove his life. He gave tirelessly to family, friends and community, and our world is a better place through his efforts.
Our loss is tremendous.
Rachael Rawlins and Bob Paterson
Kent’s vision, his huge heart, his sharp intellect and his deep humility always shone through whenever we crossed paths. I thought of Kent as a colleague, a mentor and a as a man, a human being, whose presence called forth a deeper, more thoughtful version of my own self. We will all miss him terribly.
To his family, I offer my deepest sympathies. I will strive to keep you all in the light. Peace.
MCRP 1980
I just visited with Kent for the first time in 30 years at the APA conference in Boston and was again reminded of his warmth, humor, passion and commitment. It was so reassuring to see that he had held on to those defining characteristics over the years. Clearly Kent has had an enormous impact on people and the environment (and the connection between them) over the course of his career. He will be deeply missed and long remembered.
I can only echo what has been said already. Dr. Butler glady shared his passion and patience with his students and was a great asset to the UT and Austin community. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. He will be missed.
I remember the first day I walked into Battle Hall, looking for the office, back in January 1994. I had just arrived in the US from India, and was getting ready to start my graduate studies in the CRP program at UT. Kent walked up to me, introduced himself, walked me to the office and helped me get my bearings. Ever since then and through the years, Kent had been a teacher, guide, mentor and friend.
As I graduated from the planning program, and was considering a career in land conservation in Texas, he provided invaluable guidance and helped me see my way into what has now been my passion and profession for 16 years. For that, and for all that I have learnt on this journey, I will be forever grateful to Kent.
There are some people in the world that you assume will be around forever, making the world a better place. Kent was one of those people. He will be sorely missed. Blessings to his wife, daughter, family and friends.
I am absolutely shocked! I just re-read the announcement and Fritz’s update on Kent’s incident.
I have always admired and relied on Kent’s talent and leadership as a professor, friend and kind person.
From our very first outing with Kent in 1979 (our CRP excursion to Port Aransas), his aggressive leadership and charisma was absolutely contagious. All the young CRP members were thrilled to have the opportunity to ‘learn’ in the field with our team leader!
Kent will be missed every day and we wish his family all of the best in these trying times.
Kent was always like a breath of fresh air when he walked into a room. He was friendly and engaging with everyone and there seemed to be a twinkle in his eye. He had an inner beauty that shone through and a keen sense of humor. I could never understand how he could be involved in so many things, but it was plain to see that he was in love with life and had found his bliss. He was lucky to be one of those people who instinctively knows how to live a full life. This combined with his great caring spirit and the courage to press his creative ideas for the good of the community makes him a phenomenal person. A great loss for us all and for Texas.
I’ll miss seeing you at the front desk in the Dean’s Office, Kent. You had a way of making me feel special and important.
I am still coming to grips with our community’s loss of such a bright spark.
I met Kent Butler in 1978, when he was a newly minted professor, and I was entering the school. He was enthusiastic, challenging, and opened my eyes to the interconnections between humans and nature. More than anyone, Kent helped me to see that planning was a design profession, not just a social science, and sustained my conviction that planning was a way to begin to address the conflicts between human settlement patterns and the environment. We remained in touch over the years, and he encouraged me to come to UT to teach, and made sure I remained a part of the community at the School of Architecture over time.
His professional contributions were vast, as were his contributions to the Austin region. And as a person he was warm, kind and inspiring. Kent Butler, was a mentor, a colleague, and set an example of someone who was thoroughly professional yet thoroughly committed to a set of ideals.
Oh, and, lest I forget, we had a lot of fun together, from trips to the Coast for coastal zone management and gulf shrimp to lunches, dinners and barbecues over the years!
I am deeply sorry about Professor Buttler early departure. As a practicing architect we met him as part of an academic group analyzing the challenges and opportunities for TOD in my city, Santo Domingo and as a guest lecturer on the topic; later back in Austin as a guest to one of the masters programs. My sincere sympathy to his family, collegues and friends.
As a former student of Kent’s i remember his passion for his profession, his students and the environment. I remember once submitting a paper after i had suffered a concussion from a bike accident. I thought i had fully recovered and was pleased to submit what i thought was a perfectly fine paper (subject escapes me). It was Kent who was nice enough after reading the paper to take me aside and offer to let me rewrite it as i might not have recovered as fully as i thought i had. The world was a better place having him in it and he will be missed.
I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Dr.Butler. I will always remember him as the wonderful and gentle human being that he was. One of the nicest things about him was that he didn’t let work pressures get to him – or to you, if you were working with him – he had endless patience and would always have a smile on his face.
I have learnt a lot from Dr. Butler and am deeply indebted to him for that. It was a pleasure to work with somebody so passionate about his beliefs, and so dedicated to his work. In fact, it is to him that i owe my current research and professional interests.
My sincere sympathy to his family for such a sad loss. Dr. Butler and his family will remain in my prayers.
Kent was a terrific professor and dean. I will not only remember him as a teacher, but as a friend who was always willing to share a beer with us at the end of the semester.
To our mentor, professor, and buddy. May you live on in the work of the planners you’ve inspired. You will be missed but never forgotten.
Kent, greatly impressed me with a genuine commitment to both his students and his community. He was always approachable and the kind of person that was just plain nice to be around. He listened and helped. His commitment to good planning and environmental protection was inspiring.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Kent’s family at this difficult time. He was very much appreciated by untold number of students and colleagues. We are all the better for having known him.
I didn’t know Kent personally, having graduated from the program the year before he arrived, but all of us in the Austin and Central Texas area are indebted to his work for the environment and our quality of life. We do have mutual friends however, as the local planning community is small. My real connection with him, however, involves his death. Although I didn’t hear of his tragic accident until my return to Austin, my wife and I were in Yosemite at the same time he was. Eerily, we had hiked the very trail he died on only the day before and I had slipped and nearly fallen on a rock promontory while taking a photo of Vernal Falls. That connection will remain with me always. At the time of his death, we were hiking another trail only a few miles away. We had a book of John Muir’s with us and were stopping from time to time to read his passages. From all I know of Kent’s work, he lived and worked in the full tradition of Muir and he died in a true Garden of Eden that Muir fought to preserve. I hope he is sitting at Muir’s side right now, discussing the beauty of the natural world as they both knew it. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and especially his daughters.
Kent’s legacy will live for a long, long time — not only through his friends and family but also through many good works that seem destined to endure. He was a passionate optimist who could tackle both “the vision thing” and details with aplomb, and, always, with a smile. His loss is a shock. We will miss him. So will Central Texas.
Kent was one of those unique individuals who could move effortlessly between the “academic world” and the “real world.” His contributions to his students and to central Texas will long be remembered and appreciated. He was a special person.
After several years away from Austin, I happened to be in town last weekend. On Saturday evening, before I heard the news, I resolved to a fellow alumnus to catch up with Kent soon, perhaps even before leaving town. When a friend called me Sunday morning and shared the terrible news, I was absolutely shocked and immediately thought of Kent’s family. I wanted to tell them how much we all loved him and how much we’ll miss him. In fact, I thought it my duty as someone who felt a connection with him.
Now, as I read through these comments, I am humbled by the fact that Kent was able to connect so deeply with so many people. I hope I am able to carry on even a fraction of his capacity to inspire and connect with people, not to mention his integrity to fight the good fight on so many fronts and on so many levels. Whether in a boardroom or out in the parking lot, he could disarm a hostile opponent with calm but well-chosen words. Even more impressive was how you could hardly run into Kent for even a moment without having felt better for doing so.
My heart goes out to all of you who knew him well, who shared lives with him. If I can feel this way having only known him a short time, I can hardly fathom your tremendous loss. I feel most sorry, though, for those who never knew him at all.
As he did so many others, Kent influenced my life greatly as a teacher, mentor and friend. It is wonderful to see so many kind and intelligent and honorable things being written about him – and its even more wonderful to know that they are all accurate and true because Kent was truly kind and truly honorable in all the many things he did. Perhaps that’s why he accomplished so much in a life that has ended much too soon.
I shared many experiences with Kent that are common to all of us, but I also shared a unique experience with him that is pertinent to this particular moment. Kent and I both lost a parent within a few months of each other, and we had a great discussion about death and what it meant and what we believed.
I won’t go into details here, but I will tell you that Kent and I wrapped up the conversation on the same note: That we weren’t any too eager to solve the mystery of what was on the other side of that door, but we both had faith that there is Something and we both agreed that it was nothing to fear.
Kent left behind great accomplishments on the ground and in the minds of each individual he taught and influenced. Those gifts will continue to make this Earth a better place today and tomorrow in a multitude of ways. We are all Kent’s legacy, and he will continue to accomplish great things through each of us. And the greatest way we can honor him is to conduct ourselves in his style – kindly and intelligently and honorably.
Deepest sympathies to his family, his fellow friends, and to the University. We have all lost someone very special.
Kent Butler lives on through the influence of his ideas and interactions with those around him. I’m a freelance editor/writer. In 2008, we faced off with dueling laptops on my front table while I edited drafts of a habitat conservation plan and an environmental impact study for him. On many an evening, I’d work on subject-verb agreement and wordy writing while Kent figured out how to make those carefully constructed sentences have the greatest impact in the world. During breaks, we’d reminisce about our offspring. His family had lived down the street, and our daughters were in the same kindergarten class. Bringing each other up to date on what our kids were doing today was as much fun as working on a truly meaningful editing job. Kent’s pride in both his work and his children were evident. His legacy is in the power of his objectives already in place around the globe, his students who carry his concepts into the future, and his treasured children. My heart goes out especially to Emily. Rest well, Kent. You made your mark on this planet, and it will shine.
I am very sorry to hear the news about Kent. My prayers and condolences go out to his family, friends and students. Kent was a great professor and mentor. I spent the last three summers in Afghanistan. At one point working with a team involved with urban planning and reconstruction in Kabul. Much of what I was able to contribute was a result of the MSCRP program in general and of Kent Butler in particular.
Vá com Deus, Kent.
Kent was truly a man with great humor. The last time we were having a chat was during a break in the school-wide faculty studio review just last Tuesday. While we were just having a casual conversation, another faculty member was approaching Kent and asked him “somebody told me that…,.” Without even listening to the whole question, Kent responded immediately looking very seriously with “THAT IS NOT TRUE!” After about 2-second pause, he then turned to me with a big smile on his face. He looked at the moment almost like a kid who was just so happy to successfully trick someone. That smiling face is still in my mind and will remain there for a very long time. Thank you Kent for bringing joy to us.
As planners we hope our work will make a positive difference in peoples’ lives. Kent’s life had and will continue to have an immeasurable impact well beyond those of us who knew him and mourn his passing. He shaped my life as teacher, mentor and friend during my time at UT and helped get me my first real planning job. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
I served on the student panel that interviewed Kent in 1978. Shortly after my wife and I moved into his brother’s house in Galveston which initiated a long term family friendship and professional relationship with Kent. He and his students helped me integrate science into the coastal zone planning in Galveston which in the long term made a difference both there and for me. It showed me how to forge a career of integrating environmental science into urban and regional planning. I have always been impressed by the breadth and depth of his work in Texas, which will be a great legacy. I will miss him as a friend and colleague.
There is tremendous place in my heart for Kent and his family. Kent was a giant. He was a champion for Casa de Luz (Center for Integral Studies) and gave selflessly representing it on 5 Board of Adjustment hearings. He was a superb spokesman.
We collaborated designing a new urban and sustainable village in Columbia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico for 3 semesters. The first semester, Kent directed the class to let the land speak to us so that humans and nature could thrive together. He demonstrated his futuristic vision repeatedly.
Our dinners at Casa de Luz with Christy were always filled with awesome inspiration. His constant smile is indelibly etched in my mind. His ideology is firmly planted in me. His countenance remains to influence our daily lives.
His bachelor party, 10 years ago, consisted of a group of mindful friends having lunch together, then retreating to a circle of support, where we shared uplifting stories of marriage. Kent was a man of integrity, fidelity and service. Clearly his joy came from giving and contributing.
Kent was central in my life. He was the person I could call to check my compass. Most certainly he is improving the urban design of heaven and being appreciated for doing so. I know he did for others what he did for me. We have lost our steady friend for now. May we meet again to see how we can serve together.
I feel extraordinarily grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know Kent this spring in his Water Resources Planning seminar. He exuded a degree of warmth and sincerity towards all those around him that is rare and his enthusiasm for finding creative solutions to environmental management was contagious. I will not forget our thoughtful discussions on current events in water resources and his gift for communicating complex problems. His parting advice to our class two week ago was to never be affraid to “think outside of the box” in our careers as planners. The untimely loss of such a remarkable person is painful, but Kent will live on in memory as a tremendous mentor and role model for the numerous students whose lives he touched. My thoughts and prayers are with Kent’s family and friends.
Dr. Butler will be remembered by many as an exceptional teacher, leader and mentor but most of all as a kind and generous person. I was fortunate enough to have taken one class with him, Environmental Planning. I always appreciated his thorough feedback on class assignments and the way he guided our small class toward thought-provoking discussions. However, what I remember most was when Dr. Butler took me out for a coffee during my last semester in the CRP program to answer some of my questions and give me some pointers as I prepared to head out into the professional world. His advice has stayed in my mind since then and has helped me remain confident in my abilities to this day.
Dr. Butler’s generosity, dedication and sense of humor have made UT a better school and Austin a better community.
Kent was my professor at UT in 1983 when I entered the CRP as an older than average grad student. He was accessible and so friendly then and helped me throughout the progarm. Once I graduated, he continued to become even more of a friend and mentor collaborating and assisting me whenever I asked him. We have lost him too soon. My thoughts and prayers go out to Christy and his children for their great loss.
I did not attend UT but I am praying for his family, his school, and friends over his loss. I am also sorry that his daughters and a friend who was with them witnessed his tragic death. May God be with them and comfort them as they all morn his death.
I considered him a friend above all else, after over 30 years, I felt I could stop by his office and have a chat… One felt comforted to know that he was doing what he could to protect our natural resources. Now that he is gone, so tragic a fact, we must do what we can to carry on…
Kent gave Austin–indeed all of Texas–a huge gift in the form of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. It will be his lasting legacy. What I will remember most, however, is Kent’s wonderful smile, a hearty, life-embracing and generous smile.
Dr. Butler embodied the spirit of the planning program. I am in my 2nd year and while I never had him in class, I had the pleasure of working with him on curriculum changes and faculty recruitment. It was indeed a pleasure because Dr. Butler actually listened and cared what students thought. I can say that every idea that was presented by me and my colleagues was carefully considered and in almost every instance, implemented. I believe this is because Dr. Butler had the mind and heart of a true educator and wanted us all to have the best educational experience we could at the University of Texas in the Planning Department. His leadership and attention have really molded the Planning program and his many years of service did not dampen his enthusiasm or effort to make the program better. And he did this all with a kindness, humor, charm, and attentiveness that everyone was drawn to. This sort of character cannot be replaced and will not be forgotten. We are all devastated and heartbroken by his loss, but endeavor to pick up his mantle and continue to make this program something we are all proud of. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and students.
I first met Kent in 1978 as an undergraduate student in Geography and then later as my advisor in the CRP program. During my professional career Kent has always been there as a mentor; it is hard to grasp that he is no longer with us. I am very saddened by this tragic loss and extend my deepest sympathy to his family.
I had Kent for the third required sequence course in professional planning, and I recall very well the level of deep involvement we had in developing a community vision plan for the Springdale Park neighborhood, an African-American community in east Austin. It really put into practice good planning principles to the benefit of an often neglected demographic group and geographic area. We met in the homes and businesses of the community and produced a wonderful design document of which the community was very proud. This was a good lesson to take to heart in school to develop practical, hands-on planning in the working world.
I happened to run into Kent a couple years after school at a planning conference in the great mecca of planning: Portland, Oregon, which opened my own horizons to come to the West Coast.
A native Texan like Kent, I have wound up in California, quite happily, for the last decade. I have hiked and backpacked, driven in autos and ridden my Harley all over the beautiful Golden State. I have been to Yosemite three different seasonal times: once in lushly green spring with gushing waterfalls, once in the spectacular foliage of fall, and once in snow-covered winter wonderland–even in the Valley. It is one of the most lovely and peaceful places on earth, and while we mourn Kent’s passing from us, perhaps there is some comfort that he departed doing something he loved, in the beauty of our public lands. Rest in peace, Kent.
para nosotros en republica dominicana, es una perdida irreparable.trabajo en el gobierno local de santo domingo norte 2006-2010 como asistente tecnicoco laboro enlos planes de manejos de asentamientos precarios, y presento una charla majistral en la universidad nacionalpedro henriquez ureña, sobre TOD en santo domingo. junto con el profesor bjorn sletto, formaron los primeros grupos de estudiantes que trababajaron en los trabajos de la cañada los platanitos, usando mapeo participativo.
son innumarables los aportes que realizo para la planificacion de santo domingo.
I was in CRP when Kent arrived his first year so our association goes back 32 years. He was my professor, employer, professional report supervisor, and most importantly, friend. I remember fun trips to Galveston and Port A for “research.” We played co-ed soccer for several years in the late 90′s, and I certainly was glad he was on my team and not the other. He was a terrific athlete. I appreciate Kent’s many planning contributions to Austin and Texas environmental issues. Our world was better off for his work and his being. Prayers and blessings to his wife, daughters, colleagues and friends.
I am so deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our friend, mentor, and inspiration. Kent was always encouraging, supportive, and complimentary of all his students and provided me with inspiration to do more. He was instrumental in bringing me back to campus to teach water resources planning which has changed my life forever. Kent, your contributions to the world have impacted so many and you will be missed by all of us. Christy, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
I was one of Kent’s first students in 1979. Kent was my thesis advisor. He was a wonderful teacher and mentor. I have thought of him often over the years.
His untimely death is a great loss.
I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Butler. I fondly remember classes with him. He always had time for us and seemed to have a natural way of making us care as much as he did about planning issues. He had a great demeanor and I always felt he had his student’s best interest in mind.
Kent, you will be missed.
Echoing many things that have been said- I think Kent’s steady hand guiding the CRP program was special not only because of his knowledge & passion about the subject matter, but most importantly because of the way he listened, coached and cared for all the students and peers who came to him for advice.
He was a special person who is irreplaceable to the program and to many of us on a personal and professional level. I know I was bettered by his influence and by knowing him.
Kent, by any measure, was an extraordinary teacher, thinker, and city and regional planner. He contributed significant impetus to habitat preservation in the Balcones Canyonlands, groundwater management in Central Texas, and much much more. But he was also a wonderful human being, with humor, an abiding interest in helping others (the central reason he was such a well-loved and helpful teacher for his students and so many others), and an ability to think outside the box and gently persuade others to see the light along with him. I was more than happy to respond to his calls to talk to his classes at the School, an indication of our shared interests in progressive urban riverside development. His dedication to the environment was fundamental to his thinking and academics, and a small meeting to brainstorm on protecting the Hill Country stands out as memorable. His appreciation of nature led him, on his last and tragic outing, to Yosemite, that land of John Muir and giant sequoias.
Though I never had a course with Kent, he was a memorable guest lecturer in one of my favorite courses. Hearing Kent’s background stories concerning Austin’s Drinking Water Protection Zone were chilling. His dedication to his community was clear, and the City of Austin owes Kent Butler a huge thanks. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues.
I am deeply saddened to learn of this tragic news. I didn’t have the wonderful opportunity to have Kent Butler as a professor, but did have an occasional discussion with him and learned a great deal from him about environmental planning and water/wastewater management systems. I send my most sincere regards and best wishes to his close family and friends.
Dr. Butler…I should say Kent since he never referred to himself as Doctor when I was talking to him, was my mentor and I am proud to say my friend. In spite of his workload he always to had time to talk to a current or former student to discuss issues that were present at the time. I will miss his smile and his steady hand and his wisdom.
Kent was a wonderful teacher, a great mentor. There are no words to describe him. He will be in my memory forever. He was especially understanding towards the needs of the foreign students like myself. But never did he come across as being negative or discouraging. Always supportive and understanding.
May his AATMA (the true soul) rest in peace because I think GOD needs his expertise now, although his work on earth needs more effort on our part.
My heartfelt condolences to his family, we have truly lost a good person, a great educator.
Kent was an amazing professor. He always had a way of explaining things so that it made sense, and his down to earth demeanor oftentimes helped us muddle through the most complicated planning exercises. He would always emphasize “real world” planning work, so that we would be better prepared once we moved from the University environment to the planning profession. When I worked in Florida on the I-4 Green Tech Corridor planning project, I referenced Kent’s work on the Texas Triangle. He was an endless source for innovative ideas and always pushed the envelope. He will be missed – yet his legacy will live on in the lives of all those he touched (and there were lots of us!). Thank you, Kent, and I send my regards and condolences to his family in this time of sorrow.
I think I only had one class with Kent during my two years in the CRP program, but I was lucky enough to work with him on several projects that have been influential in my career. Kent always had an open door and plenty of time for anyone. I’ll always remember his off-centered personality, caring nature, and genuine interest in each one of us as students, professionals, and friends.
Goodbye Kent, we’ll miss you.
It is very hard to sum up the importance of Kent’s contribution to the university and to each of his students. He was encouraging, kind, intellectually curious, and generous; it was always apparent that he wanted each of his students to achieve their best potential academically and professionally but also wanted to us to “stop and smell the roses.” He also encouraged us to remember that each of us makes a unique, valuable contribution and that communication with teams and stakeholders were keys to successful projects.
I’m grateful to have known him and thankful for all of his support especially when I choose to attend graduate school while working full-time. Kent always had a ready smile and a positive attitude.
My sympathies go to his family and friends; I know he will be deeply missed. I hope that they will comforted by knowing that the planning program he cared for so deeply will continue to grow and flourish…and that his students will carry his legacy as they work throughout the country and internationally.
It is most evident that Kent Butler was an extraordinary person by any measure.
I had the privilege of taking Dr. Butler’s Water Planning course this past spring. Like so many others, I was inspired by his enthusiasm, his creativity and the humanism that he brought to his professional work. He was a teacher in every sense of the word, offering novel ideas with an ease that belied the difficulty of such original thinking. I just really enjoyed being around him, and I learned so much from him in such a short period of time. I am supremely grateful to have been given the chance to know him.
My thoughts go out to his family.
Kent was more than just a professor and mentor. Kent was a role model and friend. Kent was concerned for the community and advocated for what he thought was right. He brought us, his students, into the planning process and helped us engage the world as planners, all while showing us that planning is not just a profession, but a responsibility that extends beyond our professional work.
This is a stunning loss for those of us who remember Kent, and also for those who will never know him.
MSCRP, 1997
I had several classes with Kent when I was a student in the program. Despite a very rigorous schedule with many outside pursuits, he always made time to meet with his students and he cared very deeply about our education. In every problem or situation in which I saw him he was welcoming, positive and encouraging.
I was deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing; we have all lost a great advocate and friend in Kent.
I will keep his friends and family in my thoughts and prayers.
Kent was a great asset to the CRP program, U.T. and the Austin community, and he will be greatly missed. I was lucky to have Kent serve as my graduate advisor and spur me to take on the challenge of conducting the first ever nationwide survey of habitat conservation plans. While I’m sure my survey and resulting thesis could have been better(!), Kent was supportive throughout and I learned a lot. And of course his classes were some of the best at CRP, even when he showed up late! Finally, when I moved back to Austin five years ago after 12 years away, it was great to be able to reconnect with Kent, catch up on happenings, and talk about ways we might be able to work together. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Kent was well known for has many professional accomplishments, one of them being the formation of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. I met Kent through my work with the District where he encouraged me to return to school to pursue my graduate degree. I got the pleasure of knowing him both professionally and where he shined most, as an educator. His gentle demeanor and genuine enthusiasm for his students and community will be his legacy. Kent has touched so many and been such a positive influence. He will be missed.
I am honored to call Kent my teacher, mentor and friend. He was a huge reason why I choose UT as a graduate school, after meeting with him on a visit to Austin. As a graduate student he greatly influenced my work and aspirations as a planner. I was fortunate to work as a Graduate RA on the Galveston Bay Estuary Program regional plan with Kent, and on the development of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Water Conservation District’s habitat conservation plan. I also took several classes with him while in the CRP program. Kent inspired and challenged me to be a better planner and a better person. After graduating, it was always a pleasure to run into Kent or catch up over a cup of coffee. His work, his passion, his warmth, and his dedication to our community are a true inspiration to me. I will miss my friendly dearly.
I did not know Kent well, but was always an admirer of his work and knew of his wonderful and positive impact on the Austin region and the UT-Austin program. My abiding memory of Kent is that when I applied many years ago for an academic job and was not selected for an interview, he e-mailed me a kind note and told me to “keep my head up” and that I would find a good academic home soon. Kent took the time to reassure me, a newly minted PhD and someone he had not met at that point, offering a bit of hope to moderate this not so good news. This is yet another small data point that illustrates Kent’s genuine character and caring… he will be missed by a great, great many.
Kent was my professor in the late 90s, my colleague on the Buda comprehensive plan, and a friend ever since. He helped our region shape a conversation about environmental protection and water quality that will live on, and he was a great mentor in how to negotiate the political and environmental interests.
Kent was an amazing colleague. Like Margie Dewar, I got to know him at the Megaregion Studio organized by UPENN Professor Bob Yaro at the Fundacion Metropoli in Madrid. Here we heard about the Texas Triangle and its role in the Southwest. Here we saw Kent in action: a gentle but focused mentor to his students, a deceptively quick-witted questioner of the visiting lecturers, a thoughtful companion at the many enjoyable dinners. Happy memories of a truly dedicated teacher and scholar. He will be greatly missed.
Dr. Butler was my professor, advisor, and friend. His positivity and passion for his work, and the work of others, was contagious and inspiring. He played such a major role in my education and personal growth here at UT, and he will be deeply missed.
I first met Kent when I was looking at graduate schools a few years ago. I found his info on the UT website, and after exchanging emails, he offered to meet me at his office later that week. Though I’m sure he was busy, he spent about three hours introducing me to the field of planning, showing me maps of some of his projects, and answering my questions. As a result of that afternoon, I started in CRP about a year later.
In my second year in CRP, I took Kent’s Environmental Planning class. There, Kent related numerous stories from his experiences outside the classroom, including his role in protecting the Edwards Aquifer, and brought it all back to his simple definition of sustainability: Solving as many problems as possible with one solution. As a lecturer, he was engaging, effusive, and enthusiastic about his work.
Later, Kent graciously acted as the primary reader for my professional report. He was full of ideas and generous with his time in the middle of yet another busy semester. Our conversations went far beyond the paper, and were a great help to me during a time where I was taking on new responsibilities in my job.
More than anything, I’ll miss meeting Kent for the occasional coffee at Cafe Medici, hearing about what he’s working on, and asking for his advice on what I’m working on. He changed the way I practice my profession, not just by the things he taught, but by the generous and relentlessly collaborative example he set. He was a brilliant planner, but also a good and generous man. I feel honored and blessed for having known him.
I am so saddened by this news. Kent was clearly an exceptional teacher, and it was a delight to work with him and see him in action during the most recent re-accreditation site visit, that I served on. I can appreciate that this is a great loss to the planning program at UT-Austin, and to his family and friends.
Mother Earth has lost a tireless advocate, and countless CRP students have lost a treasured mentor. Kent was one of the most kind hearted people I have ever known. My prayers are with his family for their terrible loss.
Kent was a good professor and friend. Austin owes a great deal, and so do I. My thoughts are with his family.
I got to know and respect Kent in the mid-1990s when I was a volunteer in the Community Vision Project, which included a series of community charrettes promoting mixed-use pedestrian friendly communities. Kent was always an optimist and encourager. He always looked for ways to make sure the disenfranchised has a voice for the future of their own community.
He made a real difference the way all planners aspire to.
Most of all I remember that he always seemed to greet you with warm smile and a way of listening that made you feel like your ideas could make a difference too.
We’ll miss you Kent.
I am a current second-year CRP student and had Dr. Butler as a professor in my first semester. I was also able to work with him as a graduate assistant last summer. In addition to being an inspirational planner and academic, he was passionate, funny, kind, and generous. His contributions to the program and the warmth with which he approached his work and relationships will be deeply missed.
I graduated in 1994 and was a dual degree student so I did not spend as much time with Kent as many of my classmates, but I remember him as a very friendly person who could easily develop a rapport with students. So many in our class looked up to him and he was a mentor to many. I am shocked and saddened that he departed this earth so suddenly. My thoughts are with him and his family.
While I knew Kent’s work for some time, I only had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of weeks ago at an event sponsored by ACSP in Austin. He was everything everyone who knew him has stated: infectiously enthusiastic about environmentally-sustainable planning; genuinely embracing of other people’s efforts; generous in paying tribute to his colleagues’ and students’ contributions; graciously self-effacing; and, funny! To lose a colleague like this must be terribly painful to those with whom he worked. May his character and achievements prove to be his enduring legacy.
I first met Dr. Butler at a new student party when I entered the CPR Doctorate program in 2006. The first impression he gave was nice smile, warm welcome, and strong but soft voice. Then I had the pleasure to have many opportunities to talk to him and get to know him.
I remember, in the CRP colloquiums, he always brought delicious breakfast; he encouraged me to talk and gave thoughtful opinions and suggestions about my presentation. For a research method course project, He was glad to be my interviewee and answered my questions about “faculty attitudes toward parents while in graduate school”; with his patience, Dr. Butler helped me, an international student, accomplish my first in-depth interview in the US. As one of researchers who initialed the Texas Triangle Megaregion study, Dr. Butler gave me great help with my study on this topic; he provided me data and suggested ideas and study directions. Just a few month ago, Dr. Butler helped with my UT continuing scholarship application as one of my references, in the last email he sent to me he said “The nomination letter and survey for Binbin have been successfully transmitted. I’m crossing my fingers! Kent B.”, and I got the scholarship!
That is the Dr. Butler in my memory, always kind, supportive, energetic, and humorous. He is one of the best professors I’ve met and my favorite CRP faculty. His smile, just like in this picture, his strong and soft voice will always in my mind. May he rest in peace.
I just heard of this tragic news. Prof. Butler was my mentor and friend. I am deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death.
I worked with Prof. Butler on many initiatives including the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and he was also my advisor for my PhD dissertation work. He certainly had a big impact on my life (personally and professionally) and was a generous and helpful person whenever I needed him. I learned so much from him and owe him a debt of gratitude. I cannot express how grateful I am to have known him and my heart goes out to his family and friends.
He and his family will remain in my prayers.
Kent: you will be greatly missed.
I visited UTA for a job interview in 2008. One of the definite highlights of my visit was meeting Kent Butler. I felt great admiration for his professional work, strong environmental ethos, and the passion he felt for the activities the CRP faculty and students were engaged in. He was also a great listener that showed genuine interest in my work and ideas. I enjoyed about an hour of his time on Earth, and it was a very precious experience that I will cherish forever.
I was in the UTSOA Career Services Office in Sutton Hall from 1997-2001. Kent’s office was directly across the hall from mine and I saw him just about every day. Once you met Kent, you understood why the students absolutely adored him. He was always focused on the person in his presence, always positive and insightful and always a bright, gentle spirit. My sympathy to his family and to the UTSOA family of students, faculty and staff and my sadness for what this world has lost.
Kent helped us write an ordinance requiring better pedestrian access in new subdivisions. He often offered advice on urban planning matters. Austin owes him a lot.