Archive for August, 2011

Cactus Pryor, class of 1942 dies at 88

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Cactus Pryor, Austin’s original funnyman and a pioneer of local radio and television, died Tuesday afternoon. He was 88.
The cause was complications from a recent fall and Alzheimer’s disease. He fell and broke his leg earlier this month while living at an assisted living facility in Buda. With family around him, Pryor died at Hospice [...]

Vernice Tilford Smith, Austin High School’s first black teacher, dies at 88

Sunday, August 28th, 2011

Vernice Tilford Smith, Austin High School’s first African American teacher and a pioneer of integration in Central Texas, died August 23, 2011 of cardiac arrest. She was 88.
Her family and friends said she’ll be remembered as an icon of the Austin education community, a loyal parent and a faithful woman.
“She was firm, but gentle. She [...]

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