Donley “Don” C. Kennard, a prominent longtime Texas lawmaker and a nationally known conservationist, died peacefully in Austin on Thursday, March 17, 2011, after a lengthy illness culminating in heart failure. Don and wife Mary Jo lived in Oxbow in Buda for a few years prior to moving to Austin.
He was born on May 6, 1929 in Houston, the only child of Don and Clayton “Honey” Hancock. At age 13, he moved with his family to Fort Worth, where he was a star center on the Arlington Heights High School football team. He won an athletic scholarship to North Texas University. He also attended TCU and holds a BBA degree from UT at Austin. While in college, he married his first wife and high school sweetheart, Jackie Porterfield (now deceased). Their daughter, Karen was born in 1954.
His interest in history and government, and his desire to make a difference, led him to run for the Texas House of Representatives in 1952, while he was a senior at UT. He won and represented Fort Worth for 10 years in the House and ran for the Texas Senate in 1962 and served for another decade in Senate District 10.
Senator Kennard was particularly noted for his environmental and conservation efforts. He originally secured cigarette taxes dedicated to the acquisition and preservation of state parks. Texas Parks and Wildlife recently honored him at a meeting of the Commission for that action which, over the years, has provided tens of millions of dollars in funding to the state’s parks.
He was also called the “filibuster champion,” once filibustering for 29 hours and 22 minutes, not stopping until he had the votes he needed to create the University of Texas at Arlington.
After he left the Senate (“by popular demand,” as he liked to say) he established and was the director of the Natural Areas Surveys with the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT. The extensive reports from these studies ultimately led to the preservation of Enchanted Rock and several other natural Texas areas.
In 1974 Don married his second wife, Mary Jo Kederis Williams, and became the stepfather of Eric Williams and Paige Williams Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Jackie Porterfield Kennard. He is survived by wife, Mary Jo; daughter, Karen Gordon and husband, Dr. Leo Gordon of Weimar, Texas; son, Eric Austin Williams and wife, Melanie Castro Williams of Austin; daughter, Paige Williams Smith and husband Keith Smith of Austin; grandchildren, Daniel Gordon; Aimee, Jack and Ethan Williams; Vivian and Oliver Smith.
Memorial services were held March 26, 2011 at Weed-Corley-Fish North Lamar Chapel followed by inurnment at Texas State Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Don’s name to The Heritage Society of Austin, 500 W. 6th St., Austin 78701.
