Austinites went to the LBJ Library Auditorium Thursday for a memorial service for former Austin mayor Roy Butler.
 
“We celebrate this afternoon the realizing that Roy Butler’s life was a gift from God,” said Monsignor Fred Bomar.

Butler died last Friday .  He was 83 years old.

Butler’s life and legacy may never be known to every Austinite.  But to his friends, Butler will never be forgotten.
 
“He brought so many things to Austin,” said Ralph Wayne.  Their relationship, according to Wayne, a friend of 44 years, brought out the best in both of them.  Wayne said Butler was always by his side – even just a few weeks before Butler died, when Wayne had open heart surgery.
 
“What are you doing here?” asked Wayne.  “With a straight face, he looked at me and said well Ralph, I wanted to see if you were going to make it and if you didn’t I wondered if I could have your new Mercedes.  And you know what?  That made me get well so quickly!”
 
But Wayne says Butler was the last to be selfish, donating time and money to many different causes, including education and health care.  Wayne says Butler loved the city he led for two terms in office.
 
Always a businessman, Wayne said Butler had an infamous catch phrase: “Be quick, be brief, be accurate, and be gone,” said Wayne of the phrase.
 
But most of all, Wayne says he’ll miss his friend’s class and lifelong companionship.