Hundreds of mourners paid their respects today to former Austin Mayor Roy Butler
They packed the LBJ Auditorium on the University of Texas campus for a memorial service Thursday afternoon.
In 1971, Butler became the first mayor elected by the public -- before that, mayors were selected by the city council.
He was re-elected two years later, and according to another former mayor, Butler's influence was felt long after he left office.
“All the mayors following Mayor Butler decided to leave the decor of that office unchanged. And I was not about to touch it. I think we all hoped that some of Roy's wonderfulness would rub off on us,” said Bruce Todd, former Austin mayor.
Butler was also a successful businessman who helped develop downtown Austin.
He died last week at age 83 from complications after a fall.
