Search by Name

Sam Kinch Obituary

Sam Kinch Jr. Sam Kinch Jr. of Austin, a retired political reporter and writer, died Wednesday, Feb. 1. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6 at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Sam traveled a long way, and all of the roads weren't paved. But he was a Christian, married a strong woman, raised three bright kids, toiled around Texas politicians for 40 years and, at an advanced age, got his alcoholism under control. So he surely wasn't afraid of death; he just learned that the cavalry doesn't always get there on time. In his professional life, Sam tried to make policy, politics and politicians both interesting and entertaining. As a loving husband, father, brother, friend and teacher, he tried to make life itself interesting and entertaining. He wrote this obituary in the same vein. He loved Texas politics and Texas history and University of Texas football, but he also loved laughter, participatory sports in earlier years, the outdoors, country music, gospel songs and corny old movies, particularly when they were shared with his nuclear and extended family. He and Lilas also loved to travel in the United States and abroad, to take pictures of their experiences and to share with others what they learned from and enjoyed on their travels. Sam was born in Fort Worth on Feb. 18, 1940, a seventh-generation Texan, ninth-generation Presbyterian and the son of Harriet (Totsy) Stokes Kinch, a school teacher in Temple and later a school administrator in Austin, and Sam Kinch Sr., a newspaper reporter and editor in Temple, Fort Worth and Austin for 37 years. Sam was raised in Austin, where he attended Pease and Bryker Woods Elementary Schools, the old University Junior High School and McCallum High School (class of 1958). After service in the U.S. Army and while still a reservist with the 90th Infantry Division, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in history (June, 1963) and a master's degree in journalism and history (January, 1965) from The University of Texas. He worked summers and part-time in a variety of newspaper jobs in Austin, Temple and Fort Worth. He was the 1962-63 editor of The Daily Texan, the UT student newspaper, for which he also covered his first session of the Texas Legislature in 1961 and his first gubernatorial primary race in 1962. Sam first worked in the Capitol as a House page in a 1954 special session, after which he worked every regular session in some capacity through 1997, except when he was living out of state. He also reported on every statewide election and most legislative elections between 1970 and 1998. On April 12, 1963, Sam married high-school sweetheart Lilas Janice Shelby (McCallum class of 1960). After she finished her bachelor's degree in government and philosophy at UT and Sam finished his master's thesis and their daughter was born, they moved to Washington. There, from 1964 to 1970, for The National Observer (deceased), the Dallas Times-Herald (deceased) and The Dallas Morning News, Sam wrote about Congress and national politics during the Lyndon Johnson and early Richard Nixon administrations. He moved to The Dallas Morning News bureau in Austin in 1970 and for 15 years was the chief state political writer, winning a number of awards for his political coverage, for a spot story about his ride on a hijacked airplane to Cuba and for a 1972 book that he co-authored (Texas Under a Cloud) about the Sharpstown stock-fraud scandal. Because of that book, he also contributed a section on the Sharpstown Scandal to Volume III of The Handbook of Texas published in 1976. He also co-wrote, in retirement, one book about state-level reform of the campaign-finance laws (Too Much Is Not Enough) and another on judicial-election reform (Crapshoot Justice). In 1984 Sam co-founded and began writing Texas Weekly, the largest statewide report on state government and politics. He sold his interest in it on Sept. 1, 1998, to take life easier and become a part-time consultant and writer. His daughter, Keary Anjanette Kinch, was born in Austin in 1964. His sons, Samuel Sean Kinch and Ashby McDalton Kinch, were born in the Washington area in 1967 and 1970, respectively, but all moved home with the armadillo. All three Kinch children also graduated from McCallum High School, then Keary from the University of Texas, Sean from Stanford University and Ashby from Occidental College. Keary is now a professional fund-raiser in Austin. Sean is a PhD English teacher at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, TN. Ashby is a PhD English professor at the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his daughters-in-law Jill Savola Kinch and Amy Fowler Kinch, his son-in-law Tim Evgenides, his granddaughters Amani Janice Kinch Alexander of Austin, Shelby Auchincloss Kinch of Missoula, MT, Katherine Victoria Kinch of Nashville, TN, Helen Joanna Kinch Evgenides of Austin and by his grandsons Griffin Ashby Kinch of Missoula, MT, and Samuel Rice Kinch of Nashville TN, and by his sister and brother-in-law Ann and Jack Walden of Carrollton, TX. Sam came from a small nuclear family of Kinches, but he also adopted by marriage and incorporation Lilas' innumerable Shelby relatives, or at least most of them. Sam requested that no money be wasted on flowers for his funeral. Rather, those who feel compelled to make a contribution should send money in their own names to the College of Liberal Arts Foundation at the University of Texas (UT College of Liberal Arts, UT-Austin 78712). At $10 or $25 a head, those folks will feel the impact and use the money wisely. That act of charity is for the simple reason that members of his immediate family earned a total of eight UT degrees, all in the liberal arts. Other than the Presbyterian Church, most recently Covenant Presbyterian in Austin, in which he was elected an elder at age 27, and the University of Texas Ex-Students' Association, of which he was a life member, Sam's only long-term organizational commitments were to the University of Texas in support of UT academics, to the Society of Professional Journalists, which he joined in 1960, and to Alcoholics Anonymous, which helped him stay sober in his later years.

Published by Austin American-Statesman from Feb. 3 to Feb. 4, 2011.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Sam Kinch

Not sure what to say?





I worked with Sam when I was a radio reporter covering the Capitol in the early 70s. He was always fun, wise, and very helpful. I have been out of the business for years and did not know he had finally beaten the bottle. I cheer his strength and mourn his loss.

Sarah Whitson Bourbon

February 11, 2011

Lilas,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Sam was a wonderful inspiration to so many with his great mind and wit. I remember you both fondly.
Judye Galeener Hartman

February 9, 2011

Lilas,
Some light has gone out of the world with Sam's passing. He was funny, smart and such a great editor of the Daily Texan. I'm sending you my love from 50 years away from our youth.

Sally Lehr

February 9, 2011

Lilas, I have such fond memories of our stimulating times shared at UT in the 1960's - reading Sam's obituary brought back much of the richness of that period. His humor and his dedication to fair political play, as well as his love of family comes through so clearly in his writing. I know his imprint must be deep in your life - my thoughts are with you as you grieve your loss. Glee Ingram (Austin, TX)

February 8, 2011

Lilas and Family,
I knew Sam as Ann's "little" brother who was really her "big" brother in so many ways and bigger than life in so many others' lives...husband, father, grandfather, friend, confidant, etc. I always enjoyed being in Sam's company the few times that I was with you all. To me, he was intelligent, witty, kind and engaging. I am sooo sorry for your loss! He has now stepped into heaven completely well!!

Joan Stanton

February 8, 2011

Lilas and Family,

Sorry sorry to hear this. Our prayers are with you. Will always have fond memories of animated political "discussions" with Sam. It was always exhilarating and never dull. He will be missed.

Gus Nixon
Texas-Chile 1962

Gus Nixon

February 7, 2011

Dear Lilas, Keary, Tim, Amani,

Thinking of you all and the time we spent with you for the wedding in Austin. Wishing I'd had a chance to get to know Sam better.
Peace,
Ed Swayze

Ed Swayze

February 7, 2011

Lilas, know that our thoughts are with Sam's family. He was a good man and leaves a hole in the universe. Best, Patsy Sherrill & Richard Madden

February 7, 2011

Sam was one of my Daily Texan colleagues and went on to contribute mightily to Texas journalism. Dr. Reddick doubtless followed his career with a sense of satisfaction.
--Jeanne Reinert Graves, Austin, Texas

February 4, 2011

Sam was, indeed, the life of the party, and it was always good to see him at Gridiron time. I miss those days (not that I could do these days the things we used to do back then!), and I will miss Sam. He was a big part of my life for such a long time -- not just the Gridiron, but the Lake Travis View, too.

Lilas, know that you and the kids are in my prayers. I have a first-Sunday-of-the-month preaching gig that will make me miss most of the memorial service, but I suspect it will still be going -- with people telling wonderful "Sam stories" and sharing what a great person he was -- until I get there.

Grace and peace to you all.

Diane Lee

February 4, 2011

To Lilas and Ann, one of those points of light went out that makes the world a little better place. Condolences from Phila and Bo Autrey in Georgia.

Ray Autrey

February 4, 2011

Lilas and family - I thank God for Sam's life and our chance to know him. Such an incredible and well-loved man. While we weep, he is free from suffering and is enjoying eternal life!

Elizabeth Hilton

February 4, 2011

Sincere condolences on Sam's passing.

He was a UT Classmate, friend, and Editor of "The Daily Texan", who later became a much respected reporter and political leader.

Sam will be missed.

May God Bless Sam and the Family.

Bill Melton

February 3, 2011

Sam was like a bright campfire in the middle of a cold night. How we'll miss him, but the warm spot will never go away!

With many fond memories of a great man,
Judy Cartwright Morris
McCallum High School, 1958

February 3, 2011

A real class guy has taken leave of us to be at peace. While we miss his presence we are thankful for his contribution to our lives by sharing his with us. Love to you, Lilas, and all yours,

Tommy & Chris Shelby.

February 3, 2011

Lilas, big hugs to you and to all of your family - you are so loved! May God wrap his arms around you and draw you close.

Susan Stotesbery

February 3, 2011

Sam was a joy to know and I am proud to have been a part of his extended family. His gift of wit and his personal and professional devotion to Texas, its people, its politics and its University are commendable. I will miss him dearly. I extend my sincerest sympathy to Lilas and to the children and grandchildren of this wonderful man. Mike, Colorado Springs

February 3, 2011

I will always remember Kinch best for his love of singing--after we put the Daily Texan to bed or nights at campfires during the annual Armstrong Campout.
Kaye Northcott, Austin, Texas

February 3, 2011

So sorry for your families lost. May you all find peace and strength from your friends and loved ones.

Michelle Sweda Zahler

February 3, 2011

Dear Lilas & Family:

What is a friend? Someone who is loyal, accessbile, trusted, and admired. Sam embodied these qualities and more. Throughout our school years in Austin, Sam was the "life of the party." Ever present with a quip, joke, and encouragement, he was always supportive.
His leadership at McCallum High School is legenday: extolled by classmates, inspired by teachers, challenged by administrators.
His newspaper carrier days with Harry Akin, Bill Snead, Lee Thomas, and me abound with stories (most of them true) about his relentless drive to serve Austin American-Stateman and Dallas Morning News customers. Sam "set the bar" for delivering daily & Sunday papers at 4:00 a.m, regardless of weather conditions.
Following UT graduation, I followed his career with interest. Journalism was "in his blood." Respected by politicians and fellow reporters alike, Sam was always on top of Texas politics.
He was a tremendous resouce in helping me with Texas Government research for textbooks I co-authored. Sam always had the "inside story" and could be relied upon to have his facts straight.
My, how we will miss his good humor and steadfast loyalty. He was a true friend. Godspeed, you lovable rascal.
Your friend,
Bob Trotter
Class of '58
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

February 3, 2011

Some people just make you feel good by their sharp wit and willingness to appreciate the goodness around them. Sam was one of those people. It was an honor to know Sam.

Beth Bishop

February 3, 2011

Showing 1 - 21 of 21 results

Make a Donation
in Sam Kinch's name

Memorial Events
for Sam Kinch

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support Sam's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Sam Kinch's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more