Colt Coble Birdwell

Colt Coble Birdwell, 25, passed peacefully with his loving family at his side in Austin, Texas on April 5, 2008 after a heroic fight with melanoma cancer. Colt Birdwell was born in Kingsville, Texas on July 20, 1982 to Robert Wyman Birdwell, Jr. and Gail Spencer Birdwell. Colt was an account executive with Rainmaker Systems of Austin, Texas Colt was a fifth generation Texan and attended school on the Santa Gertrudis division of the King Ranch and flourished as a gifted and talented student. At the age of 14 Colt began fighting his heroic battle with melanoma cancer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Even when he was first fighting melanoma cancer with surgeries and taking chemotherapy treatments, he would not miss a Texas AandM at Kingsville football game as a "ball boy." Colt loved sports and was a "ball boy" for the football team at Texas AandM from 1991-1999. Colt also was a 4-H member for eight years, raising blue ribbon Duroc pigs and competing in the Kleberg County Livestock Shows, San Antonio Livestock Shows, and the Houston Livestock Shows. He graduated in 2000 from The Academy High School in Kingsville, Texas in the top 10% of his class with many honors in JROTC, History, Science, and Spanish. While at the Academy, Colt attended three high school leadership conferences concerning world events in Washington, D.C. Colt won UIL state competition in Lincoln Douglas debate (2nd) and informative speaking (4th) and received a debate scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin. He was a "Mac Geek" in computer technology, and was used as a computer tech on the Academy High School and Santa Gertrudis campuses when he had elective time during his school days, and received a four-year college scholarship for his school computer work from the King Ranch. In 1999 the Corpus Christi Caller-Times honored Colt as a South Texas Distinguished Scholar in the category of computer science. Colt later received certification as an Apple Certified System Administrator. Colt also received a four-year scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin and a two year scholarship for graduate studies at Texas South University in Houston, Texas from the M.D. Anderson Christmas Card Art Project, which assists childhood cancer students with undergraduate/ graduate school. The Kingsville Chamber of Commerce recognized Colt in 2000 as the Junior Citizen of the year. In 2000 Colt was also recognized as an Outstanding High School Student of America. Colt received his undergraduate degree in 2004 from The University of Texas at Austin with a double major in psychology and sociology and a general business degree from the McCombs Business School at The University of Texas at Austin. He was on the Dean's list several times at UT and also was invited to participate in "Chats with the President" while there. Colt was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and also an alumni advisor. He was a Life Member of the Texas Exes Association and was a "true burnt orange sports fan", traveling to the Rose Bowl in 2006 to the National Championship to see Texas win the title. Hook 'em Horns! Colt continued his graduate studies at Texas South University, Jesse H. Jones School of Business, in Houston, Texas and graduated in 2006 with a Masters in Business Administration. Colt was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, a national business honor society, and was also vice president of the TSU Graduate Student Association. Colt was a diverse and very well rounded individual, and was a member of the Black MBA Association and traveled to San Diego, California for the Black MBA Conference in an administrative capacity to represent GSA. Colt was accepted into the Texas Southern School of Law in 2006, but within weeks of starting law school his melanoma cancer returned and once again he was heroically fighting his hardest battle. Colt was a caring individual who was always giving to others. His volunteer experience included: The Lance Armstrong Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and the Austin Community Food Bank. In Colt's own words, "Life is about the experience," and, because of his belief of having a full and life-long learning experience, he lived his life to its fullest. He traveled extensively into Mexico, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, and the United States, journeying from the Indian Ocean, to Vatican City, to the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, French Riviera, Chichen Itza, Mexico, and major cities in the United States to name a few. Colt is survived by his mother, Gail Spencer Birdwell (Joe M. Cavazos) and his father, Robert Wyman Birdwell, Jr. (Brenda). His brother, Wm. Garrett Rich preceded him in death along with his maternal grandmother, Frances Timlin of Corpus Christi and his paternal grandfather, Wyman Birdwell of Jourdanton. His grandmother, Van Birdwell of Jourdanton, Texas survives him. Left behind to cherish his memories are his sisters and brothers, Kim Moore (Todd), Tracy Boggs, Kristie Harris (Jack), Misty Schultz (J.P.), Vanessa Gomez (Joe), Jaclyn Cavazos, Matthew Birdwell (Delma), Robert Wyman Birdwell, III, Gregory Clinton Rich (Serena), and Brian Allen Birdwell. The following twelve nieces and nephews, Hunter, Heath, Ellie, Heaven, Garrett, Brice, Jade, Chase, Jordan, Kathryn, Tripp, and Jayden, survive him. An endowment in Colt's memory is being established at The University of Texas at Austin for a student to travel anywhere in the world to any UT sponsored courses annually who would not otherwise be able to do so because of a lack of financial resources. Donations may also be made to the Silver Grace Foundation in Houston, Texas, which provides educational resources for children who have cancer. Pallbearers will be Michael Loessberg, Justin Pollard, Michael Kuntscher, Trey Palreiro, Rudy Ramos, Eric Saul, Wade Massey, and Jason Melero. A special note of appreciation and love for all of the compassionate doctors and nurses at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Dr. Brian Shimkus, Austin, Texas; and to Hospice "Hearts to Hearts" especially D.J. Box, RN. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at First United Methodist Church. Graveside services will follow at Chamberlain Cemetery.