Kenny Mac Baird

Dr. Kenny Mac Baird, 80, a beloved orthodontist in Georgetown and Austin went to be with the Lord on March 16, 2024.
Kenny was born in Lubbock, Texas on March 16, 1944 to Clyde and Dorothy Baird. At the age of three his family moved to Amarillo, Texas where he graduated from Amarillo High School in 1962. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin where he graduated in 1967. At UT he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. From there, he proceeded to the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry in Memphis where he earned a DDS degree, graduating number two in his class. While in dental school he was elected into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a national dental honor society. When Kenny was in the 8th grade, he set a career goal to become an orthodontist. That dream was fulfilled when he graduated in 1973 from the Orthodontic Residency Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
After graduation, Kenny began practicing orthodontics in Austin. In 1980, he married Debbie Tergerson. They were blessed with two sons, Gannon and Keegan. Early on in his practice, Kenny opened a branch office in Georgetown, which had no orthodontist at that time. Over the years the practice grew and in 1996 Kenny and Debbie made the decision to move the family to Georgetown. He practiced there full time until his retirement in 2016. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Texas Dental Association, the Capital Area Dental Society and the Austin Orthodontic Study Group.
Orthodontics is more art than science, and in that way Kenny was an artist. Using teeth, wire and acrylic as his medium, he would manipulate these materials over the course of many months, often years. At the end of the process, these completed works resulted in beautiful, transformed smiles and improved confidence for thousands of teenagers and adults throughout Central Texas.
However, it wasn't straight teeth that kept Kenny motivated. It was the cherished relationships that he developed with his staff, his patients, and also the parents of his patients that brought him great joy. Those relationships sustained him through 43 years of practice and kept him working well past typical retirement age. The deep connections he had with his young patients kept Kenny young at heart.
Kenny was also a family man. He prioritized spending time with his family. He loved being outdoors - taking his family on camping trips, ski trips, boating the Highland Lakes, watching UT football games in-person, even mowing his own yard in the Texas heat all the way up until cancer treatments sapped his strength.
Faith was very important to Kenny. He was actively involved at Faith Lutheran Church. He served on Faith's Board of Elders for many years, including a stint as Chairman of the Board. He also served on numerous other boards and committees.
Kenny was a steadfast optimist. He never complained about anything. Nor did he lament the sufferings and setbacks involved with a multi-year battle with cancer. He chose to see the best in all situations and in all people.
Kenny was our husband, our father, NeeNac and friend. He truly lived life with a deep love for God, his family, his staff, patients, and friends. All who knew him loved him. Kenny, you will be truly missed.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents Dorothy Lewis and Clyde Baird (who died in the line of duty during World War II), his stepfather Dale Lewis and his sister Tracie Curry. Left to mourn his passing is his loving wife Debbie, two sons, Gannon and Keegan, daughter-in-law Kellie, grandsons Harrison and Carson, brother-in-law Dean Curry, along with nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Kenny will be held on Saturday, April 6th, 2024 beginning with a visitation at 10:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown, Texas. The memorial will proceed at 11:00 AM with Pastor Walt Pohland, Senior Pastor of Faith Lutheran, officiating. A private graveside service for the family will be held at Cranfills Gap, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kenny's memory can be made to Faith Lutheran Church or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.