Barton Darrell “Pat” Riley
June 27, 1925 – December 26, 2011
Pat and Sarah Riley
There are a lot of old timers around that would remember the name “ Pat Riley”. He was arguably the finest fisherman in Port O’Connor.
A Marine Corp survivor of Iwo Jima, who with his twin brother, Mike, joined up right out of San Benito High school after taking the Greyhounds football team to the district champions in 1942. When released from service he made his way to Austin to attend The University of Texas School of Architecture on the G.I. Bill. Upon graduation, he worked for several prestigious firms until he opened his own firm, Barton D. Riley, AIA and Associates on 34th street. He served on the City Planning Commision, was a consultant to The Texas Restaurant Assoc. and taught at the University of Texas College of Engineering. He designed a number of commercial and municipal buildings, but it was in residential that his talent for art was easily seen. With his contemporary style, he helped shape the unique landscape that Austin is known for.
His passion for fishing drew him to take his wife Sarah and their beloved poodle “ Twinkie” to Port O’Connor, where they bought a simple house and remodeled it into a lovely comfortable home, where they could entertain family and friends with tacos and chocolate meringue pie. He had enough work that let him go fishing at his leisure and he loved the Port O’Connor area.
His watercolors were quite remarkable. He saw beauty in birds, fish and rusted out shrimp boats. In later years they built a home in Kerrville where they spent the rest of their remaining years.
He is preceded in death by his grandfather Beech, twin brother Mike, daughters Shannon and Kerry and his wife Sarah.
He is survived by his eldest son Michael E. Riley and wife Pamela of San Antonio, granddaughter Katie Riley of Houston, his youngest son Shaughn P. Riley of Austin and nephew Patrick Reilly of Harlingen.
