Pete Winstead, Austin Business Legend, Dead at 84

Pete Winstead, lawyer and mentor, dies at 84

Pete Winstead, a prominent lawyer and mentor, has died at the age of 84. Winstead, a founding shareholder of Winstead PC, was deeply involved in the Central Texas community for decades. He held leadership roles with the Austin Chamber, the Real Estate Council, the United Way, and St. Edward’s University, among others. [1]

“Pete instilled the values of service, teamwork, and excellence and held his fellow attorneys to those high standards.”
- Statement from Winstead PC [1]

Winstead received his undergraduate degree from Stanford and his law degree from the University of Texas. He cut his teeth as a young lawyer with the Department of Justice, monitoring the civil rights march in Selma, Alabama—an experience that shaped his core principles. [1]

He went on to become a successful tax lawyer, offering guidance to startups and playing a key role in taking Dell Computer Corporation public in 1988. [1]

David Armbrust, a fellow Austin real estate attorney, said:

"One of the tall trees in the forest fell with Pete’s passing... Pete was a tireless advocate for a better Central Texas. He walked the walk, and Central Texas is a better place because he was here." [1]

Joe Willie McAllister, an icon in Austin's real estate community, highlighted Winstead's mentorship of young lawyers and his behind-the-scenes influence:

"There's a Rolodex of young lawyers Pete mentored who turned out to be all-stars... They did stuff under the radar — not under the table... [They] had relationships that they developed because of their honesty and integrity." [1]

Winstead's impact on Central Texas was recognized across industries. On social media, real estate agent Cord Shiflet said Winstead was "truly an Austin legend" and called him a "gentleman and statesman." [1]

Sources:

1. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/obituaries/2023/01/26/pete-winstead-austin-civic-leader-died-wednesday/2038856002/