Sackett, Peggy and Fred

Frederick (Fred) Sackett Jr. was born on his grandfather's ranch in Coleman County, Texas in 1921. He learned to fly at an early age and later used that skill to instruct flying cadets as well as fly military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces based in China during World War II. After the war he returned to Austin to finish his degree in higher mathematics at the University of Texas. He went to work at a construction firm to support his first wife Dell Mitchell Sackett and their two sons Frederick Sackett III (born December 19, 1942) and Eric Sackett (born February 28, 1947).

Fred remarried in the early 1960s to Peggy Sackett. With the death of his son Eric in the Vietnam War in 1966 Fred changed his life by returning to school to learn a new business and joining the investment firm Rauscher-Pierce.

Fred was a lifelong democrat and he and his wife Peggy were dedicated to a variety of local organizations and causes. He was also a dedicated preservationist and served on the board of the Austin Heritage Society for many years. In addition he was appointed to the Austin Library Commission and served as the president for seven years.

Fred died in 1997 of lung cancer.

Marguerite (Peggy) Sackett was born in November of 1917. In the late 1960s and 1970 she was involved in the local theater performing in plays at the Zachary Scott Theatre, Austin Civic Theatre, and Center Stage. Starting in the mid-1950s Peggy involved herself in local community events and causes such as the Austin Bicentennial, KLRU auction, SAVE MUNY (Austin Municipal Golf Course), NOTCHOS (Notch Year Baby legislation) and the YWCA.

From the guide to the Peggy and Fred Sackett Papers AR. 2004. 042., 1955-2003, 1970-1985, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )