Walter L. "Buddy" New, Jr., longtime University of Texas supporter, businessman and thoroughbred horse owner died at the age of 70 on March 8th in La Jolla, California, with his loving family at his side.

Buddy was born July 20, 1941 to Cora and Walter L. New in Odessa, Texas. His father who worked as a roughneck, and his mother, a homemaker, raised six children. A talented multi-sport athlete, Buddy played football for Hayden Fry's Odessa High School Broncos.

In 1959 he attended The University of Texas on a full baseball scholarship, playing first base for legendary Texas coach Bibb Falk. The Longhorns played in the College World Series all three years of Buddy's career at Texas, and the friendships formed with these teammates have flourished over the years, with every story repeated (and embellished) at every gathering.
In his junior season of 1962, Buddy played a part in one of the greatest Longhorn victories of that era. In the final game of the season, and needing a win at old Clark Field over Texas A&M to advance to the NCAA playoffs, the Longhorns trailed, 9-3, entering the eighth inning. Buddy, who had been put into the game as a substitute at first base by Coach Bibb Falk, hit a ball off the cliff in right centerfield in the unique old park, and when he slid home with an inside-the-park home run, the Longhorns were behind, 9-5, and a rally had started that would eventually tie the game at 10-10 in the tenth inning.

With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the tenth, the left-handed hitting Buddy hooked a ball that bounced over the fence down the right field line for a ground-rule double. Teammate Gary London followed with another double off the cliff, and the picture of Buddy being mobbed by his teammates at the plate as he scored the winning run with a forlorn Aggie catcher watching became part of Longhorn baseball legend.
After marrying his high school sweetheart, Sandy Ewell, in Austin in 1962, Buddy graduated with a degree in finance and moved to Southern California to become president of General Can Company, a division of Ormand Industries, a company helmed by Jerry Ormand, Sr., who was a mentor and father of a lifelong friend.
In 1976, Buddy founded Palmetto Can Company in Hartsville, South Carolina. Major clients included Riceland Foods and several foreign aid programs that used the company's one gallon cooking oil cans. Before selling the company in 1989, he returned to his beloved Austin in 1984.
Trusting two friends who were horse experts, Buddy entered the Thoroughbred business with them in 1988, purchasing a humble Texas-bred named Appealing Breeze. The horse was an immediate success, becoming a multiple stakes winner and his first Breeders' Cup starter. Hooked on racing, Buddy went on to campaign three horses in the Kentucky Derby over his career.
In later years Buddy split his time between Austin, Texas, La Jolla, California, and Louisville, Kentucky tending to his various philanthropic endeavors, including donating to the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, and the Scripps Foundation.

Buddy's retirement years were spent traveling to watch his race horses with the love of his life, Sandy. Their almost 50-year marriage was filled with love beyond measure and blessed with two wonderful children who also survive him; Walter III and wife Bridget, and Victoria Elizabeth, "Tori," and husband Aaron Haberman and two precious grandchildren Izzie and Max, all from Los Angeles. The joy Izzie and Max brought to "Budman" enriched his life and kept him forever young.

Buddy is also survived by sisters Jimmie Miller, and Sally Dennis, brother Tommy Joe, numerous nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends across the country. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Peggy Purser and Judy Vaught and her husband Kenneth Vaught. Buddy has left us much too soon. His devotion to his family and his friends, his generous spirit, kind heart and his wise counsel will remain with us always.

Viewing and visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. and services at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16, 2012 in the Chapel of Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin.