Byron Michael Riddle

Byron Michael Riddle was born on January 31, 1941, in Amarillo, Texas to Roy (1903-1963) and Katherine Robertson Riddle (1908-1985). His father made and sold fishing maps of Texas lakes and often brought his eldest son along on his sales calls around the state. Following his parents’ divorce around 1945, his mother worked as a secretary at Amarillo National Bank.

Byron and his siblings were raised by his mother, his grandmother, Rena “Mammy” Anderson Robertson (1886-1974), and aunt, Maud Anderson Dunn (1890-1966). Byron was preceded in death by his half-brother, Pat Sasser (1928-2004) and his younger sister, Katie Jane Riddle (1942-1948), who died in a tragic accident.

Byron graduated from Amarillo High School in 1959 where he made lifelong friends. Byron lived by the rallying cry “Once a Sandie, always a Sandie,” attending every high school reunion until his health limited his ability to travel. In later years, he often reminisced on traveling with the AHS sports teams to cover their games for the school paper.

Sports and sports writing defined his life's work as a writer. Byron was influenced by W. L. "Putt" Powell, long-time sports editor of the Amarillo Globe-News. Putt served as a mentor for Byron, guiding him into a long career in sports writing. Byron adopted the moniker “Putt” in later years in honor of Mr. Powell.

After graduating high school, Byron attended Amarillo College, transferred to West Texas State University, and then the University of Texas at Arlington. He eventually returned to West Texas State, where he finished his degree in Business Administration, after which he pursued a career as a stockbroker.

Later in life, Byron returned to his first love, writing as a journalist for the Groesbeck Journal, in Groesbeck, Texas, and as an independent author of fiction and non-fiction books.

Byron made a positive impact on his community over the years. He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and even attended the General Conference on behalf of his congregation. Byron was one of the founding members of the Lubbock Executive Association in 1973. He was honored for his contributions to the organization in 2023. In 2007, he helped establish Lara’s House, an animal shelter serving Limestone County, where he also served on the board and volunteered at the shelter for many years.

Byron was also known for pulling elaborate pranks, making April Fool's Day a day to tread carefully lest you fall victim to his latest caper. One of his most memorable tricks was one he pulled on the Lara’s House board when he called the members to tell them that a circus train had derailed nearby, releasing miniature zebras into the surrounding countryside. Lest the zebras fall to coyotes and wild dogs, he urged his friends to jump in their pick-up trucks to help round them up so that they could be housed temporarily at Lara’s House. Being civic-minded animal lovers, they jumped into their trucks and drove around looking for the zebras until Byron revealed the ruse.

Left to cherish his memory are three children from his first marriage: Michelle Lanea Ploetz; Michael Brent Riddle and his wife, Liesl (nee Renner); and Christopher Kyle Riddle; and a daughter from his second marriage: Katherine Elizabeth “Katie Beth” Riddle and her husband, Robert Courville. He is survived by six grandchildren: Jeff Alex Thomas and his wife, Lauren Coghlan, Paxton Thomas, Kristofer Riddle, Austin Riddle, Sophia Courville, and Kyrie Courville; and a great-granddaughter, Robin Coghlan-Thomas. He will also be remembered with great affection by extended family, including Pat and Karen Sasser, Rick Hall, Phillip and Erin Noel, and Shane Sasser. He was preceded in death by a beloved niece, Valerie Sasser.

The family is grateful to the dedicated staff at Garrison Geriatric and Education Center for treating Byron with such dignity, love, and respect in his final years. A heartfelt thanks goes to the medical team at Covenant Medical Center and the end-of-life care providers with BeyondFaith Hospice in Lubbock, Texas.

A celebration of life will be held at Tehuacana Methodist Church in Tehuacana, TX on July 11, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lara’s House (Limestone Animal Rescue Adoption Shelter), South Plains Food Bank, the Amarillo High School 50th Alumni Association, The Mildred & Shirley L. Garrison Geriatric Education and Care Center, or the Covenant Health Foundation.