Camp Mystic director Richard “Dick” Eastland died while attempting to rescue campers during catastrophic flooding that tore through parts of Central Texas. He is among 59 people confirmed dead so far in Kerr County.
Of the victims, 38 are adults and 21 are children. Eighteen of the dead, including four children, have not yet been identified.
Eleven children and one counselor from Camp Mystic in western Kerr County remain unaccounted for.
Camp Mystic director died saving campers from Texas floods
Eastland, known for his decades of devotion to the Camp Mystic community along the Guadalupe River, was trying to reach campers affected by the rapidly rising waters when he lost his life, according to a column by Paige Sumner in the Kerrville Daily Times. Sumner is a former camper and longtime family friend of Eastland
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers,” Sumner wrote. “He had already saved so many lives with the gift of Camp Mystic.”
Dick and his wife Tweety, who were cheerleading partners at the University of Texas, were admired by campers for their loving relationship. “When we looked at them, they were still that much in love,” Sumner wrote.
Despite personal hardships — including the loss of their son James and, later, Dick’s battle with brain cancer — Eastland remained close with campers and their families, “attending weddings and other meaningful moments.”
A father of four boys, he was often considered a father figure by the hundreds of girls who attended the all-girls camp each summer.
Where is Camp Mystic?
Camp Mystic Guadalupe River is in Hunt, an unincorporated community in Kerr County. It’s northwest of Houston and less than two hours from San Antonio.
The camp sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River and roughly 18 miles northwest of Kerrville.
Why was Camp Mystic hit so hard?
According to its website, Camp Mystic is “located near the geographical center of Texas.” Camp Mystic’s close proximity to the Guadalupe River also left it vulnerable to flood waters.
The National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office recorded the Guadalupe River’s gauge at a 22-foot rise in about two hours.
— Houston Chronicle reporter Shakari Briggs contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Camp Mystic director dies in Texas floods while trying to save campers