Austin R. Keith began his career in 1977 after graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso. Upon graduation, Keith ventured into the distribution business. Austin would continue work for in that business for the next 20 years before purchasing Pinkies, Inc., a fifteen store beverage alcohol chain in West Texas. Pinkies, Inc. was founded in 1934 by Tom “Pinkie” Roden, a man who has strongly impacted many individuals and businesses, especially within Odessa. Austin Keith has continued to amplify that impact, serving many organizations and inspiring philanthropy in communities all over.
Keith is the current chairman of Grow Odessa, an industrial development corporation that seeks to grow and improve the city of Odessa. Austin is also the Treasurer and Chairman Elect for the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, as well as the newly appointed business advisory member of Area Marketing and Supply Chain Management for the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech. Keith’s efforts have been widely recognized by many entities. In 2002, Keith received the Bert Ford Commendation Award from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The agency stated that: “Austin embodies the very core values which this recognition represents. With a distinguished career in the alcoholic beverage industry, he is highly respected as a man of honesty, integrity and character. An integral part of the West Texas community, Austin is a proven civic leader and exemplary businessman.”
Two years later, Keith was honored as the Market Watch Industry Leader by the Market Watch Magazine. In the magazine, it goes as far to say “As the public record shows, he’s dedicated to serving the needs of others and improving communities where he does business. “ Keith is also the owner of a barbecue business also named Pinkies, which has three locations in Lubbock, Texas.
Austin and Wife Michelle have been married for 38 years. Together, they have two children, Jeffrey and Katy. Jeffrey graduated from TCU and went on to the American Film Institute in Directing. He and wife Shelbi reside in Pasadena, California. Katy Howell is a speech pathologist and resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband James.