Political consultant and public relations pioneer Julian Read dies By Lia Truitt VP Elizabeth Christian Public Relations Published Photo of Julian Read courtesy Elizabeth Christian Public Relations. AUSTIN, Texas - Julian Otis Read, a nationally prominent public relations and public affairs expert, passed away on May 8, 2021 at Westminster Manor, a mile from his beloved mid-century modern classic home of 53 years in West Austin. He was 93. Read was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Mary Anice Barber Read, a nationally honored leader in historic preservation. Read is survived by daughters Ellen Hardin Read and Courtney Anice Read Hoffman and her husband R. Clark Hoffman; three grandchildren: Faye Hoffman Hilpert and husband Mark Hilpert, Katherine Hoffman and husband Robert Lindsey, and Clark Read Hoffman and wife Morgan Hoffman; great-grandchildren: Anice Elizabeth Hilpert, Juliana Rae Lindsey and Asher Read Lindsey; and great-grandnephew and nieces Bodie Butler, Melinda Sue Eskew and Jennifer Harwell.