Few nonprofit events in Dallas can match the annual Linz Award luncheon for the star power of its guests, and this year’s Linz—held Wednesday, April 6, at the Omni Dallas Hotel—was no exception. Everywhere you turned, it seemed, the city’s legendary movers and shakers were moving and shaking, from Frank Branson, Joel Allison, Carol Reed, Walt Humann and Luncheon Chair Patti Flowers to Doug Hawthorne, Dolores Barzune, Dale Petroskey, Ros Dawson, Gay and Bill Solomon, Ron Steinhart, Mary Jalonick, Sarah Losinger, Margaret Jordan, Helen Holman, Winfred Parnell, Meredith Mosely, Tom Dunning, John Scovell and Andy Stern.
They’d all turned out to honor Debbie Dudley Branson, recipient of the 87th annual Linz Award. Presented by Zales, a Signet Brand, and The Dallas Morning News, the Linz is given each year to the individual whose civic and humanitarian efforts over the last decade created the greatest benefit to the city, without having received monetary compensation. The luncheon is organized by the Junior League of Dallas and benefits its Community Service Fund.
This year about 500 people showed up for the event honoring Branson, a trial lawyer who served as board chair of Parkland Health and Hospital System when it had multiple complex problems. Among other things, Parkland was facing the potential loss of its accreditation, its hospital license, and its Medicare certification and funding. Branson is credited with turning around and revitalizing the system, thanks to her “grace-under-fire leadership and genuine concern for the underserved people of Dallas County.”
While guests enjoyed lunch including a mixed-green salad and braised short-ribs, they heard from Sheila and Jody Grant, last year’s Linz recipients, as well as Jim Moroney, publisher and CEO of The News, and Bill Luth of Signet Jewelers. Luth called Branson a “focused, dedicated and committed leader” before giving way to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who likened Branson’s 2012 challenges at Parkland to receiving a military “posting to Hawaii on December 7, 1941.”
During her remarks accepting the prestigious award, Branson said her efforts to revive the system were a “true labor of love” that would not have been possible without the help of its thousands of front-line employees, doctors, and volunteers. Among the improvements she oversaw were the implementation of a more effective governance structure; the building of a new, $1.3 billion campus; and the hiring of a permanent CEO, Dr. Fred Cerise.
However, Branson cautioned in concluding her remarks, “I know the quest is not over to make Parkland better.”