If Dallas has a sweetheart, it’s Lindalyn Adams. And while, as one person said, she may not have been a native Dallasite, she got here as fast as possible. And in Lindalyn’s case, she was three months old when her folks brought her to Big D. But from that time on she has been on a mission to celebrate and protect Dallas’ legacy.
On Wednesday, September 11, more than 100 people from all walks of life, from historic associations (Veletta Lill, Karl Chiao, Pierce Allman, Bill Helmbrecht, Jennie Reeves and John Crain), the healthcare industry (Robin Robinson, Robert Gunby, Susan McSherry and Phil Evans), and city officials (Elba Garcia, John Wiley Price and Rick Loessberg) to the Crystal Charity Ball (Barbara Stuart, Tincy Miller, Michal Powell, Christie Carter, Pam Busbee and Lydia Novakov), which she chaired in 1976, gathered to witness the unveiling of her portrait at the Old Red Courthouse.
The whole celebration was pulled together by Elizabeth Gunby. Lindalyn refers to her history-loving friend as “Amazing Elizabeth,” and with good reason. It was Elizabeth who brought the Dallas County Historical Commission, the Old Red Courthouse Museum, the Sixth Floor Museum, the Dallas Heritage Village, the Dallas Historical Society, the Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society and Preservation Dallas together for the unveiling of Lindalyn’s portrait in the Old Red Courthouse’s fourth floor ballroom.
Looking picture-perfect, Lindalyn greeted each one as if they were the guest of honor. Speaking of which, John Crain read a note from Lindalyn’s dear friend Virginia Savage McAlester, who recalled how Lindalyn had once reported that in order to ask for a million dollars, you’ve got to look like a million.
In the crowd were Bonnie and Peter Smith, John Scovell, David Biegler, Lee Jackson, Cynthia Mondell, David Dike and Jennie and Stuart Reeves… Tincy Miller reported that she was continuing as honorary chair for the upcoming Boucheron World Mystery Convention despite Chair Carolyn Tillery’s withdrawal due to health reasons… Pam Busbee, Christie Carter and Nancy Gopez were heading to the Equest Fashion Show patron party in Highland Park Village… Barbara and John Stuart were being congratulated on being named the 2020 recipients of the Callier Care’s Ruth and Ken Altshuler Award.
One of the event’s highlights was emcee Pierce Allman holding up a Wonder Woman cape. He claimed that it had come from Lindalyn’s closet.
When Shannon Kincaid was introduced as the artist responsible for the portrait, she joined the cheer-leading squad, adding that besides being honored to be selected for the project, she would forever be associated with Lindalyn thanks to the portrait.
Another highlight was a letter from historian/author William Seale, who recalled how, when they’d both attended Lindalyn’s receiving the Garden Club of America Award for Historic Preservation, both had fallen off the platform into each others arms. Once on the ground, Lindalyn asked what William was doing there. He responded that he was there to help her up.
* Photo courtesy of Dallas Heritage Village