The Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award that took 2022 off is back in full swing with a gang of area leaders co-chairing the 2023 Methodist Health System Foundation event. Shouldn’t be surprised since the 2023 recipients are Mary and Rich Templeton, who have shown their leadership qualities in both the corporate universe and the North Texas community for decades.
Since joining Texas Instruments in 1980, Rich has not only risen to the ranks of chairman, president and CEO, his attempt to resign in 2018 failed and he continued to guide the Dallas-based company. In addition to being among the top ranked CEOs in “Institutional Investor”’s Best Semiconductor CEOs in America for several years, he was ranked 49th by Forbes Magazine among “America’s Most Innovative Leaders” in 2019.
Mary, who had spent 14 years at General Electric in marketing, finance and audit, has most recently focused her attention on community involvement that includes serving on the boards of John Paul II High School and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Foundation, where she is co-chairing the Unite Forever Capital Campaign. Previously, Mary serve on the boards of Ursuline Academy, Ursuline Academy Foundation, University of Dallas, Union College, Dallas Arboretum, AT&T Performing Arts Board and the Southwest Region Boys and Girls Club of America. In recognition of her contributions, she received the 2011 Catholic Foundation Award.
Folsom Co-Chairs Anne and Bernie DiFiore, Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt, Lottye and Bobby B. Lyle, Carolyn and David Miller, Lydia and Dan Novakov, Mary and Mike Terry and Gail and Dr. R. Gerald Turner have arranged for the presentation of the award to take place on Friday, April 14, at the Hilton Anatole.
Past recipients of the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award include Robert S. Folsom (2005), Nancy Ann Hunt (2006), Troy Aikman (2007), Laura Bush (2008), Norman Brinker (2009), Pat and Emmitt Smith (2010), Trevor Rees-Jones (2011), Michael M. Boone (2012), Mark Craig (2013), Bobby B. Lyle (2014), Jack Lowe Jr. (2015), R. Gerald Turner (2016), David B. Miller (2017), Royce West (2018), Michael S. Rawlings (2019) and Linda and Mitch Hart (2021).