T. Boone Pickens, a pioneering capitalist who built a fortune in the energy industry and then gave away more than $1 billion as a philanthropist, died in Dallas today at the age of 91.The straight-talking, visionary businessman was a larger-than-life presence on the American scene for decades, hailed for his unflagging energy, self-effacing humor and entrepreneurial … [Read more...] about A Passing: T. Boone Pickens
A Passing
A Passing: Luke Laufenberg
While the Dallas Cowboys are known for giving and taking hits on the football field, today the team took a gut-wrenching blow — the death of 21-year-old Luke Laufenberg, son of Joan and Babe Laufenberg.It was the day after Christmas in 2017 that Texas A&M freshman football walk-on Luke was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia known as Burkitt Leukemia. School was … [Read more...] about A Passing: Luke Laufenberg
A Passing: H. Ross Perot Sr.
H. Ross Perot Sr., the self-made Dallas billionaire-businessman, patriot and philanthropist who died Tuesday at age 89, was among the most consequential Texans of the last century. Besides running twice, in 1992 and 1996, as an independent and then a third-party presidential candidate, he founded two successful computer-services firm and gave away millions of dollars to causes … [Read more...] about A Passing: H. Ross Perot Sr.
A Passing: Alan Peppard
Sunday North Texas got hit by 70 MPH winds that toppled age-old trees, cut off power for hundreds of thousands and left the area in a state of confusion and loss. Most claimed that they never saw it coming.However, it may be that old Mother Nature was responding to the shock of learning that Alan Peppard had died Saturday night. According to his wife Jennifer Peppard, he … [Read more...] about A Passing: Alan Peppard
A Passing: Janet DeSanders
Back in the 1970s, a mighty war was underway in Dallas. It pitted the Times Mirror-owned Dallas Times Herald against the locally owned Dallas Morning News. One of the battle grounds was in society coverage, where a former Dallas debutante and member of the Junior League of Dallas raised the bar to new heights. Her name was Janet DeSanders. In addition to having more connections … [Read more...] about A Passing: Janet DeSanders
A Passing: Faye Chase Briggs
If Pearl “Hostess With the Mostest” Mesta and Mother Teresa had had a brainchild, she would have been Faye Briggs. The little widow with the white hair, twinkling eyes and Texas-sized smile opened more than her checkbook for area nonprofits. She opened her home to help them.While Faye would claim that she was inspired by God, she also understood the challenges facing those … [Read more...] about A Passing: Faye Chase Briggs
A Little Girl And Community Mourn A Journey’s Loss And Fear The Evil Among Them
This post is one that conjures up tears and anger. First of all, diabetes is insidious, but you already knew that. It touches so many parts of the patient’s life and her/his family and friends.Four years ago, the good community of Quinlan in Hunt County pulled together when they learned that 11-year-old Hannah Westmoreland had been diagnosed with diabetes.Instead of … [Read more...] about A Little Girl And Community Mourn A Journey’s Loss And Fear The Evil Among Them
A Passing: Herb Kelleher
Herb Kelleher may have been the Tom Sawyer of the sky-ways. Like Tom, Herb with a twinkle in his eye transformed the days of the mundane regional airline world into a love fest. Instead of dreading the waits on the tarmacs and the peanuts handouts, he made life in the friendly skies even friendlier. While Braniff’s Harding Lawrence had been dressing flight attendants in … [Read more...] about A Passing: Herb Kelleher
The Passing Of North Texan Influencers Of 2018
As the hours tick down on the final year of the decade, it might be a good time to commemorate some of those North Texans whose lives ended in 2018. Some were lifelong residents; one had hardly been here a couple of years. Some were renowned for their philanthropy; others were respected for their simply getting uber involved in building the community.Each and every one of … [Read more...] about The Passing Of North Texan Influencers Of 2018
Wednesday’s George H.W. Bush National Day Of Mourning Will Result In Certain Closures
Due to Wednesday, October 5, being a national day of mourning following the death of former President George H.W. Bush, U.S. Postal Service offices will be closed and deliveries will be limited. Also closed will be the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.Federal employees will not be required to report for work unless “essential to national security and other vital … [Read more...] about Wednesday’s George H.W. Bush National Day Of Mourning Will Result In Certain Closures
A Passing: Caroline Rose Hunt
Caroline Rose Hunt was definitely not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. According to her older sister Margaret Hunt Hill*, “When Caroline was born, on January 8, 1923, we borrowed a laundry basket from the people downstairs, the T.P. Marks family, who had the Ford automobile agency, and that was Caroline’s crib.”That was when her parents Lyda Bunker Hunt and H.L. Hunt … [Read more...] about A Passing: Caroline Rose Hunt