The Last Word: On the Passing of Dallas Businessman and Philanthropist Pete Schenkel

“If it was good for Dallas, Pete was for it.”

R. Gerald Turner
President
Southern Methodist University
.…on the passing of Dallas businessman and philanthropist Pete Schenkel, via The Dallas Morning News.

Pete Schenkel—who owned Dallas-based Schepps Dairy before its sale to Suiza Foods in 2000—led a long, accomplished life of leadership in Dallas before his death Wednesday at age 89. But the former board chair of the State Fair of Texas, DFW Airport, and the Methodist Health System Foundation may be best known for preserving something truly valuable: keeping the Texas-OU game at the Cotton Bowl at least through 2036.

That’s according to a stellar life recap by Cheryl Hall in The Dallas Morning News. 

“Pete was a confidant of about every Dallas mayor, city manager, and police chief for the last 50 years. They all valued his advice and counsel,” Retired Dallas Banker Ron Steinhart told the DMN. “Pete did more behind the scenes to better the city of Dallas he loved so much but never left fingerprints.”

You can read all about Schenkel’s life story in the DMN piece.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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