Dallas Builder Among 3 To Be Inducted into Texas Housing Hall of Honor

A pioneering figure in the Dallas construction industry is one of three people to be inducted into the 2024 Texas Housing Hall of Honor.

Dallas’ Harold Peek joins Randy Birdwell and Larry Johnson as honorees, the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced. Their inductions were voted upon by the Texas Housing Hall of Honor board of governors. The ceremony will take place at the Excellence in Leadership Dinner on November 20 at the Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop.

Peek joined Peek Properties in 1961 and completed 1,700 homes by 1971, when he became the youngest president of the Dallas Builders Association at age 31. In January, Peek was honored by the Dallas Builders Association. At that time, he had been a member for 60 years.

Peek made great strides in dealing with the Department of Labor and successfully transformed the association’s bylaws to turn the organization into a Registered Professional Building Program, elevating industry standards while avoiding stringent state licensing. His influence extended nationally, as he testified before Congress in 1979 to support increased mortgage limits.

His commitment to public service culminated in his role as mayor of University Park from 1998 to 2004, demonstrating his dedication to both the construction industry and his local community.

Other honorees

Birdwell’s 40-year career in production home building has permanently changed the landscape of the Texas housing industry, the association said.

As a company owner, president, CEO, chairman, and professor, Birdwell has shown exceptional leadership and innovation, the association said.

The TAB said Birdwell’s pioneering “Custom Production” concept revolutionized affordable personalized homes, while his efforts in reforming the Residential Construction Liability Act earned him the title of Texas Association of Builders’ first Builder of the Year in 1993.

His influence extends beyond his corporate roles, as he has served on numerous industry committees and boards at local, state, and national levels. His expertise has also been recognized in academia, where he was promoted to full professor of the practice at Texas A&M University, mentoring students who have gone on to establish successful residential-oriented businesses.

Today, Birdwell serves as the chairman of Flintrock Builders.

The association said that Johnson, a visionary in community development, left an indelible mark on the Houston region and beyond. Starting with Johnson-Loggins Development Co. in 1967, he later founded Johnson Development, which became a powerhouse in building creative master-planned communities that included resort amenities, schools, and public spaces.

His communities, such as Sienna, Riverstone, and Fall Creek, gained national recognition for their quality and popularity. By the time of his passing in 2022, Johnson Development had expanded to 19 active residential communities across multiple states, encompassing more than 80,000 residential units and preserving or planting 2 million trees.

Founded in 1946, the Texas Association of Builders is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders and has 26 local home builder associations across Texas.

With a membership of nearly 10,000 representing over 758,000 jobs and more than $71.5 billion annually in the Texas economy, TAB plays an important role in providing housing for Texans.