Left: Dallas Businessman and Philanthropist Pete Schenkel; Right: Cropped early rendering of the proposed Cotton Bowl Plaza [Images: National Football Foundation Gridiron Club of Dallas/Overland Partners]
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.
Get on the list.
Dallas Innovates, every day.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
R E A D N E X T
-
Sometimes innovation is about finding new ways to recontextualize legacy software applications to solve vexing real-world problems. This is not one of those times. These innovations are sweet, salty, sticky, and crazily inventive—and they'll be waiting for you Sept. 27-Oct. 20 at the State Fair of Texas.
-
The newly established Texas Capital Foundation is following the first round of grant awards by opening again for new submissions this November.
-
The 2024 State Fair of Texas runs September 27 to October 20 in Dallas' Fair Park. This year's big question: What will we be eating? Here are the Big Tex Choice Awards finalists—from Texas Rush Sugar Pickles to Hot Chick-in Pancake Poppers to Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick. (Yum.)
-
The North Texas Innovation Alliance has begun offering quarterly "hands-on innovation experiences" at "the brightest and most innovative projects across North Texas" for NTXIA members. The Immersive Innovation field trips kicked off with a tour of the NSF's newly opened eCAT Center at UNT. Here's where the NTXIA is going next.
-
Dallas Innovates, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and Dallas AI have teamed up to launch the inaugural AI 75 list. The 2024 program honors the most significant people in AI in DFW in seven categories—the visionaries, creators, and influencers you need to know.