Public transportation powers an economic engine that produces returns and creates jobs.
From 2022 to 2024, the 37 development projects near DART light rail stations created a total of 9,422 new jobs and $724.2 million in wages for workers in the region.*
*Source: University of North Texas
PRESTON HOLLOW ADVOCATE VOL. 24 NO. 3
PROFILE
6 Debra Hunter Johnson DINING
8 Farm-to-Smoker at Heim Barbecue
FEATURES
12 The case of the missing City Hall painting
16 Around town
HISTORY
22 Love at Love Field
Heim Barbecue offers a simple drink menu — beer, vodka soda, seltzers and margaritas — like the strawberry version pictured. Read more about the Mockingbird Lane spot on page 8. Photography by Kathy Tran.
Advocate (c) 2024 is published monthly in print and daily online by Advocate Media - Dallas Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Dallas and first published in 1991. Contents of this print magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements and sponsorships printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject ay editorial, advertising or sponsorship material in print or online. Opinions set forth in Advocate publications are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the Publisher’s viewpoint. More than 180,000 people read Advocate publications in print each month; Advocate online publications receive more than 4 million pageviews monthly. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate print and online publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one print copy per reader. For information about supporting our non-profit mission of providing local news to neighborhood readers, please call 214-5604212 or email aquintero@advocatemag.com.
A mosaic Pegasus statue located in the Preston Royal shopping center. Photography by Lauren Allen.
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the wisdom curve
Board member.
Attorney.
Business owner. Philanthropist.
Debra Hunter Johnson knows what it takes to get it done.
Story by LISA PETTY
Debra Hunter Johnson has called Preston Hollow home for 20 years, planting strong roots in our neighborhood while nurturing a thriving career.
She is a graduate of the Howard University School of Law, and during her 17-year tenure at American Airlines, she became the first African American woman to serve as a corporate officer in the role of vice president of Global Human Resources Services. Thereafter, she launched Reciprocity Consulting Group to inspire others with insights from her own industry-leading experience.
Concurrently, Johnson has maintained a commitment to service across myriad areas. She is a past board chairperson of the UT Southwestern Medical Center President’s Advisory Board and past co-chairperson of the Texas Women’s Foundation’s Economic Leadership Council. She currently serves on the board of Oncor Electric Delivery Company. Soon, Johnson will receive the Maura Women Helping Women Award at the Texas Women’s Foundation Leadership Forum and Awards Celebration. Marking this latest milestone in a groundbreaking career, we talked with Johnson about her path to success and guiding principles.
Photo courtesy of Jin Kim.
HOW DID LAW SCHOOL INFORM YOUR CAREER PATH, WHICH DIVERGED FROM TRADITIONAL LEGAL PRACTICE?
Howard University School of Law shaped me in ways that still guide my decisions today. It’s impossible to study law there without absorbing its legacy — using legal training not just to succeed, but to help society live up to its promises. It was there that I learned that leadership without purpose is hollow. I learned that the most fulfilling careers are anchored to something larger than myself.
HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON YOUR TIME AT AMERICAN AIRLINES? WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU PROUD TO HAVE MADE WITHIN ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND MOST RESPECTED COMMERCIAL AIRLINES?
People often forget that the airline business is, at its core, about safety. Everything else — on-time arrivals, customer experience, even profitability — comes second. Serving in senior leadership at American Airlines meant balancing competing priorities while never losing sight of that fundamental truth. I regularly had to make hard calls, some of them unpopular because they were the right thing to do for passenger safety, employee well-being and the company’s culture.
As the first African American woman to serve as a corporate officer, I was especially mindful that how I led mattered — not just what I decided, but how I showed up.
Those values were tested during difficult moments in company history, and leading through those times reinforced for me that clarity, courage and integrity are most important when pressure is highest. I’m proud of the example I was able to set and the trust I helped build during those years.
TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE LAUNCH OF YOUR COMPANY, RECIPROCITY CONSULTING GROUP.
I started Reciprocity just as
companies were getting serious about people data. I wanted to help leaders see that talent isn’t a resource to manage; it’s a relationship to build. The name, Reciprocity, is my leadership compass. It reminds me that the way I show up sets the tone for everything that follows. When I lead with integrity, courage and generosity of spirit, I create space for others to rise. That’s when reciprocity becomes something powerful and transformative.
LET’S DIG DEEPER INTO YOUR SIGNATURE PHILOSOPHY, “ACCELERATE YOUR WISDOM CURVE.” TELL US ABOUT THE GENESIS AND MEANING OF THIS GUIDING PRINCIPLE. I’ve always believed that knowledge is important, but wisdom is what really matters. Wisdom usually comes from experience, which takes time, so how do we shorten the distance between learning and impact? We can learn strategically from others, and we can design opportunities to stretch ourselves. What took me decades to understand, I now see leaders grasp in a fraction of that time with the right exposure and guidance. “Accelerate your wisdom curve” is about helping people develop that hard-won perspective.
YOUR BOARD SERVICE REFLECTS YOUR COMMITMENT TO SEVERAL KEY AREAS OF IMPACT. TELL US ABOUT THESE AREAS AND WHY THEY SPEAK TO YOU AS A WOMAN AND COMMUNITY LEADER.
When women have financial security, families and communities are stronger. That’s why I’ve enjoyed my work with Texas Women’s Foundation, focusing on areas that affect financial health and building real wealth. The other issue that is of keen focus for me is instilling confidence in our young people. I want to keep them fired up and feeling powerful about their ability to shape the future.
TO THIS POINT, YOU ARE THE PAST CHAIR OF THE UT
SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY BOARD. WHAT KEY INITIATIVES WERE YOU ABLE TO TAKE PART IN?
UT Southwestern has many incredible initiatives underway, and one of the largest is a new pediatric hospital and campus, which is a partnership with Children’s Health. It wasexciting to be a part of the team that “turned the dirt” in October 2024 when ground was broken on a $5 billion hub for pediatric care, research and training. It will open in 2031 and not a moment too soon to meet the growing needs of North Texas.
YOU CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE BOARD OF ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY. WHAT ASPECTS OF THIS INDUSTRY ARE OF GREATEST INTEREST TO YOU?
The energy industry is at a pivotal moment, particularly in Texas. Population growth and increasing demand mean the decisions being made today will shape the state for decades. Oncor’s work to strengthen and modernize the power grid is foundational to everything else we rely on. Having spent much of my career in safety-sensitive industries, I take that responsibility seriously. Being in the room where those decisions are made — knowing they affect millions of people — is both humbling and energizing.
FINALLY, AS A LONGTIME PRESTON HOLLOW RESIDENT, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE SETS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD APART?
When I moved to Preston Hollow in 2006, I was struck by how welcoming my neighbors were. Despite differences in age, race and background, there was a shared sense of neighborliness that felt genuine. Even after moving a short distance away from my original block, those connections remain strong. Add in the unbeatable location and Preston Hollow truly feels like a great place to live.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
ABOUT HEIM
StorybyLISAPETTY|
PhotographybyKATHYTRAN
ABOUT TIME
Heim Barbecue started with a few simple dinners hosted by Travis and Emma Heim.
Before opening the Mockingbird Lane location, the young couple would gather friends and family to sample recipes made on a homemade smoker from the family farm in Marshall, Texas. Soon, Travis’s self-proclaimed barbecue “obsession” earned a following too big for the backyard, and a lease on a little food truck in Fort Worth was signed in 2015.
Eleven years later, Heim Barbecue’s “farm-to-smoker” menu is available at three North Texas locations, including the one near Dallas Love Field. In addition, the company connects with fans across the continent on the popular food shipping site Goldbelly.
Heim’s signature dishes, such as smoked prime brisket ($17), bacon burnt ends ($8) and giant “Beast Ribs” ($40) have earned accolades across the state and around the country. Meats are each seasoned with a secret blend of spices. The restaurant recently nabbed a coveted spot on Texas Monthly’s list of the Top 50 BBQ Joints.
As of March 1, longtime local food industry executive Jeff Meinecke, who had stints at Omni Dallas Hotel and Duke’s Original Roadhouse, will take the lead at Heim Barbecue’s Dallas outpost. His new role as operating partner combines elements of franchisee, friend and fan.
“I remember going to Heim for the first time,” says Meinecke, who developed a taste for the restaurant long before joining the team. “I ordered a brisket
sandwich, and they brought out this giant sandwich, piled up high. It was tender and juicy, and I absolutely loved it.”
The Heims have stepped back a bit to focus on family. Majority ownership of the restaurants is now held by their longtime friends and business partners, Will Churchill and Corrie Fletcher.
When Meinecke’s longtime friend Churchill called with an offer to take on more than a meal, the answer was a resounding “yes.”
One of the larger changes Meinecke is implementing is the sides, like twice baked potato salad ($4.99) and green chili mac ‘n’ cheese ($4.99), will be made on site, rather than bringing them in from the Fort Worth location. Catering will also be handled in-house, increasing the team’s ability to fill and deliver large orders as efficiently as possible.
“If it was easy, anybody could do it,” Meinecke says. “I didn’t get where I am in this business because I do things the easy way.”
Heim in Dallas will be a model of Meinecke’s philosophy of “outrageous hospitality.” This
motto and management style is all about communicating directly with guests, going the extra mile and taking care of those who care for others.
For example, a server may include a bowl of Auntie A’s banana pudding ($4.99) in a catering order as a gift for the assistant who coordinates lunch for the whole office. Meinecke himself may offer a personal recommendation to a first-time diner pondering the menu. His favorite dish, by the way, is the smoked half chicken ($14). The restaurant’s “Heim Time” happy hour includes drink specials and affordable plates like the Heim sampler for $10 orloaded potato skins for $5.
“I’m just excited about wow-ing people,” Meineke says. “It’s that interaction every day with the guest where they’re not just being served, but making sure they know they matter. They genuinely matter to me.”
Heim Barbecue on Mockingbird, 3130 W. Mockingbird Lane, 469.397.4346, heimbbq.com
the case of the missing painting
The Advocate’s own Nancy Drew solves a mystery
Story by CAROL TOLER
Like most good stories, this one began with a rip-roaring fight at City Hall.
I was attending a town hall meeting in the basement of “the people’s house” to discuss the future of that building and whether I.M. Pei’s iconic, brutalist structure should be replaced by a basketball arena or preserved instead, despite its widely acknowledged unworkable design and leaking parking garage.
As I entered the small auditorium, a stranger quietly asked me to dial 911. He was clearly struggling to breathe, and his color was ashen. He drooped in his seat at an odd angle and periodically nodded off, then shook as if chilled to the bone.
I pulled out my phone and called for medical help, then strode to a nearby security officer to alert him. He said he would communicate with paramedics and guide them in through the basement parking garage.
During the 10 minutes or so while we waited, I stayed by the man’s side and checked his condition as directed by the 911 dispatcher. Mostly, though, I reassured him that paramedics were on their way. I worked to keep him calm by chatting with him, and I learned that — despite the meeting having been called by council members Cara Mendelsohn from District 12 in Far North Dallas and Paul Ridley from District 14 in Lakewood — the man and I are close neighbors in Lake Highlands. His name is Randy Streng, and he’s a longtime Advocate Magazine reader.
In a scene straight out of film noir, Streng lifted a bit, looked me square in the eyes and told me he’s been searching for a painting he believes is missing from City Hall. He described a giant art piece painted in the late 1940s or early 1950s depicting civic leaders discussing our city’s future. Among those in the scene, to the best of his recollection, were R.L. Thornton, former mayor of Dallas, Rabbi David Lefkowitz of Temple Emanu-El and Fred Florence, prominent banker and philanthropist. The painting hung on the second or third floor but is nowhere to be found, he told me.
The good news is that Streng is right-asrain today. It turns out he had a bad bout of food poisoning, and the fine folks at Baylor Hospital gave him great care. I wouldn’t have
Bernard Francis Mclain (1891-1968)
- Commanded trench mortar divisions in France during World War I
- Intelligence officer at Camp Morgan near Houston
- Director of Republic National Bank, Dallas Railway and Terminal, Texas Industries, Trinity Improvement Association and Dallas Grand Opera Association
James Woodall Rodgers (1890-1961)
- Led the Dallas Bar Association, the First National Bank of Childress and Delta Airlines
- Dallas mayor during World War II, oversaw construction of Central Expressway, Memorial Auditorium and the Dallas Public Library in his term
- Board chairman of the Dallas Council on World Affairs, a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (now the Dallas Museum of Art) and a director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Founder of the Greater Dallas Planning Council
Robert Gerald Storey (1893-1981)
- The executive trial counsel for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, America’s chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials; collected indisputable evidence of crimes against humanity used to convict 19 Nazis
- Assistant attorney general for Texas and president of the Dallas Bar Association
- WWI and WWII veteran. Awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honor
Fred Farrel Florence (1891-1960)
- Headed up Republic National Bank of Dallas
- Appointed by Texas governors and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to serve on various recovery and relief boards during the Great Depression
- Served on the State Fair of Texas board, the Dallas Civic Federation, the Citizens Council and the Chamber of Commerce
John Elvin Mitchell, Jr.
- Of John E. Mitchell Company plant (now The Bomb Factory), which produced machinery that proved invaluable to cotton growers throughout the South
- The company earned the prestigious “E Award” four times for “outstanding production of war materials”
- Factory produced ICEE frozen carbonated beverage dispensers, MagiVac cleaning systems and Handy-Mart commercial refrigerator units after the war
Edward Henry Cary (1872-1953)
- Dean of Baylor Medical College and organized Baylor Medical and Surgical Unit, which served in France during WWI
- Founded the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and was one of the founders of the Dallas Historical Society
- President of the Dallas County Medical Society and the American Medical Association
“In a scene
straight out of film
noir, streng lifted a bit, looked me square in the eyes and told me he’s been searching...”
bet good money on him that night, to be honest, but he’s doing well now, and we’ve become friends.
The other good news is that he was correct about the painting. Renowned Fort Worth artist Victor Lallier painted it between 1951 and 1956, and it hung in City Hall for many years. Streng found this video of Lallier being interviewed by WBAP-TV in Fort Worth about the painting and displaying it for the first time. Apparently, the artist discussed his hopes of finding a permanent home for artwork, though sound on the clip has been sadly lost. The video shows 14 men in the painting, with a listing of their names beneath.
So, what happened to the painting?!?
I called Ashley Guevara, Office of Arts and Culture senior public information officer, who kindly researched the subject. She said the painting had originally been on loan for display at City Hall. It was returned to its rightful home at the Department of Homeland Security.
Wait, what? Department of Homeland Security? The Department of Homeland Security didn’t even exist when that painting was created. Plus, that’s a federal agency.
Hmmmm, she pondered. Yeah, they said they sent it to DHS.
After a little sleuthing, I located it at the Dallas Historical Society (oh, that DHS), inside the Hall of State, deep in the heart of Fair Park.
“The painting that formerly hung at City Hall? Yes, that painting is here in long-term storage,” DHS Curator of Collections Kaitlyn Price said. “It’s crated now; it’s just too big for display here.” Mystery solved.
Final note: In addition to the accolades listed, I found that some of these Dallas leaders may have had blemished histories, which I chose not to include here. Frankly, digging up and giving equal time to each man’s imperfections and misguided views could take months. It’s possible that the painting was removed from City Hall for this reason, though I was not able to secure an answer to this question after asking multiple current and former City officials and staff members.
Victor Lallier painting. Photo courtesy of the Dallas Historical Society.
Robert Lee Thornton (1880-1964)
- Picked a bale of cotton a day as a 7-year-old, attending school sporadically and completing just eight grades
- Worked his way up to head of Mercantile National Bank
- President of the Chamber of Commerce, director of the Texas Centennial Exposition, organizer of the Dallas Citizens Council and president of the State Fair of Texas
- Dallas mayor; oversaw Forney Dam project, which provided for Dallas residents’ future water needs
- Called “Mr. Dallas” by journalists
David Lefkowitz (1875-1955)
- Placed in an orphanage by mother after immigrating from Prešov to New York City
- Rabbi at Dallas’ Temple Emanu-El
- Spoke out against the Ku Klux Klan
- Helped organize the Texas A&M Hillel Club, the oldest such group in America
- Interviewed many early Jewish settlers in Texas to gather and publish their accounts
William Hawley Atwell (1869-1961)
- Set up a law practice in Dallas and was appointed U.S. District Attorney by President William McKinley
- Nominated to run against incumbent governor Pat Neff but kicked up a political firestorm when he publicly condemned the Ku Klux Klan
- Appointed U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Texas
- Was appointed city zoo commissioner
- Served as national grand exalted ruler of Elks
Umphrey Lee (1893-1958)
- Earned a Master of Theology degree from SMU Pastored several congregations before leading Highland Park UMC
- SMU’s fourth president and its first to boast a PhD; tenure included the end of the Great Depression and WWII
- Welcomed large numbers of veterans returning to education on the GI Bill
- Used temporary buildings to house the influx of students and located this “Trailerville” where SMU’s Meadows Museum stands today
Karl St. John Hoblitzelle (1879-1967)
- Founded the Interstate Amusement Company with theaters across Texas
- Provided entertainment for patients in Army and Navy hospitals during WWI
- Leader at Hockaday School, Texas A&M University and SMU
- Director of the Dallas Citizens Council, the Dallas Art Association and the Dallas Symphony Association
Nathan Adams (1869-1966)
- President of First National Bank of Dallas, the largest in the South
- Called “Dean of the Texas Bankers” and is credited with the regional financial preeminence of Dallas
- Instrumental in the founding of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children
- Served as a Shriner and Scottish Rite Mason
Thomas Carbry Gooch (1896-1941)
- Son of an Englishman and descendant of a knight of the first Duke of Marlborough
- His mother’s ancestors were among the first to settle the original Mexican-Spanish region of Texas.
- Served as reporter, then editor-in-chief, then publisher (even occasional cartoonist) of The Dallas Times Herald
- Active in the Associated Press , the State Fair of Texas, the Dallas Art Association, the Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Texas Press Association, the Texas Publishers Association and the Sons of the Republic of Texas
John William Carpenter (1881-1959)
- Rose from day laborer to lineman to plant engineer to bookkeeper to collector to superintendent at the Corsicana Gas and Electric Company
- Corsicana G&E’s president and general manager
- Moved to Dallas to lead Dallas Power and Light, then Texas Power and Light, then the Texas Public Utilities Corporation
- Organized Texas Security Life Insurance Company, the precursor to Southland Life
- Led the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Southwestern Legal Foundation, the State Fair of Texas and the first board of regents of Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University)
50 years of Clotheshorse Anonymous
Story by LISA PETTY
The Preston Forest Village shopping center is home to one of our city’s longest-running and most popular resale stores. Founded in 1974 by Preston Hollow neighbors Jan Kennedy and Nancy Ungerman, Clotheshorse Anonymous has grown in both size and scope throughout the last five decades. Now counting approximately 10,000 active consignors.
With the year-long observance of its golden anniversary in the rear view, Clotheshorse Anonymous is looking ahead to the new year, and beyond, with a commitment to continue honoring its roots as a local neighbor-to-neighbor business.
“Clotheshorse Anonymous has always been about trust, personal relationships and giving beautiful clothing a second life,” says Jennifer Mayrath, Director of Operations. “We went from two women and a van to a full-scale fashion destination with an incredible community built around us. The next chapter is all about continuing that legacy while elevating the experience even further.”
PHILANTHROPY | SOCIETY
The 2026 CATTLE BARON’S BALL will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Southfork Ranch. Just announced, this year’s headlining entertainer will be country artist Chris Stapleton.
One of the most anticipated annual traditions in our city, the Cattle Baron’s Ball represents the world’s largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Each fall since 1974, the event has gathered a glittering crowd decked in denim and diamonds for music, dancing, raffles and a live auction.
comings & goings
CLUB BURN (11909 PRESTON ROAD)
Now open in the Preston Forest Square shopping center, Club Burn is a boutique exercise studio specializing in traditional cardio combined with infrared light therapy. A sauna and free weights are also offered, and membership-based plans are available in various tiers.
JET SET MODERN PILATES
(4029
E. NORTHWEST PKWY.)
Debuted last month at The Plaza at Center, offering instructor-led 50-minute classes, including single sessions and multi-class memberships, the national brand is known for its unique choreography and playlists.
COZY EARTH
(8383
PRESTON CENTER PLAZA)
A local outpost of this national brand is opening soon in the Plaza at Preston Center. Its selection of “cozy” items, including bedding, loungewear and home accessories, highlight “responsible production” practices and longer-lasting materials.
MATCHA & CREME (10455 N. CENTRAL EXPY.)
An opening date of March 1, 2026, is set for this new coffee and tea shop at Meadow Central Market. The menu will offer traditional iced lattes made with matcha tea or espresso, as well as layered drinks highlighting mango, strawberry and cookie butter, among other specialty flavors.
This year’s DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is set for April 23-30, 2026. Joining CEO Beth Wilbins and Artistic Director James Faust, event co-chairs Tanya Foster and Lynn McBee will welcome guests throughout the week to dozens of film presentations, panels, filmmaker and actor interviews, and awards ceremonies. Foster, a popular lifestyle blogger, and McBee, a scientist and philanthropist, each held previous leadership roles in the DIFF organization. DIFF events will take place at the host venue Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Victory Park, as well as at the Texas Theatre and Virgin Hotels Dallas.
Families are taking a closer look at Dallas ISD and discovering strong choices close to home.
Across Dallas ISD schools, students can participate in innovative programs, enroll in AP courses, and take classes for college credit. No matter the path they choose, teachers are committed to strong academics, supportive environments, and programs designed to help every student thrive.
Join us at Dallas ISD’s More Choice Expo.
Your choice. Your future. Choose the best.
Saturday, April 11
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Automobile Bldg. @ Fair Park
LEGACY STARTSHERE!
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Love Field is for LOVERS
Story by JACK DRAKE
Historically low passenger traffic led to Wesley Goyer turning most of Love Field’s landside terminal into an entertainment center called the Llove Entertainment Complex. It featured an ice rank in the main atrium, a roller rink, theatres, a new restaurant, billiards, a cabaret and arcade games. The complex also had low traffic numbers and closed in 1978. Photos courtesy of “I remember the LLove entertainment complex” Facebook group.
DALLAS LOVE FIELD went from being referred to as “the air capital of the Southwest” ( The Dallas Morning News , 1940) to “Dallas’ other airport” on Jan. 13, 1974, when Dallas-Fort Worth Regional (now International) Airport opened its runways. Airlines were excited to adapt to the four horseshoe-shaped terminals (now terminals A, B, C and E), each of which was way larger than the small concourses they left behind at Love.
When the 1958 terminal opened, The Dallas Morning News referred to it, and Love Field, with an adjective that might not have been the first to come to anyone else’s mind to describe the shiny green terminal — “asset.” It was considered a “magnificent asset” because DAL was “one of the few major airports of the world located so closely and conveniently to the heart of the community.”
It seemed that most of the community forgot that notion when looking at the large brown terminals at DFW, terminals that were way closer to Fort Worth than Love Field’s were.
When Southwest Airlines began operations and opened their headquarters at Love Field a few years earlier, they wanted to revolutionize air travel within Texas. However, spending as much time in the car driving from Downtown Dallas to the new airport as one might spend in the air flying from Dallas to another Texas city was not considered revolutionary. It was a distance great enough that one airline thought it warranted a flight.
Metroflight Airlines operated flights between the two airports for $10 on a de Havilland Twin Otter, but the service lasted for a little less than two years. Didn’t all of Love Field’s airlines sign an agreement to move to DFW? Well, yes, but, as lawyer by trade and aviator by heart Herb Kelleher pointed out, Southwest was not one of Love Field’s airlines at the time the agreement was made in 1968, so it did not apply to them.
The result of this statement was legal battles for decades to come. First, it was Dallas, Fort Worth and DFW Airport taking them to court, but the courts ruled in Southwest’s favor, stating they could stay at Love Field. The next battle was the result of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.
Previously, airlines flying in more than one state needed approval for routes, fares, schedules and market entry or exit if they served multiple states. Southwest didn’t, which allowed them to operate so uniquely. With that obstacle out of the way, Southwest wanted to expand outside of Texas. The courts stated earlier in the decade that Southwest could stay at Love Field because the commute for DFW would be inefficient for short, interstate flights. How is it fair that Southwest could now operate longer routes from the close airport?
That was the mindset of U.S. Rep. Jim Wright, of Fort Worth, who was looking out for the finan-
cial stability of the airport of his city. The resulting law of the land in 1979, The Wright Amendment, restricted passenger service from Love Field on midsize aircraft (like the 737s Southwest operates) only to cities in Texas and its border states (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana). Aircraft under 56-seats could fly to other states. This would be key later on.
While it restricted the growth that Southwest wished for, it also greatly restricted competition.
Lamar Muse, who was a co-founder of Southwest, was the exception. He started Muse Air in 1982. The carrier was later named TranStar Airlines, but struggled financially and ceased operations in 1987.
I strongly believe that if Southwest Airlines had not fought the good fight, Dallas Love Field Airport would no longer exist. The City of Dallas had intended for Redbird Airport (RBD), now Dallas Executive Airport, to serve as the primary general aviation airport for the city.
In the 1970s, development had reached far enough north that the growing Addison Airport (ADS) was not as far as it once was. Love Field sat on such valuable land that it could have seen the fate as other inner city airports like Denver Stapleton.
Most of the facilities on Lemmon Avenue were there to support airlines; the corporate aviation industry was not nearly as large as it was today. Love Field’s own website states, “Love Field appeared on its way to closure, but the founding of Southwest Airlines in 1971 continued to breathe life into Love Field as the fledgling airline refused to move its operations to DFW Airport.” Or, it might have been reduced to a smaller size to continue to serve general aviation. Luckily for our city, that did not happen.
When the corporate aviation industry did boom, Love Field was ready. Robert J Wright had a number of triumphs in the hospital industry, including developing Medical City Dallas. With these successes, the family was able to afford to fly privately and began operating aircraft.
Robert Wright was dissatisfied with the quality of service being provided to such high-end customers and took the matters into his own hands in 1997 when he started Business Jet Center in “the Rock Building” of the former Dallas Jet Center on Lemmon Avenue. Initially an FBO (Fixed Base Operator) that also provided hangar space, the company now offers a full suite of aviation services — aircraft management, charter, sales/acquisitions and maintenance.
The flagship building opened in 2000. Now operating 53 acres and 19 hangars on the Lemmon Avenue and Denton Drive sides of Love Field, Business Jet Center remains one of the most awarded and largest family-owned FBOs in the country.
A publisher and aviation historian named George Haddaway had amassed a large collection of aviation artifacts that he donated to the University of Texas in 1963, who transferred his “History of Aviation Collection” to the University of Texas at Dallas in the ’70s.
“I strongly believe that if Southwest Airlines had not fought the good fight, Dallas Love Field Airport would no longer exist.”
To honor its notable aviation history, city leaders including Jan Collmer, William E. “Bill” Cooper and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison established The Frontiers of Flight Museum in 1988, with artifacts displayed in Love’s main terminal building by 1990.
In 2004, a state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot building at the southeast end of the airport was constructed. The building, which opened in June, features a priceless collection of military aircraft and artifacts, with many being from World War II.
Additionally, the museum pays homage to the founding of Southwest Airlines, and the collection includes a complete Boeing 737300 and the nose section of a Boeing 737200. In recent years, a collection was added to honor the history of Braniff Airways. The museum is also known for its programming, which includes Moon Day every summer.
Recall that the Wright Amendment’s state
restrictions did not apply to aircraft with 56 seats or less. Trusten Allan McArtor, former FAA Administrator, had a bold idea to expand Love Field’s service to new states and better serve Dallas’ business market with this principle in mind. He established Legend Airlines in 1996, a carrier that planned to modify Douglas DC-9-30s with 56 business-class seats and serve business markets.
Plagued with lawsuits from airlines and airports who saw this as a threat, it was determined this was not allowed because regularly configured DC-9s had a capacity greater than 56 seats, and the exemption applied to aircraft that were designed to hold 56 seats or less (regional aircraft).
Texas Rep. Joe Barton and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby became the next leaders of change. The Shelby Amendment not only allowed Legend to operate as planned by making the exception work for any aircraft with 56 seats, but expanded Love Field’s service boundary for regular aircraft to Kansas, Mississippi and Alabama.
Legend operated their first service to Washington Dulles (IAD) on April 5, 2000, with Los Angeles (LAX), New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Las Vegas (LAS) to follow. In addition to their roomy 56 seat jets, passengers departed Love Field from a private terminal located on Lemmon Avenue complete with Southwestern Bell Phones, DIRECTV and internet. The aircraft also featured DIRECTV, power ports (revolutionary onboard in 2000), and top-notch meal and beverage service.
By creating this service, Legend had poked the beast. Hometown carrier American Airlines was not happy Legend was stealing away their business traffic, so they renovated some of their Fokker 100 jets into a 56 seats all business class configuration and started flights from Love Field to L.A., New York and Chicago.
American’s defense tactics combined with Legend’s endless court battles, high start-up costs and low occupancy led to their bankruptcy and liquidation in 2001. This type of unique experiment and the challenges from other groups would not be Love Field’s last.
This is part 3 of a series on Love Field.
JACK DRAKE is a student at The Ohio State University studying aviation management. The Preston Hollow-resident is known for publishing Preston Hollow: A Brief History. Drake is a member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, a volunteer at Vickery Meadow Food Pantry and creator of Facebook group Preston Hollow History.
