2024 June Lake Highlands Advocate

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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 214-560-4212 or email aquintero@advocatemag.com.

Kathy Tran, Emil Lippe, Hunter Lacey, Yuvie Styles, Shelby Tauber, Sylvia Elzafon, Lo

LAKE HIGHLANDS ADVOCATE VOL. 30 NO. 6

PROFILE

8 Richardson Councilmember

Dan Barrios

DINING

13 Goldie’s

FEATURES

10 Becoming Ragmop & Goose

18 Ladarius Campbell

22 Lake Highlands’ 100-year-old veteran

Stanley the Ghost is the character that started it all for TikTok puppeteers Ragmop & Goose, with over a million likes to date.

Read more on page 10. Photography courtesy of Jessie Caballero.

MEET DAN BARRIOS

Why one teacher ran for Richardson City Council

Story by CAROL TOLER

Photography by KATHY TRAN

LAKE HIGHLANDS NEIGHBORS TEND TO BE INFORMED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT LO -

CAL POLITICS. Ask about our last three District 10 council members, and most could easily click off the names of Kathy Stewart, Adam McGough and Jerry Allen. Ask about Dallas’ last three mayors, and most could recite Eric Johnson, Mike Rawlings and Tom Leppert.

Press for the names of elected officials in Richardson, though, and you might get a few blank stares. Parents in Lake Highlands send our children to Richardson schools, but most know little about the governance of our municipal neighbor to the north.

Did you know one of Richardson’s six council members is a teacher at Lake Highlands High School?

Dan Barrios was elected to a two-year term on the council one year ago, and he represents District 3, which is bounded, generally, by Coit, Campbell, Spring Valley and 75. He’s finishing his fourth year teaching business at LHHS after a previous career as an account manager for a food and beverage company. There, he was responsible for key accounts including Walmart,

and he handled sales and merchandising teams with more than 2,000 employees.

“Coming into teaching, I’m now the low man on the totem pole learning a whole new industry,” he jokes. “I’ve loved most of it and have appreciated being welcomed into the RISD and the LHHS community. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible teachers and administrators who have helped me adjust, learn and grow. While I may still be learning the ins and outs of teaching, I have 20 years of experience I bring with me and never-ending stories to pull from.”

Barrios works to link his experiences from the work world to lessons within his curriculum. He doesn’t hesitate to share personal lessons he learned the hard way.

“Students love hearing stories that I connect with learning,” he says. “Stories about launching product lines, ethical dilemmas I’ve faced, having to lay people off, or things I’ve learned through my own mistakes. By far, the most rewarding part of teaching for me is connecting and developing relationships with students. I’m Hispanic, bilingual and a first-generation high school graduate. My father went to prison

when I was five, and I was a troubled teen. As a kid, I grew up in Section 8 housing, and in seventh grade, I changed schools eight times. When students hear stories from my executive experience and then get to know me and my background, I often connect with students that many other teachers have not connected with. I hope that my experiences and authenticity help students understand that we always have room to grow, we are not alone, and life has the ability to get better if we do not give up. I hope they see a bit of themselves in me.”

Barrios’ students and their parents aren’t eligible to vote for him since they don’t live in his district, but he does share lessons from the election. During his campaign last May, he brought yard signs, push cards, T-shirts and other campaign materials into the classroom during a curriculum unit about marketing, and he displayed his campaign on social media and website as a teaching tool. One supporter of his opponent authored a blog post with negative comments, and Barrios had his students read it as part of a class lesson.

“Students explored possible responses,” he says. “They weighed the positives and negatives

of responding, considered tone and how a response may appear to the public at large. It was great seeing them work through that and understand that.”

Occasionally, students will ask what issues the council is grappling with or which events Barrios attended over the weekend. He’ll bring in mementos from his weekends like a Golden Dragon gifted to him at a Lunar New Year Gala, a cake slicer from Richardson’s 150th celebration and a hand-painted bowl from Turkey gifted to me by the Dialogue Institute of Dallas. One recent weekend, he visited Washington, D.C., with a delegation to talk policy with Senator John Cornyn and six members of Congress at the Capitol Building.

Barrios encourages his students to be involved in their community — especially as they approach the voting age.

“I find that many students and adults are greatly unaware of issues around them or local government. They are aware of some of the big state and national issues that get headlines. Due to technology and access to information, they are much more engaged and aware of the national talking points than I was at their age,” he says.

Students are often surprised to hear Barrios makes just $5,000 per year for the 30-35 hours per week he spends serving on the council, and they’re doubly surprised when they bump into him attending an event in his official capacity.

“Sometimes I’m being ushered through a crowd, into a building, or onto a stage and they catch a glimpse of me, and I see the surprised look on their face. That piece never gets old,” he says. “When I see them in public at events, I always make it a point to make a big deal and introduce them to the mayor or VIPs in attendance. They always get a kick out of that.”

Luckily, Barrios has a kindred spirit around the horseshoe. Mayor Bob Dubey is a graduate of RISD schools and former athletic director for RISD. He was elected mayor in 2023 after serving on the council for six years.

“It’s an honor to serve alongside Mayor Dubey. We both share a passion for children and youth and helping them reach their full potential,” Barrios says. “I think voters are willing to vote for people who listen and are committed to working with others to make our community stronger. It’s no secret that teachers don’t do this job for the money — they do it because they want to make their community better.”

Before becoming a teacher Barrios traveled extensively with work, completing more than 100 flights each year and spending about 200 nights in hotel rooms. Though his schedule remains very busy, he works hard to prioritize family and community. He’s often on campus by 6:30 a.m., grading papers or preparing lessons in his classroom. When the bell rings at 4:20 p.m., he’s off like a shot to attend an event in Richardson by 5.

“I could not serve in this capacity without the love and support of my family,” Barrios says. “Serving in office is a family commitment.”

Barrios says working as a teacher and serving on the city council aren’t goals he set for himself as a young man preparing to enter the business world. Today, he can see how each experience has built upon the other.

“Sitting on the city council has taught me many things, but I think it is the experience I bring to the council because of my teaching that carries the most weight. Like anything in life, you do not stop being someone when you leave that location. I do not stop being a teacher when I leave campus at 4:30. Nor do I stop being a Christian when I leave church on Sunday morning. Or a dad. Or a husband,” he says. “Being a teacher is now and will forever be a part of who I am, and this experience makes me a stronger community servant and brings a unique perspective to the dais and community I serve.”

How a Scofield Christian School grad is making puppetry a modern hobby

Story by ALYSSA HIGH

Photography by JESSIE CABALLERO

Jessie Caballero and Gus Renaud do skits with their puppet characters, like Pinkie and Honey shown here.

If you’re ever on TikTok, you’ve seen them. Puppets that look like an oversized bumblebee or a shy ghost. The page Ragmop & Goose has even tiptoed into the ad space, with a Kate Spade commercial full of the puppet’s silly antics.

The seeds of inspiration for Ragmop & Goose were born right here in Lake Highlands. Gus Renaud, co-founder and husband of the duo behind the account, grew up going through Scofield Christian School. While there, he became interested in acting, and never forgot the marionette and puppet shows hosted at the State Fair of Texas that he enjoyed as a child.

“Before we came into each other’s lives, we both had an interest in puppets and puppetry, but it wasn’t at the forefront for us,” Jessie Caballero, Gus’ wife and co-founder, says.

The pair met in 2015, and within the first year that they started dating, the pair envisioned creating a puppet show, dreaming of the puppets that filled ‘90s television shows.

Jessie and Gus met in Los Angeles, where he moved after college.

Even without TikTok, you may have seen the pair on TV or on the news. They made headlines first on the way to their wedding, when their refurbished SUV overheated and nearly sent the pair over a cliff. A GoFundMe page that an acquaintance made for the couple was shared by celebrities like Sophia Bush and Kate Walsh, and the rest is history.

In the years following, Jessie ran a photography business, while Gus bartended between acting jobs. In their free time, they’d make puppets with fur and pingpong balls for nieces and nephews — or their parents who’d end up taking them for themselves.

“Seeing some of our friends’ inner child come out more, the love of puppets is still there,” Jessie says. “It’s fun to share with others and our friends and family.”

During the pandemic, Jessie was unable to do wedding photography and Gus was unable to bartend or act, so their love of puppets resurfaced.

“I locked myself in my art studio and started making new puppet characters and started a YouTube channel,”

Jessie says. “Then TikTok started to become a thing.”

Going back to their roots, Jessie remembered her childhood nickname — Ragmop — which her dad lovingly called her due to her curly, frizzy hair that he said reminded him of a mophead. Gus was called Goose, a silly mispronunciation of his name that stuck with him.

Jessie made the now-signature ghost marionette and the pair filmed a video that led to around 30,000 followers by the end of the week. Now, that video has over a million views.

Jessie began making puppets to list for “adoption” and having Gus pose them for photos.

“Being the natural performer that he is, he started making voices for them and characters and it was cracking me up,” she says. “I was like, ‘OK, I need to record this,’ so I set up a video camera and posted some of those photos on TikTok and those took off.”

The first batch of puppets set up for “adoption” were sold out within seconds.

“I went to Gus and I was like, ‘I think we should join forces,’” she says. “‘Let’s lean into this and see where it takes us. You perform with the characters, I’ll make them, we’ll run this little adoption agency and make content online.’”

The duo shot their first music video in a room “smaller than a one-car garage” and began bringing the puppets out in public.

Ragmop & Goose have now made puppet orders in every U.S. state and every continent.

“It’s putting physical play back in kids’ hands, and then also bringing out the inner child of adults,” Jessie says.

Recently, the duo did a commercial for Kate Spade for TikTok and Instagram.

“We had to plant little flowers and wrap them around little stakes in the ground to make it look like they were in a flower field,” Jessie says.

Looking toward the future, they aim to do more production-oriented projects like the commercials and music videos while continuing the puppet adoptions.

“We want to keep it a very boutique experience,” Jessie says. “We want [the puppets] to be handmade because

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The Goldie’s menu is a mix of nostalgic food and American cuisines.

SPOT

Goldie’s is bringing upscale dining to Lake Ridge Village

Story by LILLIAN JUAREZ

Photography by KATHY TRAN

In July of 2023, Lake Highlands couple Brandon Hays and Brittany Grignon were about to bring their second-born into the world.

The gender of the baby remained a surprise until birth, but their names were certain.

If it was a girl, Goldie. If it was a boy, Miles.

They ended up having a boy, but the name Goldie was too good to pass up.

A 15-year hospitality veteran, Hays co-owns This and That Hospitality with Phil Schanbaum, launching concepts like Ferris Wheelers, Tiny Victories and Double D’s.

When he realized there was a lack of upscale dining in Lake Highlands, a light bulb lit. With a vacant space at 9850 Walnut Hill Lane in Lakeridge Village at the former home of RM 12:20, Hays decided he’d open Goldie’s Dallas with his wife Brittany and business partner Brittni Clayton, an homage to the name they would have used for their daughter.

Throughout the interior of the 1,500-square-foot restaurant, you’ll find quirky hints of gold that play fun with the restaurant’s name, Marie Antoinette-style images of the Golden Girls, gold records, a goldfish picture, marigold sunflowers and the intimate golden bar.

Alongside the gold garnishes are large brass light fixtures, velvet red booths and dark wood tables along with black and white awnings.

“Everything is very whimsical and romantic,” Clayton says.

While the refined ambiance of Goldie’s can be intimidating, the restaurant emphasizes it is a mix -

ture of two main things: upscale dining and neighborhood-oriented.

“Brandon, Brittany and I want to bring a neighborhood restaurant to the community that is the spot you stop in on your way home from work to enjoy a tasty cocktail,” Clayton previously told the Advocate . “A date night spot. A place to celebrate your birthday and anniversary or friends coming to town. We want to be the trusted restaurant where you can come in early with your kids to beat the crowd and enjoy a great meal. A place to make memories.”

Ensuring they were good neighbors was a priority. But they would need to extend that by creating a foundation of incredible food for the restaurant, Hays adds.

“When people think about us, we want them to think [of us as] a neighborhood staple, a classic restaurant [with] timeless cuisines,” Hays says. “Our original thought process and approach to [Goldie’s] was to not fly over anyone’s head with the food and to create cravings within dishes that are familiar to people.”

When crafting the appropriate Goldie’s menu they decided to go with nostalgic-inspired dishes that are spinoffs of American classics crafted by chef Matthew Perry who has worked at Neighborhood Services, Montlake Cut, The Porch and Alice.

The No, Not a Seafood Tower includes shrimp and crab cocktail, fresh horseradish and “spiced-up saltines.”

The homestyle pork chop and Magic Chicken Thighs are served with sides like Just Mac and 20-foot fries, a playful name inspired by 20 Feet Seafood Joint off Peavy Road.

The drink menu assembled by Clayton and Perry is intended to be fun and playful, like the cherry limeade or the Henderson classic, which has Cazcabel Blanco, simple syrup, cucumber and lime juice. The J.T., in honor of Jeff Taylor, who was involved in the construction process but died in a car accident before the opening, contains Rosaluna mezcal, lemon, simple syrup, limoncello and Liquor 43.

So far neighborhood response has been extremely supportive of Goldie’s, the three share. With over 200 reviews on Resy, most of the residents have shared the same thought — “This is exactly what Lake Highlands needed, thank you so much, we wanted elevated dining.”

“What never lies is people’s wallets and the number of repeat diners we’re seeing from the neighborhood already is the biggest encouragement [towards] everything that we’re doing [and] showing us their loyalty by coming back again and again and again,” Hays says.

The next phase of Goldie’s includes the addition of a private dining room, turning their grow garden patio into a grab-and-go spot for cocktails for casual drinks with a TV to watch a game and potentially adding lunch to their menu.

“When you see that people are excited to have something in their neighborhood that they’re proud of, and they’re gonna take pride in and tell others,” Hays says. “It’s like you’re part of [our] team … and that [gives me] goosebumps.”

Goldie’s Dallas, 9850 Walnut Hill Lane #305, 214.586.3033, goldiesdallas.com

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ladariusx fashion

SOMETIMES THE BEST MOVE IS QUITTING.

Story by JEHADU ABSHIRO | Photography by YUVIE STYLES

the worst outfit LaDarius Campbell has ever worn was to the eighth-grade prom. It was a slightly oversized white suit with a powder pink vest and matching tie. He had his hair pressed and wore a pink hat with a feather in it. He had on what he calls “gator shoes” with shades a little too big for his narrow face.

“I’m just the small guy with these gators and my legs propped up on this GMC Suburban that is making me look even smaller,” he says. “And it’s seared in my memory.”

Perhaps it’s because his college friends found it and they liked bringing it up during his time at the University of Texas, where he was majoring in African and African diaspora studies.

His taste in fashion evolved from the preppy Ralph Lauren and Sperry’s to a post-college formal suit and tie, mixing and matching prints and patterns to creating looks based on how he’s feeling that day.

“That’s when it became a bit more personal for me is when I started to dress for expression more than just like, ‘OK, I want to put on a suit and a formal look today,’” he says.

His love of fashion came from childhood scarcity.

“I was just trying to figure out how to put together looks that look different with a little bit of clothing that I had,” he says. “So with that, I fell in love with the versatile nature of fashion.”

Campbell grew up in Oak Cliff but temporarily lived in East Dallas and attended Bryan Adams High School. When he moved back to Oak Cliff during his sophomore year, he decided to stay at Bryan Adams to finish his junior and senior years. He’d wake up between 5 to 6 a.m. to take a two-hour bus ride to school, then hop on another bus to Tom Thumb near Northwest Highway to go to work and then hop on one final bus to get home.

After college, he spent a maymester in Cape Town, South Africa before becoming a supply chain management broker in Dallas.

“I loved it because it was highly competitive and it helped me develop some very sharp sales skills,” he says.

Nearly a decade into a corporate career, Campbell realized he needed a passion project in 2021. While at a Bible study, he was talking to a fellow member about his life changes. He had gone from being a bachelor living Downtown to a husband and father with a house in a quiet neighborhood within a year.

“I was trying to figure all this stuff out,” Campbell says. “But in that process, I felt like I needed something for just me.”

He reflected on his life. The one thing he’s always loved was putting outfits together, even if it was a pink and white suit

ensemble. He decided to commit to creating 100 Instagram posts about fashion every Saturday, consecutively.

“It quickly built a lot of traction from doing it casually to brands reaching out to me to give me free stuff. And then went from free stuff to making a couple of 100 bucks here and there, from there to a couple 1,000 bucks here and there,” he says.

But then the endorsement deals, from the likes of Atlantic Records, McDonald’s and MVMT, started outpacing his six-figure salary.

“I had to make a decision because I’m now a father, I’m a husband and I only have a certain amount of time per day. I was spread pretty thin with the responsibilities of the demand of my passion project. And of course, trying to still be a good steward and be a good employee at my current job,” he says. “So I was in that tension point for quite some time.”

In November 2022, Campbell quit his job to work full time as a content creator.

“I wish I bet on myself earlier,” he says. “I think I took a happy-to-be-here mindset when I initially went into content creation, and I think I did a lot of selling myself short as a result of that.”

There are videos on how to style an outfit from Walmart to how to style a pair of $625 Prada slides. Or how to wear a suit casually in day-to-day living. Some of his posts feature his two daughters and his wife (whom he met at bible study). Others feature fellow content creators, showcasing different styles and sizes.

Recently, Campbell launched his 80-plus piece menswear collection with JCPenny, Stylus x LaDarius Campbell, featuring casual fabrics in more formal cuts. Think suit, but made out of knit materials. Think versatile, capsule collection, but because you choose to limit your wardrobe, not because that’s all you had.

“It’s really crazy to just see that come full circle. This thing that I did because I kind of had to is now this thing that is creating abundance for not only me, not only my family, but just like on a global level,” he says.

Campbell doesn’t always put together an outfit for everyday — he says his wife will say he in fact does. But even if he’s wearing sweats, he’s putting on a watch, jewelry and coordinating a look.

“It’s bringing together as many elements of style as you can into an outfit that looks effortless,” Campbell says. “That is the perfect outfit.”

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HANDYMAN SERVICES

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

DANHANDY.NET Repairs Done Right For A Fair Price. References 214-991-5692

HANDY DAN The Handyman. ToDo’s Done Right. handy-dan.com 214-252-1628

HANDYMAN SPECIALIST Residential/Commercial. Large, small jobs, repair list, renovations. Refs. 214-489-0635

HANDYMAN WANTS your Painting,Repairs, To Do Lists. Bob. 214-288-4232. Free Est. 25+yrs exp.

HOME REPAIR Doors, Trim, Glass. Int/Ext. Sheetrock, Windows, Kitchen, Bathroom 35 yrs exp. 214-875-1127

HOMETOWN HANDYMAN All phases of construction. No job too small 214-327-4606

ONE CALL WEEKEND SERVICES

Contractor & Handyman. Remodels, Renovations . Paint, Plumbing, Drywall, Electrical. 469-658-9163

Let Us Tackle Your To-Do List!

BENJAMINS PAINTING - Professional work @reasonable price. In Advocate since 2007 214-725-6768

HECTOR PEREZ PAINTING Commercial/residential. Intrior/ Exterior. Fair Rates. 214-489-0635

RAMON’S INT/EXT PAINT Sheetrock, Repairs. 214-679-4513

TEXAS BEST PAINTING LLC Resd,Interiors 30Yrs. 214-527-4168

TOP COAT 30 Yrs. Exp. Reliable. Quality Repair/Remodel. Phil @ 214-770-2863

VIP PAINTING & DRYWALL Int/Ext. Sheetrock Repair, Resurfacing Tubs, Counters, Tile Repairs. 469-774-7111

KITCHEN/BATH/TILE/GROUT

FENN CONSTRUCTION Full Service Contractor. dallastileman.com 214-343-4645

MELROSE TILE James Sr., Installer, Repairs. 40 Yrs. Exp. MelroseTile.com 214-384-6746

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration. Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

HUIZAR CERAMIC & MARBLE TILE • Repair & Install • Redo Showers • Kitchen

alvinohuizar@yahoo.com

WHERE CAN I FIND LOCAL ...?

LAWNS, GARDENS & TREES

#1 WHITE ROCK TREE WIZARDS Professionals, Experts, Artists serving Dallas 15 years.Trim, Removals. Tree Health Care services. Insured. Arborwizard.com. Free Est. (972) 803-6313.

A BETTER TREE MAN Trims, Removals, Insd. 18 Yrs Exp. Roberts Tree Service. 214-808-8925 Lawns, Gardens & Trees

DAVIS LAWN CARE, LLC 580-222-4909 or davislawncare214@yahoo.com

Serving Lake Highlands & Lakewood.

HOLMAN IRRIGATION

Sprinkler & Valve Repair/ Rebuild Older Systems. Lic. #1742. 214-398-8061

MAYA TREE SERVICE Tree Trim/Remove. Lawn Maintenance. Resd/ Commcl.Insd. CC’s Accptd. mayatreeservice.com 214-924-7058 214-770-2435

MONSTER TREE SERVICE DALLAS Certified Arborists, Fully Insured 469.983.1060

NEW LEAF TREE, LLC Honest, Modern, Safety Minded. 214-850-1528

PAT TORRES 214-388-1850 Lawn Service & Tree Care. 28 Yrs. Complete Landscape Renovation. New Fence Install & Brick Repair. Concrete Removal and Gutter Cleaning.

RED SUN LANDSCAPES • 214-935-9779 RedSunLandscapes.com

TAYLOR MADE IRRIGATION Repairs, service, drains. 30+ years exp. Ll 6295 469-853-2326. John

WALTON’S GARDEN CENTER

Stop in for home decor, candles, house plants, succulents and more. It’s time to plan for spring. Call us for design, prep and plantings! 8652 Garland Road 214.321.2387

PEST CONTROL

MCDANIEL PEST CONTROL

Prices Start at $85 + Tax For General Treatment.

Average Home-Interior/Exterior & Attached Garage. Quotes For Other Services. 214-328-2847. Lakewood Resident

MOSQUITO SHIELD 972–850-2983

Imagine A Night Outside Without Mosquitoes

NATURE KING PEST MANAGEMENT INC. Squirrels, Racoons, Skunks, Snakes, Possums, etc. Pest & Termite. Neighborhood Resident 30+ Yrs.exp. 214-827-0090

REMODELING

KEYS AND GRIM

30 years of experience in residential remodeling. “They are the best…and so nice.” ~ Mom keysandgrim.com 214-952-4490

RENOVATE DALLAS renovatedallas.com 214-403-7247

S&L CONSTRUCTION All Home Services & Repairs. 214-918-8427

TK REMODELING 972-533-2872

SERVICES FOR YOU

DENTAL INSURANCE- Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance -not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258

DIRECTV STREAM - Carries the most local MLB Games! ChoicePackage $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once.HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.)No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

"Keeping Children & Pets in Mind"

Termite Specialist - Mosquito Mister Systems Licensed · Insured · Residential · Commercial · Organic 214-350-3595 • Abetterearth.crw@gmail.com abetterearth.com

PLUMBING

AC PLUMBING Repairs, Fixtures, Senior Discounts. Gary Campbell. 214-321-5943

30 Years of Excellent Service

• Water Heaters • Water Leaks • Sewer Backups

• All Plumbing Repairs 24/7 On-Call

ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS!

POOLS

972-379-4000 staggsplumbing.co

CERULEAN POOL SERVICES Family Owned/ Operated. Weekly maintenance, Chemicals, parts & repairs. CeruleanPro.com 214-557-6996

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

C.A.S. BOOKKEEPING SERVICES

Complete Full Service Repairs, Kitchen & Bath/Remodeling, Restoration. Name It- We Do It. dallas.tkremodelingcontractors.com

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Doors, Siding, Decks, Fences, Retaining Walls, New Construction New Construction & Remodels FiferCustomHomes.com• 214-727-7075

ROOFING & GUTTERS

BERT ROOFING INC.

Family owned and operated for over 40 years • Residential/Commercial • Over 30,000 roofs completed • Seven NTRCA “Golden Hammer” Awards • Free Estimates www.bertroofing.com 214.321.9341

DONATE YOUR CARS TO VETERANS TODAY. Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800 -245-0398

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-402-0373

FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

GENERAC Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt. Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-844-334 -8353

GET DISH SATELLITE TV +INTERNET Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-479-1516

HUGHESNET Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499 -0141

Personal/Small Business. Payroll, Accounting, Organizing, Consult. Cindy 214-577-7450

WHERE DID YOUR MONEY GO? Bookkeeping Services for small businesses & Personal. Financial organizing. Quicken & other programs. Sharon 214-679-9688

and

PROFESSIONAL LAWN SERVICE: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777

REAL ESTATE

ESTATE HOME NEEDS TO BE SOLD? Facing forclosure? IG Heron Homes Call Ricardo Garza @ 469-426-7839

FOR RENT Little Forest Hills 2/1 Single Family Home w/fence. $1,600mo. $1,600 deposit. Cheryl. 214-235-1399

GARDEN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Walnut Hill @ CENTRAL.3 Smaller Suites Avail. Flexible Terms 214.915. 8886

REMODELING

OFFICE SUBLEASE In Bishop Arts. Cool, Quiet.

1,179 Sq ft. 4 rooms + kit / bath, parking. $2,950 + NNNs. 713.302-7722.

BO HANDYMAN Specializing In Historic Home Renovations & Pro Remodels. Custom Carpentry, Doors, Kitchens, Baths & more. 214-437-9730

FENN CONSTRUCTION Kitchens And Baths. Call Us For Your Remodeling Needs. 214-343-4645. dallastileman.com

Roofing iding utters Joe Clifford www.exteriorscc.net 469·291·7039 LICENSED INSURED LOCAL Residential • Commercial (214) 503-7663 www.scottexteriors.com

SERVICES FOR YOU

AGING ROOF? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing Available.1-888-878-9091.

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation,production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

REPLACE your roof with the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install. (military, health &1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234

SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services WATER DAMAGE

cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809

TUTOR/LESSONS

WANTED: OBOE TEACHER needed for 14 year old student. Call 214–235-7429

MR. CENTENNIAL

100 years of Howard Rady

Story by SIMON PRUITT | Photography by KATHY TRAN

Howard Rady was born on May 8, 1924. His parents immigrated from Eastern Europe in the late 1800s. His grandmother changed his surname by hand on his birth certificate from Radunsky to Rady in order to assimilate with southern culture.

At 10, Rady sold newspapers on the street when his parents’ furniture business succumbed to the Great Depression.

At 20, he was enrolled at Vanderbilt University studying chemical engineering. Just before his graduation, Rady volunteered to serve in World War II and join the US Navy.

“I knew I was gonna be drafted so I volunteered,” Rady says. “My dad had been in the Navy in World War I so I decided that was the idea. Plus, I didn’t have to sleep in the foxhole.”

He served as a Quartermaster on LST 838, also known as the USS Hunterdon County. It launched in late 1944, sailing the South Pacific and Panama Canal. While on the sea, he survived a suicide bombing attack and a brief encounter with an underwater minefield.

Rady was discharged in 1946, going back to Vanderbilt University to finish his degree. Three years later, he met Anita Goldman, who he married later that year.

In 1951, the couple moved from Tennessee to Dallas, knowing nothing about the city other than its potential for business. Rady opened Zip One Hour Dry Cleaning, the first cleaning service to offer one hour turnarounds in the city, at One Main Place Downtown.

“In those days, men wore dress shirts all the time,” he says, wearing a blue button-up and World War II veteran baseball cap. “I ended up doing 1,500 shirts a week.”

He would use that money to invest in rental properties around Dallas, as well as in South Padre and a tree farm in East Texas.

In 1962, Anita gave birth to a daughter named Francis, Howard’s only child.

Between managing his businesses and raising Francis, Howard began to pick up ballroom dancing in the ‘80s, a hobby he’d continue until the 2000s.

In 2014, Francis took over the remaining properties under Howard’s name.

“My dad always took on new challenges,” Francis says. “I think that’s what he’s really taught me is hard work, grit and pushing through.”

Now 61, she splits time between Colorado and Dallas, spending her time here with her father, always making sure to show her appreciation for him.

In December 2020, Howard and Anita were the first residents to move into The Legacy Midpark Assisted Living, where Anita would pass away months later after a battle with dementia.

Howard still lives at the facility, recently celebrating his 100th birthday with family, friends and staff members. He received an honorary proclamation from Richardson Mayor Bob Dubey, congratulating him on crossing the centennial mark.

He’s still incredibly sharp, physically and mentally. He spends his days reading, talking to Francis and working out at the in-house physical therapy facility. Photos of him exercising are displayed on the wall in his room.

“I’m 100, but I’m doing the therapy of a 65-year-old,” he boasts.

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