2024 February Preston Hollow Advocate

PRESTON HOLLOW F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 5 I A D V O C AT E M A G . C O M

feb 25 contents PRESTON HOLLOW ADVOCATE VOL.25 NO.2

PROFILE 6 Beverly Patrick DINING 12 The Wangs expand to Lake Highlands FEATURES 8 Designing dark and moody in the Bird Streets 16 Three books that dive into PH life and people STUDENT FEATURE 20 Ursuline student breaks records COLUMN 23 Jack Drake on Preston Hollow’s annexation Maestri Studios aimed for a tailored, masculine feel in the design of this bathroom, which previously had not been updated in decades.

Read more on page 8.

Photography courtesy of Maestri Studios.

It takes heart to check in on yours.

As women, we put everyone else first. But it’s time to take the lead.

Embracing a healthy and active lifestyle is a great way to encourage others to do the same. And it just might save your life. Heart disease is the number one health threat against women, but with diet, exercise, and the right information, we can change that. Texas Health, along with Go Red for Women®, encourages you to take the heart health assessment to determine your risk and familiarize yourself with the warning signs of heart disease. Your journey to better health begins when you prioritize your heart.

Learn more at TexasHealth.org/GoRed Doctors on the medical staffs practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health hospitals or Texas Health Resources. © 2025 Texas Health Resources

D I ST R I B U T I O N / A D V E RT I S I N G 2 1 4 . 5 6 0 . 4 2 1 2 President/Editor-in-Chief: Jehadu Abshiro jabshiro@advocatemag.com Chief Operating Officer: Alessandra Quintero 786.838.5891 / aquintero@advocatemag.com Digital Marketing & Analytics: Autumn Grisby agrisby@advocatemag.com Founder: Rick Wamre 214.560.4212 / rwamre@advocatemag.com Custom Content: Sally Wamre 214.686.3593 / swamre@advocatemag.com ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

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ABOUT THE COVER Venture by Alexander Liberman.

Outside of parking garage C at Dallas Love Field.

Photography

by Lauren Allen.

INWOOD - FOREST

5211 Forest Ln. #112 (Next door to Street’s Fine Chicken) 214.377.9788

petbarinc.com

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SIX SPOTS WITH ROMANTIC SPECIALS Compiled by ALYSSA HIGH

MALAI KITCHEN | 6130 Luther Lane Thai/Vietnamese restaurant Malai Kitchen will be serving up crispy lamb “money bag” potstickers, lotus leaf-steamed black cod, green chili hanger steak, Vietnamese five-spice pork belly and Vietnamese tiramisu all day Valentine’s Day. Reservations are recommended.

Photography by Kelsey Shoemaker

RAMBLE ROOM 6565 Hillcrest Ave. Ramble Room is starting the evening off in luxe with a complimentary caviar welcome and special dishes like cacio e pepe oysters, lobster salad and steak frites. To finish the night, the menu features a butterscotch crème brûlée all Valentine’s Day. Reservations are recommended.

JOA GRILL 2254 Royal Lane Just west of Preston Hollow, JOA Grill is hosting a three-course Valentine’s Day menu. With menu items like yuzu salad, prime short rib and chocolate cake to end the night, the Korean barbecue restaurant brings a different take to the typical lineup for $52 per person. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Photography by Kathy Tran

WHERE TO DINE WITH YOUR LOVE(S)

TJ’S SEAFOOD MARKET 6025 Royal Lane TJ’s continues its Valentine’s tradition with items like caviar, oysters, lobster, martinis and wine. They’re also suggesting ordering easy-to-enjoy steamed and cracked lobsters, paired with osetra caviar, to go for those looking to stay home. Reservations are recommended.

SUSIECAKES Preston Center, 6100 Luther Lane The classic dessert destination is serving up limited-time desserts in a mini Valentine’s-themed cupcake box like heart-shaped frosted sugar cookies, mini sweetheart cakes, a cookie decorating kit and more. All are available Jan. 27Feb. 14. Orders can be placed online or in person.

EATALY DALLAS 8687 N Central Expressway NorthPark’s Eataly is bringing back the Valentine’s Day Festa with endless bubbles, live entertainment, themed treats and lots of flowers on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Eataly Dallas

Photography by Kathy Tran

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p ro f i l e

FAITH & GRIEF & HEALING Finding strength through community in the wake of tragedy Story by NIKI GUMMADI Photography by LAUREN ALLEN

IN 2012, PRESTON HOLLOW N E I G H B O R B E V E R L Y PAT R I C K LOST HER SON MATTHEW TO SUIC I D E W H I L E H E WAS A CA D E T AT UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. Since her loss, Patrick has become actively involved in the grief support community — both as a participant and a volunteer — particularly through Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church’s Faith & Grief Ministries and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. During the holidays, Patrick volunteers at the Faith & Grief Memorial Arch in Klyde Warren Park, where guests can remember loved ones by tying a ribbon with their name to the Arch.

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH FAITH & GRIEF? I’ve been a long-time member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, and one of the former pastors is one of the three founders of Faith & Grief. I knew about it through my connection with the church. I was really struggling after my son died. He died in September 2012, and I went to my first lunch meeting in January.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE IDEA OF COLLECTIVE HEALING WORKING IN YOUR OWN JOURNEY, AND HOW DO YOU SEE IT AFFECTING OTHER PEOPLE? When you’re comfortable doing it, there can be so much strength gained by being able to tell your own story in a safe setting. Being in a community is incredibly healing and empowering. You do have to survive a suicide loss. It’s just unimaginable.

So, I’ve lost someone to suicide, but I’ve survived that. I’m still here. The Saturday before Thanks-

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Photo courtesy of Beverly Patrick

giving is National Suicide Survivors Day, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers programs, in a number of places around the country, for survivors of suicide loss to come together and be in community and share their stories. You can hear about how other people have walked that path and gained strength to help you as you move along that journey as well.

I IMAGINE REACHING OUT AND GETTING INVOLVED IN THESE COMMUNITIES IS NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO. HOW DID YOU GET YOURSELF INVOLVED AND KEEP COMING BACK? It does take courage to step out, and that’s why community is so important. That’s why Faith & Grief offers their gatherings in what is hopefully a comfortable setting, like a community room at a church. That first meeting that I went to, I felt very comfortable going because I was going to my church.

But it is hard, and I think with a suicide loss, it can be harder because you don’t know what kind of reception you’re going to get. But whether it’s AFSP or whether it’s Faith & Grief, both organizations have a commitment to having trained, compassionate people that let you feel welcomed and encouraged to come back. Everybody’s journey is different. For me, it’s been over 10 years since I’ve lost my son, and I don’t go to every meeting like I did for a while.

If you get the courage to go once, and you let yourself be open to it, you realize how much better it makes you feel to know that you’re not alone, to know that there are

other people there who care for you, who can support you and make it easier to go back.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE STIGMA AROUND TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH CHANGE AT ALL IN THE GRIEF SUPPORT COMMUNITY? I think I was blessed that when we lost my son, we were in this neighborhood, and they had seen him growing up. He’d been here for years. They knew him, and there was an outpouring of love and support at that time. But then, through the Survivor Day workshops with AFSP, I learned that there are so many people out there who have carried these burdens for so long. The stigma is lessening, but the people who suffered losses long ago are still carrying that. My son was in the military when we lost him, and the statistics around suicides in the military in particular are just disheartening. Through my employer, I’m part of a veterans’ group, and one of the things they do periodically is bring in speakers to talk about, ‘What can we do within the military, in particular, to decrease that stigma around being able to ask for help?’ for someone who is struggling.

HOW HAS FAITH PLAYED A PART IN YOUR JOURNEY? There’s no right or wrong way to respond, and there are people who get mad at God. I’ve had my share of that as well, but I knew in many ways that my son was struggling. So, the comfort I take in my faith is knowing that my son is not struggling anymore. He is not hurting anymore. He has been embraced in

God’s arms, and he’s okay. There is a hymn called “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” I started reflecting over it and that past year and started focusing on all the mercies, all the things that had happened to me in that past year, all the good moments I had had. You know, ‘Morning by morning, new mercies I see. Praise thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.’

That’s how my faith has gotten me through.

I keep looking for the positives.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY? If you suffered a loss, give yourself some grace because you are struggling. And recognize that even within a family group, everyone has their own way of dealing with the loss.

Everybody’s journey is different, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR SON? He was incredibly, incredibly bright. He was incredibly kind, just always looking out for other people and trying to protect them. He had a great sense of humor. He was a huge Texas Longhorns fan, and I will always be grateful for the Dallas Mavericks, because he was at the Academy in 2011 when the Mavericks won the championship, and he was just over the moon. He loved to sing. He had a nice bass voice and could actually carry a tune. And he would have been a great uncle to my grandkids. I just would have loved to be able to see him playing with them.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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DARK & MOODY TURNING A ’40S BUILD INTO A STATEMENT HOME Story by ALYSSA HIGH

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I N T H E B I R D ST R E E TS N E I G H BO R H O O D STA N DS A CORNER LOT WITH AN UNASSUMING EXTERIOR AND D ECA D ES - O L D T R E ES. The house was built in 1941, and until recently didn’t look much different than it likely did back then. The stairs were fitted with a chair lift. A front living area featured floor-to-ceiling wood paneling. The kitchen was mostly white, with soft yellow walls and blue accents with a matching soft yellow vintage Chambers oven. The bathrooms had pink or blue tiling and floral wallpaper.

The house hasn’t exchanged hands many times over the course of nearly a century. Records aren’t clear on who all owned it. We do know, however, that the woman who had owned it since 1995 until she died in 2018 kept the home true to its ’40s roots. When a bachelor IT executive purchased the home and moved in, a change was in order.

In 2021, Preston Hollow neighbor Eddie Maestri of Maestri Studios did a full-service interior design on the home.

The home was “meticulously maintained and unedited,” Maestri says, leaving the design with a dual goal: renovate and reimagine the kitchen and bathrooms for the bachelor client while enhancing and building upon the character of the home.

Courtesy of Maestri Studio

Maestri kept many original design elements in the home, like this crystal chandelier, while adding a “masculine, Manhattan vibe” through the rest of the design.

These french doors, now painted black, are also original to the home. When it comes to the bathroom, however, long gone are the pastel tiles.

WITH AN OLDER HOME LIKE THIS, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE OF MODERNIZING THE H O M E W H I L E R ES P ECT I N G T H E H I STO RY O F A ‘ 4 0 S BU I L D ?

Working with older homes, especially those with the character and history of a ‘40s build, is something we truly love. Our approach is always to honor the original design and craftsmanship, making sure that any updates feel in line with the home’s natural beauty.

We take the time to study the existing details—whether it’s the molding, cabinetry, or unique architectural features — and carefully restore or refresh them when needed.

For us, it’s not about reinventing the wheel, but enhancing what’s already there. We want to highlight the home’s original charm while making thoughtful design updates that modernize the space without overwhelming it. Whether it’s updating finishes, opening up a space for better flow, or introducing new materials that complement the original ones, our goal is always to strike a balance between the past and the present, respecting the home’s history while ensuring it functions beautifully for today’s lifestyle.

WITH DARKER DESIGNS TRENDING LIKE THE STATEMENT LIVING ROOM FEATURED IN THIS H O M E , H OW D O YOU D ES I G N A S PAC E W I T H OU T T H E RO O M F E E L I N G H E AV Y ?

Dark spaces, like the statement lounge featured in this home, are definitely trending right now, but it’s not just about the darkness — it’s about the balance between light and dark. The key to making a dark space feel inviting and not heavy is introducing elements of lightness to create contrast and depth. For example, we used an antiqued mirror at the back of the built-ins in this room, which reflects light and helps balance out the deeper tones.

Dark spaces can actually feel incredibly cozy and warm, offering a sense of refuge and intimacy. They’re the perfect contrast to the lighter, brighter areas of a home. In a home that’s already filled with open, airy spaces, a darker room can act like a cocoon—a space to wrap yourself in and unwind. It’s all about creating that balance, where the darker hues provide depth and sophistication, while lighter elements keep the space from feeling too enclosed or heavy.

ANOTHER FEATURE I NOTICED IS THE INTENT I O N A L I T Y O F T H E M I X E D M E TA L S I N T H E K I TC H E N , W I T H G O L D O N T H E V E N T H O O D A N D S H E LV ES, B L AC K O N T H E FAUC E T A N D KNOBS AND STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES. I ’ V E S E E N T H I S AS A B I T O F A H OT TO P I C A M O N G D E S I G N E R S, W I T H E AC H S E E M I N G TO HAVE THEIR OWN DESIGN “RULES.” WHAT I S YO U R P H I LO S O P H Y O N M I X I N G M E TA L S W H I L E LO O K I N G CO H ES I V E ?

We absolutely love mixing metals because it creates a timeless, collected feel that adds depth and character to a space. In the kitchen, the combination of gold on the vent hood and shelves, black on the faucet and knobs, and stainless steel works together to form a balanced, sophisticated look that feels both modern and classic. We don’t believe in rigid rules when it comes to design — if it works, it works. Especially in older homes, mixing metals can really tell a story, blending the old and the new in a way that feels natural and personal. It’s all about finding the right contrast and harmony, and when done thoughtfully, it adds layers of interest that evolve beautifully over time.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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fo o d

Japanese may be a new challenge for the Wangs, but Korean and Chinese are family staples.

CHINESE TO JA PA N E S E

( A N D E V E RY T H I N G I N B E T W E E N ) Recently-opened Pan Asian Kitchen and Noodle brings a myriad of options to Lakeridge Village Story by AUSTIN WOOD | Photography by KATHY TRAN

O PT I O N S A R E W H AT JA R R E N WA N G WA N TS TO B R I N G T O L A K E R I D G E V I L L AG E W I T H H I S N E W LY- O P E N E D R ESTAU RA N T, PA N AS I A N K I TC H E N A N D N O O D L E .

Ramen. Tangsuyuk. Dan dan noodles. The menu covers three East Asian cuisines: Japanese, Korean and Chinese, putting the “Pan” in Pan Asian Kitchen, which opened in December. With over 50 menu items available across a geographically varied offering, options abound.

Ramen is a new challenge for the Wang family, who owns the Howard Wang Family of restaurants. Chinese, however, has been their bread and butter since the opening of the original Howard Wang’s in Preston Hollow in 2005. Korean food has been a part of their story since Jarren’s father, Howard, grew up in Korea as a Chinese emigrant. It doesn’t hurt that his mother (who does all the vegetables for Pan) is Korean either.

“She’s very passionate about her culture, which she’s Korean,” Wang says. “She’s very proud of being from there and just all the food coming from her own culture, so she puts a lot of love into it.”

Howard is involved in the business too, working with Jarren in the kitchen for the first few months to “keep quality consistent,” until staff fills out.

The menu is organized by cuisine from left to right: Korean (which Jarren says is the most exciting portion of the menu), Chinese and Japanese. Korean offerings include bulgogi ($19) and japchae — clear sweet potato noodles cooked in Howard Wang’s savory lo mein sauce ($14 for veggie, add on for protein).

In Korea, much like in the U.S., the cuisine of Chinese emigrants has been adopted into the mainstream with originally Chinese dishes adapted for local tastes. Pan Asian’s menu pays tribute to the Wang family’s mixed roots in its Korean offering with dishes like tangsuyuk ($17), a sweet-and-sour sauce-smothered bowl of Korean-style crispy pork with assorted vegetables, and jjajangmyeon ($15), Chinese-style wheat noodles cooked in a sauce made with fermented black bean paste known as chunjang.

“We’ve grown up eating Korean food all the time, but we just never opened a business for it but now we have a little small Korean offering so we’re very excited,” he says.

Chinese options span a variety of regional traditions but focus especially on Northern — where Howard’s family is from — and Sichuan cuisines. The Sichuan heat is felt with dan dan noodles ($11), kung pao chicken ($17) and mala chicken ($16), served with onions, peppers, zucchini and farm-to-table shiitake mushrooms.

The Northern influence is apparent with moo shoo pork ($17).

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General Tso’s chicken, pictured at the top, comes atop a bed of broccoli, as do most Chinese dishes.

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Most Americanized staples like orange chicken ($17) and General Tso’s chicken ($17) can be ordered at Pan Asian. Its menu also features Cantonese dishes like Hong Kong-style fried egg noodles ($19 base price) and a house-special clay pot ($20) “Traditionally, they put the rice in this clay pot. And it’s like a very small portion of the rice soup, like a cup, and then it’s put it over fire, and it cooks with stir fried meat coagulation and some kind of brown sauce with veggies. And it’s placed on top of the rice, uncooked rice,” Wang says. “It’s supposed to steam together and have this little rice bowl that just makes just like a nice addition to eating the saucy meat thing that got going on top of the rice.”

Hibachi bowls, ramen, udon and teriyaki protein round out the Japanese offering and can be ordered with a variety of toppings.

Last but not least, the noodles. Pan Asian offers flat noodles, pad thai and yakisoba (Japanese buckwheat).

All three can be ordered with vegetables and tofu for a base price of $14, and proteins such as chicken or shrimp can be added on for a few dollars more.

Pan Asian serves beer, wine and sake from its bar, which may also one day be churning out sushi, Jarren says. In the absence of higher-proof spirits, the cocktail menu is confined to sake-based concoctions.

He says business has been going well since opening in December. That may come as a surprise to some, as restaurants in this space have had trouble staying open in the past. Predecessors like The Koi Way and Hei Hei were open for just about a year before shuttering their doors. Wang says he feels Pan Asian’s options will be what sets it apart.

“The menu can just cover a wide array of options, kind of never can lose interest from our customers and clients, just because we are offering different cuisines.”

As the owner of the area’s newest dining addition, Wang says Lake Highlands has welcomed him with open arms. He is looking forward to “building a community” and wants the restaurant to be a casual everyday eatery for the neighborhood.

“Neighborhood restaurants are special because of the day-to-day life amongst everyone that comes into restaurants, and we want that here, where people can just kind of relax and set the tone for their everyday lives. Just come in and enjoy some good food.”

Pan Asian Kitchen & Noodle, 9660 Audelia Road, 214.964.0895, pan-asian-kitchen.com

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THE BILLIONAIRE BUDDY

AN ORPHAN DETECTIVE AND A JEWEL THIEF

WALK INTO A BOOK STORE. Three books featuring people, characters in our neighborhood | Story by ALYSSA HIGH

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...

T H E W I L D , W I L D W E S T: A DV E N T U R E S I N B U S I N E S S F R O M T H E CO L D WA R TO T H E WA R O N T E R R O R I S M Thomas (Tom) E. Meurer Nonfiction

T

om Meurer’s The Wild, Wild West: Adventures in Business from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism is an autobiographical telling of his experiences developing software and finding prisoners of war for Ross Perot, working with the Nixon administration and becoming an executive for Hunt Oil Company.

Meurer’s Dallas story begins when he started working for EDS (Electronic Data Systems) in 1968. He recalled first meeting Perot in an elevator, though he was “not yet famous,” and being hit with a barrage of questions on the 13-flight ride. Working in computers in the ’60s was a different ballgame. One computer took up two-thirds of a room and learning to code wasn’t exactly a course for children as it is now, He describes the company in an almost family-like fashion, alluding to firings occurring for breaking codes of conduct that included infidelity. Working for Ross Perot was “a life changing experience” as Perot was a “genius,” he says.

But his relationship to Perot was only beginning. When former President Richard Nixon announced that he was running for president and wanted to include computers in his campaign, Perot was the call to make, and sending out employees to serve his campaign was a legal donation at the time. Meurer was one of these employees.

For the rest of the campaign, Meurer worked as an advance man, preparing campaign events before Nixon got there and coordinating with Secret Service, Nixon’s team and those “on the ground.” Per his instruction, he called Perot nightly to keep him up to date on the campaign. While he was traipsing the country, planning political events, Perot took EDS public, and stocks in the company pushed him into billionaire status.

After coming into nothing short of a buttload of money, Perot was set on finding somewhere worthwhile to put it.

Known in these parts as a philanthropist who practically built Dallas’ museum scene, his eyes were first set on prisoners of war (POWS) in the ongoing Vietnam War. Perot’s team and Meurer flew to various countries – working around the United States government’s approval more so than with it – talking at embassies and seeking information on the POWs. Perot expected a call to update every night, and a call he would get. Since the hotel closed at 10 p.m. due to a curfew in Saigon, Meurer recalls, they would sneak under the steel curtain closure, run five blocks through the dark to the embassy, use their phone and sneak back the same way.

Eventually, after funneling money and resources into raising awareness for and finding POWs, several raids were conducted bringing the men home. Through those seven and a half years working for Ross Perot, Meurer traveled the world with him and his children, rescued prisoners of war, met celebrities, bent international laws and went on adventures that feel nothing short of an Indiana Jones movie.

And their closeness could not be fabricated. Perot once gifted Meurer a six-foot poster of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s body with Meurer’s face on it, which sits in his workout room today. Meurer once reciprocated by purchasing Perot a 50,000-year-old mammoth tooth – “Finally something that was older than him” – which now sits in the family museum. He felt loved, even whilst being pranked, he laments.

In 1975, Meurer joined Ray Hunt as he followed in his father’s footsteps with Hunt Oil Company “without knowing anything about the company.” However, whatever his job description, he became close to the family, even getting birthday calls from Ruth Ray Hunt (H.L. Hunt’s wife), who he describes as “a great lady.”

The next few chapters run through Meurer’s job with Hunt, which feels nondescript and involves promoting the company and searching for oil in several countries.

He even mentions Hunt drinking camel’s milk in Yemen. Much of these chapters are an explanation of the business, with vignettes about how oil is found and the geopolitics of the areas where they sought oil.

He worked for the Hunts for about 50 years before retiring, staying close to both the Hunts and Perots over the years. Though Meurer notes that a book ought to be written about the impact that the two families have had on the City of Dallas, and moreover what would be left without them, he insists this book is not it. He ends with lists of his favorite attributes of the men (and some advice for his children.)

By the end of the book, Meurer looks back on his globe-trotting, career-jumping experiences and laments who to thank. Of course, he acknowledges his wife and children and parents. But his relationships with Ross Perot and Ray Hunt seem to have defined his “wild west” life. His view of some of Dallas’ most well-known businessmen throughout decades of American politics provides a glimpse into the past, perhaps normally only heard in the form of board room storytimes.

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Illustration by Grzegorz Wójcik

HOME IN P R E S TO N H O L LOW J.K. Bozeman Fiction/Mystery

Home in Preston Hollow is a fictional mystery novel featuring a young woman who must return to Preston Hollow from Paris due to her father’s passing. However, when her father’s staff and friends seem certain that he was murdered, rather than committing suicide like reported, Jennifer McAllister sets her sights on proving his billionaire friend is the culprit.

A band of loved ones seek out answers: Tom Collins, the estate’s caregiver; Jason “Jase” Allen, a quiet, autistic man her father had taken under his wing and Ross, the legal advisor.

The book is chock-full of Dallas references: the Bath House, White Rock Lake, Sparkman Hillcrest, St. Mark’s, Lake Highlands. Bozeman based the father’s home off his own uncle’s, whom he visited as a child, he says.

That, coupled with a significant amount of research into the area itself, is evident.

However, it’s worth noting that the author, or the main character at least, has a clear disdain for the accents, politics, religion and “WASPiness” of the area.

After the visitation and burial, the will is read to Jennifer and the group. Most of her father’s estate is left to a religious group headed by an eccentric, exploitative luxury developer: Harlan Martin.

Harlan Martin – of whom we all could have a few guesses of who he is based on – is the antagonist.

Critiqued by our main character for wearing makeup and too much cologne, she decides against her better judgement and goes on a solo mission to find out the truth, and (spoiler alert) it does not go according to plan.

Gunshots. Police. Fraudulent wills. If you’re looking for an afternoon read with some mystery, an outsider’s perspective on Dallas life and sociopolitical musings not entirely unreflective of an expat-turned Parisian, this 253-pager certainly fits the bill.

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THE KING OF DIAMONDS: THE SEARCH FOR THE ELUSIVE TEXAS JEWEL THIEF Rena Pederson Nonfiction/True crime

Dallas in the ‘60s and ‘70s was drenched in glitz, glamour and fabulous parties with diamonds galore. Any evening a spectacular society event occurred, there was a chance a gentleman cat burglar would climb on the second story of a Preston Hollow home, slip inside through a window and steal just a few pieces of jewelry.

Ren e Pederson ’s K ing of Diamo nds sounds like fiction.

It’s not.

During six years, the former journalist conducted over 200 interviews trying to track down the jewel thief that eluded seasoned cops and the FBI for more than a decade. It’s the story of how city elites like the Hunts, Hamons, Grafs, Lays and Marcuses made money fast, partied hard and had their gems stolen from right underneath them.

The burglar would be in the home while the owners slept or watched TV. Sometimes, he’d smoke a cigarette or hide in the closet as the families got ready for bed. He was careful, athletic and selective. He left signature waffle pattern footprints at his crimes. He knew the layout of the homes

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he hit and often selected the owners’ most sentimental jewelry.

The working theory is he had to be a member of the Dallas society scene.

Someone who rubbed elbows with CEOs at debutante balls and then later in illegal gambling joints filled with strippers and mob bosses. He probably knew our city’s favorite stripper Candy Barr, mafia frontman Joe Campasi, Jack Ruby and every revered and/or infamous name running around town.

It’s a mystery without an end. Did someone know whodunnit back in the ‘60s and ‘70s? Probably. Where did the millions and millions worth of jewelry go?

For all we know it could be sitting comfortably in a safe somewhere in town or settings removed and jewels dispersed around the world.

There’s a few things that are still the same. Dallas might be bigger than ever but a hairdresser is still a gal’s best friend, we’re still talking about illegal gambling and it’s still a flashy town with a slight disdain for Fort Worth.

Just maybe not as untamed.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO LITIGATION · FAMILY/DIVORCE/ CHILD CUSTODY · FAMILY BUSINESS

· GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION · BUSINESS MATTERS

EMPATHY | UNDERSTANDING | RESOLUTION NVOMEDIATION.COM · 13155 NOEL ROAD · 214.292.6673

FEBRUARY 2025 prestonhollow.advocatemag.com

19

GIVING DALLAS HOPE, ONE KIT AT A TIME Meet the East Dallas teen that founded Ursuline Academy’s largest club Story by AYSIA LANE | Photography by RAE OVERMAN

URSULINE ACADEMY OF DA L L AS S E N I O R M A RY PETERSON HAS JUST RETURNED FROM VISITING HER FRIENDS AT TULANE UNIVERSITY. She’s sporting a T-shirt with the university’s name across the front as she fishes for items in her

trunk. In the back portion of the car is a large pile of well over 40 white paper bags with looped handles, filled with pencils, candies and other supplies — each of them has Halloween-themed drawings and decorations across the front. She grabs as many of the handles as possible in her fists as she walks up

20 prestonhollow.advocatemag.com FEBRUARY 2025

the steps to After8toEducate, an organization that services unsheltered high school students.

These kinds of drop-offs are now part of Peterson’s routine of providing useful items for those in need.

The nonprofit Kits for Hope has been operating since Peterson’s sophomore year. The kits are often themed, including tailored basic necessities and inspiring messages.

“Our main purpose is to provide kits for homeless women and their children across Dallas and then those donations often go to Genesis or After8toEducate,” Peterson says. “We evenly split it up between more need-based kits, which is like the tampons, underwear, shampoo — things like that.

And then the more fun base, just to bring some positivity within it as well.”

After three school years, Kits for Hope has became the largest club in Ursuline’s history, with roughly 420 members, including several officers and a faculty advisor.

The army of young women have created and donated over 1,000 kits since the club started. Peterson says an average of 50 to 60 girls come in per month to help with the creation of kits.

“I think I’m just blessed to be able to be surrounded by so many girls who are willing to dedicate their time at school and outside of school to help change the narrative of homelessness in Dallas,” she says.

Volunteering has been part of Peterson’s life since she was 13, often going with her mother.

“I started to volunteer at Dallas Hope Charities, which is a church in Uptown Dallas, and it was feeding the homeless,” Peterson says. “It wasn’t just like you’d give them the food and then they’d sit down. It was more like a restaurant style, so you’d get into conversation with them and talk.”

She would sit across from people who were facing some of their darkest times. One man stands out in her memory — Tom. He sported a yellow band around his wrist, a hospital bracelet still left on after being freshly discharged.

Fast forward to her freshman year of high school,when Ursiline released a statment about students creating clubs and organizations on and for the campus. Her conversations with Tom came to mind.

“It made me so emotional to think that there were so many people in Dallas homeless, without homes, and so many people just neglect them every day,” she says. “And I noticed that we really didn’t have anything tailored to the homeless population in Dallas.”

She sent in the request to create the club. She had no name for it at the time. She pondered over the possibilities in her free time, even at lunch with her friends. They tossed ideas across the table until one landed: “Kits for Hope.”

Peterson plans to take Kits for Hope to college, making the organization a part of undergraduate experience in some form or another, her attempt at “building a bridge between Dallas,” and wherever she goes.

“I know there’s gonna be so many times in college where my identity is changing. Something that will always be constant with me is Kits for Hope,” Peterson says. “I think it’s just a really good way to keep me grounded, within the world and within my faith.”

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OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

By JACK DRAKE

THE ANNEXATION OF PRESTON HOLLOW The start of a new era for the neighborhood

A

dvocates for incorporation in 1939 campaigned on the principle that taxes regarding the issues they could control (school and water) would stay the same they would not maintain roads, and not be required to build a sewer. The tax promise ended in 1942 as there was no other solution to keep police services alive.

Roads, at this point, were mostly gravel, but residents were starting to get agitated with their poor conditions and flood-prone nature. The town never addressed this, but it remained an issue in the minds of the people. Finally, the sewer.

Residents were either on individual septic tanks or larger, more communal ones.

The doubling of population in the early 1940s put a great strain on the systems.

Documentation reveals that they would often flood during rainstorms, causing stench throughout the neighborhood. The officials had come to the realization that a sewage system was necessary. They also came to the realization that there was no way they could afford it, as the brooks, hills and ponds that made Preston Hollow an attractive place to live made the area extremely complex in a drainage sense, meaning that it was near impossible to install a cheap sewage system.

Many of the courageous residents on the city council were out of ideas and out of steam. They had carried us for almost five years. A mass exodus took place in early 1944, when every official except Mayor Reeves resigned, calling for an election on March 31. Frank Brinegar had resigned in 1943, and his position was temporarily filled by next-door neighbor Raymond P. Locke. William H. Clark died on October 15, 1943, in the plane crash of American Airlines Flight 63. Martin, Otis, Soelter and Raines all announced their wishes to not return. The new election brought in

aldermen Alfred Azel Adams, Mary Ella Robertson Aldridge, wife of former City of Dallas mayor Sawnie R Aldridge, William H. Neary, Leslie B. Pruitt, Darrell C. McElreath, Edwin O. Cartwright as mayor pro Tempore and Don Pickle as office manager.

ANNEXATION BY DALLAS The new Preston Hollow government, along with many residents, realized that the only option was annexation by The City of Dallas. Mayor of Dallas Woodall Rodgers was known for his “manifest destiny,” where he annexed many territories throughout his tenure. Rodgers was delighted by the idea of welcoming Preston Hollow into his city and took it a step further by inviting the Park Cities (who declined). In a convincing attempt, Rodgers created an “image of the great pecan tree at Preston and Armstrong…to suggest that the shade and the fruit of the Mother Tree (Dallas) provided benefits for residents of the three Park Cities,” Eva Morgan says in Preston Hollow: A Documentary History.

S. J. Hay’s civic committee created an analysis of the situation and found it would be of great benefit for Preston Hollow to join Dallas. Residents were promised municipal services such as a sewage system, paved roads, garbage pickup and a new elementary school and fire station. On March 6, 1945, Mayor Pro tempore Cartwright and Dallas Mayor Rodgers endorsed a merger bill for the two cities which passed in the Texas House and Senate. An election was held in Preston Hollow on April 3, 1945, where 81% of the vote supported annexation. Rogers announced the next day that “we are very proud of our new part of Dallas” and “we are going to do everything possible to make it one of the finest residential districts in the country.”

A parade took place when Dallas City officials filled a bus with a banner stating

“Preston Hollow, Here We Come.” Their bus was followed by Dallas Fire Chief L.M. Funk with a shiny new fire engine, a police car, trash truck and a truck containing sewer pipes. The truck with the pipes serving as the last vehicle in the parade was a fitting close to the Town of Preston Hollow, who was unable to provide a sewage system. The final Preston Hollow City Council meeting took place in Mayor Mart Reeves’ home at 8530 Jourdan Way (1937) where they turned over all records to The City of Dallas. Construction work began to fulfill the promises of Dallas. Ground was quickly broken for Preston Hollow Elementary School, but it was not quite finished for the start of the 1945-46 school year. A “housewarming” party on November 11, 1945 suggested students moved in shortly after that event. Their building was later expanded in the 1950s.

The original Dallas Fire Station 27 opened in 1947 at Douglas and Northwest Highway.

Lifelong resident of Preston Hollow and author Eva Potter Morgan writes that “the life span of the incorporated Town of Preston Hollow was brief indeed. It coincided very nearly with the duration of World War II. It came into being a few weeks after Europe went to war upon Hitler’s invasion of Poland…it breathed its last when its citizens voted to consolidate with the City of Dallas in April of 1945, about a month before Victory in Europe was proclaimed.”

JACK DRAKE is a sophomore at The Ohio State University studying aviation m a n a ge m e nt . Th e P re sto n H o l l ow 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 the Facebook group Preston Hollow History.

FEBRUARY 2025 prestonhollow.advocatemag.com

23

5414 Edlen Drive | $12,900,000

4703 Bluffview Boulevard | $12,499,000

Eric Narosov

Alex Perry

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4121 Amherst Avenue | $3,200,000

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3213 Wentwood Drive | $4,495,000

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972.841.3838 | terri.cox@alliebeth.com