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PICTURED:
54
37 The Awesomely Amazing Shop-Local
Guide Find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list all while supporting local businesses during the holiday season.
63 Top Attorneys
We have no objections, Your Honor.
Our 2024 Top Attorneys: Those legal minds who have demonstrated excellence, integrity, and dedication to clients and the rule of law.
By Malcolm Mayhew
The Swindled, the Swindlers, and Sweet Revenge
Turning from victim to vigilante, Texas rancher J. Frank Norfleet chased down his con men across the country in a relentless pursuit of justice.
By Michael H. Price
Holiday Gift
Best New Restaurants
The newest, freshest flavors in Fort Worth are right here.
We spotlight Fort Worth’s best new restaurants, from pasta to barbecue — hell, yes — to smashburgers to The Blue Room, and Teddy Wong’s, redefining the local dining scene. Dig in and find your next favorite spot.
DEPARTMENTS
THE FORT
16 City Dweller
The boys of Arlington Heights and Paschal give us the football game we all wanted.
20 Calendar
What’s going on in December? A dash of Beethoven, a cup of country music, and a bowl of football, of course.
22 Fort Worthian
Ballerina Alexandra Light is taking her final bow as the Sugar Plum Fairy to take on choreography full time.
26 Closet Raid
Rummaging through the wardrobe of Bonnie Thompson Smith, who shows us her discerning sense of fashion.
30 Fashion
Actor Eric Nelsen steps into the booming Stockyards retail scene with the Cowboy Way.
32 State Lines
Marshall: pop. 23,641.
34 The Reverie Musings, commentary, and insights about the people, places, and things that make our city great.
Beloved Fort Worth chef Angel Fuentes opens his long-awaited new Mex Mex restaurant on West 7th.
The team you can trust.
The Schweitzer Group: Your trusted advisors, experienced negotiators, paperwork navigators, problem solvers, time savers, risk mitigators and neighborhood knowers — all in one extraordinary team.
Food Is Tough
Best New Restaurants, a feature that, at this current moment, runs every two years in our magazine — a timetable I inherited from previous editors — is something that I can personally vouch is of utmost importance to its writer, Malcolm Mayhew.
As our dedicated food writer for the print publication, Malcolm tries every new restaurant — north, east, south, west, and within service stations — perhaps more than once, and keeps tabs on which eateries are deserving of this biannual honor. And I have a hunch he agonizes over it, desperately wanting to bestow this honor on the right restaurants and the right people. I often tell readers that this is his list, not the magazine’s. Due to my slight frame and penchant for over-salting, I am by no means one who should be weighing in (pardon the pun) on the delectability and worthiness of local fare. We leave it to Malcolm, as he knows best.
While this is by no means equivalent to a star from the folks at Michelin, praise from Malcolm is still cherished kudos that can result in new, curious customers — at least we hope. Perhaps this is why he takes it so seriously.
Malcolm’s ability to write clearly and creatively about food is a gift. Food writing, I’ll have you know, is a niche skill in the world of journalism. I, for instance, quickly run out of synonyms for the word “delicious” when straddled with such a task. But what makes Malcolm’s stories so good and so well liked is his ability to make them about the people as much as the food. When one reads a piece from Malcolm, we not only get a sense of his highly developed palate, but also the incredible stories of the owners and chefs behind the recipes.
Equally as difficult as writing about food is photographing food. This is especially true when photographing on-site and refraining from food-staging hacks like dye, glue, or steamed cotton balls. For a past City and Regional Magazine Association Awards, we had submitted a food cover for consideration in one of the categories. I still recall the feedback we received: “It’s fine, but you almost
have to be a food magazine to do food well on a cover — it’s flat-out difficult.”
Well, despite this difficulty, I am flat-out blown away by this month’s cover photographed by Thanin Viriyaki and featuring Alessandro Salvatore of Bocca Osteria Romana. And I am equally impressed with the inside photos taken by Thanin, Darah Hubbard, and Darrell Byers. Showing up to an assigned restaurant, our photographers have no clue what they’re in for, and yet they delivered time and again.
As Malcolm states in his piece (on page 42), we will be upping the frequency of our Best New Restaurants feature to every year, a testament to the incredible local food scene and all the talented people who continue to advance it. And through Malcolm’s words and our wonderful photography, I look forward to keeping tabs on it.
ON THE COVER:
We invited the owner and executive chef of Bocca Osteria Romana, Alessandro Salvatore, to pack a bowl of pasta and a bottle of wine and come to our studio for photos taken by Thanin Viriyaki. Alessandro hung out with us for a couple of hours, and pasta and wine were both enjoyed.
NEXT MONTH
Brian Kendall EXECUTIVE EDITOR
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The taxi-driving Ghost of Christmas Past from “Scrooged.” I’m due for a reexamination of a few things, provided we skip high school.
I would invite Louis Winthorpe III and Billy Ray Valentine of “Trading Places” and watch screwball comedy ensue.
Hans Gruber from “Die Hard,” (yes, it’s a Christmas movie) as long as he promised not to take over the house and make unreasonable demands.
Who wouldn’t want Star Lord from “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.” Hell, I would want all the crew!
What character from a holidaythemed movie would you most like to have over for Christmas dinner?
I would love to have Jim Carrey’s Grinch over for a Christmas meal, although I might be laughing too much to eat.
owner/publisher hal a. brown
president mike waldum
EDITORIAL
executive editor brian kendall
contributing editor john henry
digital editor stephen montoya
contributing writers malcolm mayhew, michael h. price, charlotte settle, shilo urban copy editor sharon casseday
ART
creative director craig sylva senior art director spray gleaves
contributing ad designer jonathon won contributing photographers darrell byers, darrah hubbard, richard w. rodriguez, thanin viriyaki
ADVERTISING
advertising account supervisors gina burns-wigginton x150 marion c. knight x135
account executive tammy denapoli x141 account executive jim houston x158 territory manager, fort worth inc. rita hale x133
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chief financial officer charles newton
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CONTACT US
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Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” would make Christmas dinner a “perfect” family gathering.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Clarence, an angel played by Henry Travers.
Clarence Odbody, the angel from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The “Old Man” from “A Christmas Story,” Darren McGavin, ‘cause I can relate!
I would invite a Christmas Krampus. Their stories would be so entertaining!
DIGITAL EDITION:
The virtual editions of both current and previous issues are available on our website. Flip through the pages to read more about the great city of Fort Worth by visiting fwtx.com.
FortWorthMagazine(ISSN 1536-8939) is published monthly by Panther City Media Group, LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to Panther City Media Group, PO Box 213, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. Volume 27, Number 12, December 2024. Basic
Subscription price: $21.95 per year. Single copy price: $4.99
November 2022
In addition to programming staples “Yellowstone,” “1883,” and “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” Taylor Sheridan has also written a handful of acclaimed films, including “Sicario,” “Hell or High Water,” “Wind River,” and “Those Who Wish Me Dead.”
He’s worked with Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Chris Pine, Sam Elliott, Jeremy Renner, and Tim McGraw, just to drop a few of the high-profile names who have performed his scripts.
He has also been nominated for an Academy Award.
However, when we met up with him in November 2022 at the renowned Four Sixes, it’s none of that he wants to talk about.
Rather, it’s ranching on the property Burk Burnett made famous, which he has just closed on.
Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, can talk ranching with the best of them. Normally quiet and direct — offering efficient five- or
six-word responses to most things — ranching is the one topic where Sheridan becomes loquacious, waxing poetic about Fort Worth’s deep ranching legacy.
“I would pinch myself if I wasn’t keenly aware of the tremendous amount of responsibility that I just took on. It’s 150 years of legacy building at Four Sixes.”
Despite all of his successes as a writer and director, is this his dream? Does he want to etch his name alongside the likes of the Moncriefs and Burnetts as a North Texas rancher?
“You know, it is. Yeah,” he stutters slightly and pauses for a second as if he’d actually never given the question much thought. “I tell you what, my dream had always been — and I’m not sure it made a whole lot of sense in my brain — to own an old-timey butcher shop in the Stockyards. And I wanted to sell my own beef at the butcher shop.”
He wears a brown cowboy hat because, as he says, only villains wear black cowboy hats. Good guys wear brown hats, and this man is a good guy.
Surrounded by thick clouds of dust and wearing a crimson button-up — looking cinematic as hell — Sheridan maneuvers his horse to push a single steer out of the herd. Once the young steer is free, Sheridan’s favorite quarter horse — a big brown, ornery stallion named Carl — keeps it from returning to the herd.
“There’s nothing I’d rather do,” Sheridan says.
It’s telling that he chose to return to North Texas, settling at the horsefriendly Silverado development in Weatherford.
“That’s his life,” Eric Nelsen, a fellow Fort Worthian who starred in Sheridan’s “1883,” says. “His ranch lifestyle, his horses, and his family come first over anything else.
“Taylor’s Texas born and raised; his blood runs thick with Texas cowboy pride and culture.”
photography by Crystal Wise
Y
Taylor Sheridan
Modern Appliances Classic Service.
THE FORT
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO
22
FORT WORTHIAN Alexandra Light has lived her dreams as a professional ballerina. Now she’s changing course, moving into choreography with a vision to create a space in which dancers can feel empowered to take risks.
by John Henry
Rivalry Restored
Arlington Heights and Paschal give us the game we all wanted.
Afull-throated bravo is due the boys of Paschal and Arlington Heights, who gave us the football game last month that we all hoped for under the Friday night lights at Farrington Field, the perfect host and absolutely the only appropriate place to play this renewed rivalry between historic Fort Worth institutions.
That “sentence” is exhausting — diagram it, I dare you — but so, too, was this game in which each 11 went after each other for 48 minutes like heavyweights trading punches, each refusing to back down until the last second ticked away.
Heights ultimately won this Battle of the Bonfire, 28-23, in front of what the school district called the best crowd in a decade at the stadium. The threat of rain likely kept more away.
Those who stayed away missed a good one. The game came down to the final drive and was decided, as they often are, by a combination of misfortune and great defensive play.
The game also meant more than
just property rights in Fort Worth. Heights (7-1 district, 9-1 overall) clinched second in District 4-5A D1. Paschal (6-2, 7-3), which the week before clinched its first playoff spot in 28 years after its figurative 40 days in the desert in Class 6A.
Kaeden Grant had two touchdown runs and a 24-yard TD pass to Jakob Hemphill in the third quarter for Heights, which clinched the game on Kelle Johnson’s interception.
Carson James had another scoring run for the Yellow Jackets. James, one of three sons playing for Heights’ coach Curtis James, had 160 yards on 22 carries. He picked up extra yard after extra yard simply like a bowling ball knocks down pins.
“This is humongous. Humongous,” Curtis James said of the game. “We’ve been trying to get it back, and it just landed when we were in the same district, so it made it easy to schedule it.
“The big thing was scheduling it at the end, so we could have a big turn-
out. It’s just fantastic for these kids, both sides, to be able to have crowds like this. We don’t normally have crowds like this.”
The first game played between these archrivals was 1922. Paschal won 48-6, the first of 15 consecutive victories for the then Central High School. The game was played annually for generations. That changed when Heights was reclassified to 4A. (That was when the highest classification was 5A. The University Interscholastic League, which oversees high school sports, has since added a Class 6A.) Classes are based on schools’ enrollment. Paschal remained in the state’s highest classification until this year.
With it back on the schedule — the teams last played a nondistrict game in 2013 — the respective booster clubs rechristened the game the “Battle of the Bonfire,” a reference to an infamous incident before the 1963 game.
On the eve of the game, Heights held a bonfire near Benbrook Lake. The bonfire was interrupted by Paschal “forces,” who arrived by ground and air.
Carloads of Paschal’s purple people, current students and graduates, came onto the scene carrying, as Bud Kennedy recalls it, “an armory of weapons, including baseball bats, lead pipes, whips, and Molotov cocktails.”
A private plane, piloted by a 1962 Paschal graduate, dropped rolls of purple-and-white toilet paper onto the Heights revelers. There was more, however. A 1948 sedan covered in gasoline-soaked mattresses, “The Panther Ram Car,” was set on fire and set toward the woodpile.
Suffice to say, the police and their paddy wagons got their steps and miles in that night.
A week later, President John F. Kennedy, in town during his ill-fated trip, smiled at the mention of Paschal: “Isn’t that the school with its own air force?”
For the game this year, the booster clubs had a trophy commissioned by Trophy Arts, to be awarded to the victor.
Paschal and quarterback Jashaun
Thomas played their asses off. It was not for lack of effort the Panthers fell short. Linebacker Tex Shope was all over the place on defense, covering ground like dirt on the West Texas plains.
Thomas had 121 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including a 63-yard run on the second play of the game. He later added scoring runs of 11 and 6 yards, the last getting the Panthers to within one, 21-20.
The Panthers got the ball back with 2:21 left at their 35, down five.
Thomas found Chris Davenport on a pass completion on first down. Thomas’ pass on second down was incomplete. On third down, Thomas darted up the middle for 4 yards and a first down.
Paschal was out of timeouts. Hurrying to the line, Paschal got the ball in play, Thomas stepping back to pass on first down. He found himself immediately under pressure by Heights’ defenders. Trying to avoid the sack, Thomas threw the ball up high into no man’s land, just a few yards past the line of scrimmage.
Kelle Johnson got on his horse, got there, and intercepted the lofted, wayward pass.
The reporter who grew up in Paschal’s boundaries (though not a Paschal guy), with Paschal neighbors and legend all around him, grit his teeth and let loose an audible groan in the press box — a gross violation of professional protocol, by the way. It wasn’t so much because Paschal lost as it was the heartbreak for the kid.
Jashaun Thomas should feel no shame. He was among the best players on the field that night.
His mistake was no mistake at all: He simply tried to make a play when one wasn’t there. A sack when his team had no timeouts wasn’t a great option either.
They call that a dilemma.
Thomas is a junior. He will be back next year for this game.
And so will I.
As a child, Fort Worth resident Larry O’Neal dreamed of having his very own bike. It was something that never happened, and he was left with a lasting feeling of inadequacy because of it.
“Man, there was nothing worse than being a kid and everyone on my block had a bike except me,” he says. “I had a neighbor kid offer to let me borrow his bike for one week, and it was fun. But after that week went by, I was without again. I don’t want any kids to have to feel that same way.”
As an adult, O’Neal took it upon himself in the late 1980s to do something about it.
Over the last 38 years, thanks to annual donations and a throng of volunteers that evolved into a nonprofit called Larry’s Kids, O’Neal has helped thousands of children get a bike at Christmastime.
“Through the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we are able to make this mission a reality year after year,” O’Neal says.
O’Neal is known for the Fort Worth Memories Museum at 1633 Rogers Road. Other space at the facility doubles as a storage area for the many bikes he gathers for his drives.
This free-to-the-public museum is filled with a collection of 80,000 Fort Worth-related artifacts, including nearly 60,000 photographs and nearly 20,000 documents. Tucked away in a corner of the museum is O’Neal’s actual day job, a classic auto detail business.
It was during his time detailing cars that the notion of gathering donations to help kids for the holi-
Larry’s Kids
Larry O’Neal’s nonprofit makes kids in need happy during the holidays. by Stephen Montoya
days first started.
“Larry’s Kids started about 1986, and I always just did it on my own,” O’Neal says. “I started doing this with my detail customers and all the car dealers — Jack Williams, Charlie Hillard, the McDavid brothers. In fact, in the late ’80s. I gave away 840 bikes, [with] no internet, no nothing.”
O’Neal was raised in a “rough” environment, he says. When he asked for a bike at age 16, his father gave him a broken jaw.
“I never did get a bike,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean other kids who have very little can’t either.”
After several years of gathering donations and handing out bikes to kids in need during the holidays, O’Neal created the nonprofit Larry’s Kids to formalize his efforts.
Today, O’Neal simply needs to let his more than 130,000 active Facebook members know that he’s seeking donations.
This year, the distribution day is Dec. 14, beginning at 6 a.m., at Farrington Field. Larry’s Kids has become so popular, the line to get in generally starts at 6 p.m. the day before.
“The followers pitch in every year, and they volunteer, and they have the same mission to try to help a child. And if you get anything from the city or the state or the federal government, you have to fill out a mountain of paperwork. You don’t have to fill out anything with us. We don’t even ask your name. Just be over at Farrington Field on Dec. 14 and get in line, and you’re going to get a bike and some toys,” he says.
by John Henry
House of Diamonds Falls
Haltom’s Jewelers Is Closing After 131 Years.
The House of Diamonds will soon be no more.
Haltom’s Jewelers is shuttering after 131 years in business, owners Jack and Ladye Ann Miller announced in a mailing sent to customers last month.
The mailing didn’t specify what day the iconic company’s three stores would shut down, only that it would be “closing the doors forever.”
Haltom’s flagship store has been in the old Knights of Pythias building, on the corner of Third and Main streets, in Sundance Square since 1988. Jack Miller bought the company in 1983.
“We are opening the vaults and offering unique pieces even our loyal customers have never seen,” Jack Miller said in the mailing. “Everything must be sold quickly, so we are putting forth our best discounts. We are eager to celebrate Haltom’s legacy and blow people away with this final sale.”
Miller is the son of the founder of the now defunct Edisons, a Fort Worth
department store founded in 1958 and so named because the telephone exchange in downtown was called the Edison exchange.
Jack Miller began in the jewelry business while attending college at night and working for his father during the day. He earned a master’s degree in finance from TCU in the early 1970s. In 1976, he was named president and CEO of Edisons.
He left the store in 1983 to buy Haltom’s.
“The Haltom fellows were ready to count their pile of marbles and move on, and I was ready to make a move,” Miller said at the time.
It was George W. Haltom, namesake of Haltom City, who founded the first store in Bowie in 1893.
Haltom, born in 1872, was raised on a farm in Arkansas, near the Texas border. When he was of age to make decisions for himself, he said to hell with farming, the noblest of professions that not just everybody is cut out for.
He tried life as a cobbler and finally settled on the trade of watchmaking.
“He knew that the basic tools were a pair of tweezers and a screwdriver,” wrote the late Mike Nichols, author of “Hometown by Handlebar.” He pulled a brass nail from a wooden water bucket and with a file fashioned tweezers.
He traded a gun he owned for a watch to teach himself how to repair a watch. (Another watch repairman ultimately taught him.)
He sold his business for $30 and moved to Bowie. He opened in Fort Worth in 1907. His brother ran the store until Haltom moved. In 1918, he installed the company’s trademark clock.
“We have always worked hard for our family, employees, their families, and our customers,” Ladye Ann Miller said. “While we are closing the stores and ending this chapter, we will remain a part of this community that is so important to us.”
Around Cowtown in 8 Seconds
A smattering of things you might’ve missed
1. The Donald Trumps Cruz: Donald Trump and J.D. Vance win Tarrant County with 52% of the vote over the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Those coattails do not extend to U.S. Ted Cruz, who although reelected, lost Tarrant County by 1,250 votes.
2. Ram Good: Texas Wesleyan, under first-year coach Brad Sherrod, is cruising through its NAIA football schedule, 9-0, at this writing, with one game to go before the playoffs. Yet, the Rams underachieve slightly in beating Langston 49-7 on Nov. 9, dropping their season scoring average below 60 points.
3. Beam Me Up, Aggy: A final beam was lifted more than 250 feet up in the air to top off the Law and Education building, the first of the planned Texas A&M-Fort Worth. The beam was naturally outfitted in Aggie maroon.
4. Oh, God, no: Football coaches at Arlington Bowie High School reportedly got a stern talking to about teaching the Bible during a lecture to junior varsity and varsity players during school hours. The Bible, of course, is, well, a banned book in the public schools.
5. For the Birds: Birds fared better than usual in Fort Worth during the fall migratory season because of the city’s “Lights Out” campaign. The Texas Conservation Alliance urged downtown building owners to turn off lights at night because light pollution disorients birds. It worked. The conservationists recorded 42 bird mortalities, including seven stunned birds, down from 110 in fall 2023.
6. Angels and Heroes: A Granbury mother is extra thankful this season after a unit of the town’s volunteer fire department scales a ladder to rescue her young son from a burning second-story apartment building. “First responders are actual heroes,” she says.
7. What’s That About Dallas? A 2022 survey on bikeability ranked Dallas the least bike-friendly city in the U.S. among the 50 cities surveyed by Clover Real Estate. Hell if I know about bikeability, but they can’t rank all that high in likeability, either. Just kiddin’ ya, Dallas.
8. WalletHub Is a Pumpkin
Head: The personal finance company says Fort Worth is among the worst cities by number of pumpkin patches per capita. And?
December
6-8
Spano Conducts
Beethoven and Jake Heggie
The performance will open with the world premiere performance of American composer Jake Heggie and Librettist Anita Amirrezvani’s “Earth 2.0” before Robert Spano conducts Beethoven’s famous “Eroica.”
Bass Performance Hall fwsymphony.org
7-8
A Candlelight Christmas in Ryan Place
Celebrating its 40th year, a Candlelight Christmas takes visitors through five distinct, historic homes in the Ryan Place neighborhood and includes shopping, carriage rides, and a mini train for the kiddos.
Ryan Place ryanplacefortworth.com
12-13
Turnpike Troubadours
Since returning from a four-year hiatus in 2022, the red dirt country act has been on a rampage of releasing new music and rocking sold-out venues. They swing by the World’s Largest Honky Tonk for two nights.
Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com
13-29
The Nutcracker
Even if you’ve seen it a hundred times, you’ll see Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet for the 101st time because it’s a tradition, and it’s just that darn mesmerizing. Matinees available on Saturdays and Sundays.
Bass Performance Hall texasballettheater.org
14
Funkytown Git Down
This marks the ninth year of this annual concert that benefits Fort Worth Abroad, a nonprofit that gives study abroad scholarships. The lineup includes Texas Gentlemen, Midnight Thirty, and Songbird Jones. Tulips tulipsftw.com
19 Cody Jinks
After releasing two albums in 2024, the Fort Worth-based country musician plays one of his hometown’s most legendary venues. Scratch that — plays one of the world’s most legendary venues.
Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com
27
Armed Forces Bowl
While the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams, that doesn’t make the outlying bowl games any less interesting. This year’s match will pit a team from the American Athletic Conference against a Conference USA squad.
Amon G. Carter Stadium armedforcesbowl.com
28
Koe Wetzel
Loud music, booze, profanity, and pyrotechnics. In no particular order, this is what one can expect when attending a Koe Wetzel concert. For some, this is one hell of a good time — for others, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com
31
Noon Year’s Eve
The kid-friendly celebration at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History kicks off at 10 a.m. and includes arts and crafts, a little education, and a confetti drop at noon.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History fwmuseum.org
Dec. 7
Alabama
Despite the passing of founding member Jeff Cook in 2022, the acclaimed country music band continues to pack arenas, much like they will at Dickies, behind the strength of their hit-laden catalog.
Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com
photos provided by Billy Bob’s Texas // Bass Performance Hall // Armed Forces Bowl // Crystal Wise
Turnpike Troubadours
Cody Jinks
Koe Wetzel
Alexandra Light
By
Dancer/Choreographer
Charlotte Settle
Photo by Darah Hubbard
Alexandra Light is rewriting the rules of retirement. The longtime principal dancer with Texas Ballet Theater (TBT) will step away from the stage in spring 2025 at the conclusion of her 13th season. Though physically in her prime, she has chosen to pursue choreography full time — a path she’s been paving for years.
Light began her professional dance career with Houston Ballet immediately after high school before joining TBT in 2012. She quickly climbed the ranks to become one of the company’s most esteemed principal dancers, captivating audiences in lead roles across performances of “Swan Lake,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and more.
Currently performing her last run as the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker,” Light will take her final bow this spring after dancing “Giselle.” Rather than approaching these performances with a sense of urgency, she’s found unexpected freedom in finality. With the end in sight, she explains, she has discovered more joy and kindness toward herself in the studio.
This mindset shift mirrors the philosophy Light brings to choreography. In a field historically defined by harsh criticism and rigid power structures, she’s committed to fostering environments where dancers feel safe to take risks. “You’re going to have better results if your dancers feel safe, confident, and not afraid to make mistakes,” she explains.
Light’s choreographic vision is deeply informed by her experiences as a woman in ballet. “I think my work will always surround feminism and the lack of that voice that I saw in dance works,” she explains. While she notes that feminist themes likely won’t be the central theme of all her dances, her perspective as a woman in the ballet world — where female choreographers remain rare — continues to shape her artistic viewpoint.
Light’s choreographic career has already gained impressive momentum. Her work has caught attention from Fort Worth to New York, with commissions from TBT, New York-based
companies, and selective festivals nationwide. She’s even ventured into music video choreography for electronic artists Laura Brehm and Nikonn, garnering over 100,000 views. In 2021, Light partnered with The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth’s manager of film and performing arts programs, Tina Gorski, to launch Dance at the Modern. This free performance series has become a vital platform, not only for her creative endeavors, but also making dance more accessible to Fort Worth audiences.
In February, Light will debut a piece for TBT’s Lamentation Variations as part of the company’s first-ever, all-female-choreographed production. She’s also participating in Dance Canvas, an Atlanta-based career development initiative offering a six-month incubator for emerging choreographers. The new work she creates through the program will premiere in Atlanta in March 2025.
After TBT’s season ends, Light plans to collaborate with local artists before relocating to the East Coast to pursue new choreographic opportunities. “I’m just trying to get a taste of everything,” she says. Having achieved her childhood dreams of dancing almost every principal role she aspired to, she’s ready to pass the torch. “There’s so much beautiful talent out there,” she reflects. “I’m ready to see the next generation of dancers shine.”
BY THE WAY....
What is your favorite role you’ve danced with TBT and why?
“Odette and Odile, the white swan/black swan duo of “Swan Lake,” as well as the Sylvie role in William Forsythe’s “In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated.” Those were both absolute career highlights for me and were super beautiful, challenging, and unique in their own ways.”
What’s your favorite thing about being an artist in Fort Worth?
“Fort Worth has a wonderful scene of young artists and creatives that really take care of each other and are interested in working together. Especially on the musician side! Shout out to my DFW musicians, they are so cool and kind! We also have three world-class museums that I live across the street from — truly can’t be beat.”
1. Light, photographed by Joe Johnson. 2. Photos from the world premiere of Light’s work, “Inimical Architecture,” which was selected for the Battery Dance Festival in NYC. Photo by Steven Pisano. 3. Light, photographed by Joe Johnson. 4. Light coaching her dancers through her work, “Inimical Architecture,” at the Battery Dance studios, NYC. Photo by Paul DuBois. 5. Light partnering with collaborator Philip Perez at the inaugural Jacob’s Pillow ChoreoTech Lab. 6. Light and her dancers post-performance of “Ode” for Dance at the Modern.
Photo by Joe Johnson. 7. Light and her on-stage partner Valentin Batista before her last Cinderella performance with Texas Ballet Theater.
Bonnie Thompson Smith
Fort Worth’s stylist for the stars shows us some of her own impressive threads.
By Brian Kendall Photos by Darah Hubbard
One can’t overstate the power and importance of what we choose to wear. Our clothing is our presentation, our first impression, and our most obvious form of expression. We are all our own stylists, to an extent, but not all stylists are created equal — some might need a little assistance.
This is where Bonnie Thompson Smith, founder of boutique wardrobe service The SWB Agency, comes in.
Smith’s first encounter with styling came in 2005 while working in the designer jeans department at Neiman Marcus, a job she secured after dropping out of college at UTA.
“It was a way to play with clothes, not knowing what I wanted to do with my life,” Smith says of the experience. “And I quickly fell in love with it. I’m a retail girl at heart.”
She would become a master of denim, figuring out “every single pair of denim and how to put it on the right body” and quickly realized her knack for styling — understanding the wardrobe needs of a person and applying the art of mixing and matching. And Fort Worth took notice.
“I’m a 21-year-old college dropout, and there are these very high society women in Fort Worth, many of whom I’m still dressing,
coming into Neiman’s and asking, ‘Is Bonnie here?’ I just started dressing people head to toe.”
Today, The SWB Agency is a full-service fashion agency with multiple employees that offers services in styling, editorial, and closet design. In January, the agency launched an app that allows clients to download pictures of items they own to receive virtual feedback from a stylist on how to wear it.
Such a background no doubt left us with high expectations when we were invited to raid Smith’s closet. And, we gotta say, she didn’t disappoint.
She would climb the ladder at Neiman Marcus, becoming a personal shopper, before starting her own business as a personal stylist in 2009. At the time, she was filling a void in Cowtown — no one west of Dallas was doing this. Her clientele would grow, and she would eventually secure over 50 nonexclusive contracts with brands that include Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Valentino — all the big ones. According to Smith, this means she gets to cherry-pick from these brands and bring items of clothing to a client’s house on loan, allowing a client to shop from her curated selections.
Opposite Page
Cardigan: Sandro
Jeans: Alice &Olivia
Shoes: Dior
Bag: Fendi
Style Tips:
“Play with proportions and textures. I like a good balance — if you have a masculine piece, pair it with a feminine piece. For guys, I love opposing two strong colors. So if you’re used to wearing a blue jacket with a blue shirt, try a black jacket with a blue shirt. Give yourself contrast. I feel like high contrast has a stronger presence. Also, keep your stuff organized. Keep your clothing with like pieces. Keep your long sleeve shirts together, your denim together. Keep things where you’re able to easily find it and you’re easily able to see it. If you don’t see it, you won’t wear it. If it’s folded, you’re not going to wear it. It needs to be on a hanger. And, finally, try before you buy.”
Boots: Miron Crosby Brooke in Creame
Jewelry: Hermes and Customs with Terry Parent
Bag: Dior, Lady Dior
Left
Top: Vintage Saint Laurent
Jeans: Frame, The Jetset
Fashion Tips:
“Careful with your trends. Fashion trends come out every season, and the older we get, the more of them we’ve seen come and go. There is an expiration on all of it. I think a lot of people want to conquer a trend, and they really so badly want to be in on it, but it’s not necessarily something everyone should embrace. If you don’t feel like your authentic self wearing something, just leave it alone. And, second, just be different. You should take your own risk. The hardest stuff I run into is everybody wanting to look like their friends. And that’s hard. I know that not everybody can be completely unique. We only have so much collection and product to buy, but you have to put your own stamp on it.”
Top: Akris
Shorts: Alice & Olivia
Tights: Chanel
Boots: Stuart Weitzman
Bag: Valentino
Blazer:
Top: Commando
Jeans: Agolde
Bag: Vintage Chanel
Shoes: Saint Laurent
Luggage : Monos
Above
Saint Laurent
by
By Brian Kendall
Cowboy Clothiers
An award-winning actor (Eric Nelsen) and a former
Air
Force pilot (Ryan Dukes) team up to problem-solve men’s Western wear.
As far as Fort Worth is concerned, Western wear is not a trend or a fleeting fashion fad. No, sir. Western wear is one with the city’s culture, rooted deep in its natural aesthetic. But, for men, the items that comprise Western — pearl snaps, jeans, boots, etc. — have a problem.
Western wear needs a little fixing.
“There’s just a lack of identity,” says Ryan Dukes, co-founder of Stockyards Supply Co. “We go to the rodeo, and I look like I got lost in the golf shop. I’m wearing nice wedding boots and my favorite pair of wranglers, but there’s nothing interesting about it.”
Dukes, along with actor Eric Nelsen, whom you might know from a little show called “1883,” took their mutual love of Fort Worth and Western culture and set out to fix the problem. The solution, Stockyard Supply Co, is an urban Western luxury clothing brand that recently kicked off an ecommerce site.
“We’re calling it a lifestyle retail brand,” Dukes says. “This isn’t just a
logo on a shirt, this is a way of life. Our goal is for you to put our vest on and feel like you own the ranch.”
Nelsen and Dukes, on the surface, might seem like an odd pairing. With an impressive IMDB, Nelsen has achieved success as both an actor in television and film, and as an actor and producer on Broadway, he received a 2020 Tony Award for producing “The Inheritance.” Dukes, on the other hand, “cut his hair short for 11 years” when he attended the United States Air Force Academy and subsequently flew heavies (C-130s), even doing a tour in Afghanistan. He then became a serial entrepreneur, starting an oil and gas company and a nutrition brand called Taylor Dukes Wellness with his wife. Stockyard Supply Co’s clothing matches this duality.
Offering pearl snaps, diamond quilted vests, caps, and a handsome canvas bomber jacket, the clothing appears striking yet comfortable and classic yet fashion-forward. They’re items one could pair just as easily with
a little dirt and sweat as one could with alligator boots and a bolo.
“Everything you see here is duality,” Dukes says. “It’s the paradox of grit and reward.”
Of this duality, the pearl snap button-down is a perfect example. The shirts are 90/10 polyester spandex, so there’s stretch and give. Taking additional cues from active wear, they also include netting to increase breathability. On the flip side, the pearl snaps themselves are textured and high quality. As Dukes puts it, “not that super bright, plasticky-looking standard pearl snap.”
One problem these shirts address is the difficulty when rolling up sleeves — some shirts just don’t cuff well. “I wear more Poncho shirts than anybody,” Nelsen says. “You roll the sleeves up, and they don’t stay. With our shirts, if you cuff ‘em, the sleeves are staying. They’re a little sturdier.”
Nelsen and Dukes first met at a Stock Show charity event. Despite their differences, they soon learned they had more in common than their Florida upbringings.
“We both married girls from Fort Worth, Texas, so we immediately hit it off,” Nelsen says. “We became really good friends because we shared this mutual, devout love for Fort Worth and just started chatting a lot.”
Nelsen says a clothing company was something he had always wanted to pursue, but his busy acting career meant limited time. So, he was shocked and plum pleased when Dukes came to him, unsolicited, with the idea of Stockyard Supply Co. “I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me. This is exactly what I want to be doing.”
Ensuring things don’t get stale, the two have plans to roll out a spring line and subsequent specialty lines after. But regardless of what they produce, there’s a sense it’s all an homage to their favorite city.
“Fort Worth has been so amazing to me and to our families,” Nelsen says, “and it’s kind of our way of giving back and bringing [the city] something we can be proud of.”
Photos by
Richard Rodriguez
by Shilo Urban
Marshall, Texas
Population: 23,641
The first telegraph line, department store, and flash of electric light in Texas arrived not in Houston or San Antonio but in Marshall, located 20 miles from the Louisiana border. Established in 1841, Marshall soon became the seat of Harrison County and grew into a wealthy hub for the cotton industry. By 1850, it was the fourth-largest city in Texas. It also welcomed one of the first railroads in the state and was a stop on several major stagecoach lines. You can still follow the narrow dirt roads where the stagecoaches traveled, which are cut deep down into the earth — up to 12 feet below the base of trees at some points. Unfortunately, with cotton planta-
tions came slavery. Harrison County was home to the highest number of enslaved people in any county in Texas, almost 9,000 people or 60% of residents. It’s a troubling statistic and a difficult legacy for Marshall to deal with — but this substantial Black population also led to the town’s outsized significance in African American history.
Many freedmen came to Marshall after the Civil War to settle, attracted by the number of formerly enslaved people already living there. Even more arrived to seek education and enlightenment after the 1873 founding of Wiley College, the first accredited Black college west of the
Mississippi River. Bishop College followed in 1881. Marshall’s New Town Neighborhood grew up around the schools, and a burgeoning Black community birthed businesses, churches, and boogie-woogie music — all despite decades of Jim Crow indignities and vigilante violence. In the 1960s, Marshall’s Black students were a guiding light of the civil rights movement and organized the first sit-in in Texas at the Harrison County Courthouse.
Today, the courthouse square is a stop on the Buard History Trail, which traces the profound evolution of Marshall’s Black community on a self-guided, 90-minute driving tour. You can pick up a trail map inside the courthouse, an elaborate Renaissance Revival masterpiece that’s one of the most impressive — and unique — courthouses in Texas. Its Greekstyle pediment, dramatic arches, and distinctive dome are adorned with almost five million lights during the holidays for Marshall’s signature event: Wonderland of Lights.
One of the largest light festivals in the country (and probably the planet), Wonderland of Lights launches in late November and runs through New Year’s Day. Marshall’s historic downtown and beautiful Victorian mansions are aglow with Hallmark-style magic and copious décor — perfect for gift shopping at boutiques, riding in a horse-drawn carriage, or ice skating under the stars. There’s a vintage carousel for the kids and Santa’s Village with cookie decorating and workshop tours. You’ll find ongoing activities every weekend and most weekday evenings, with special events on Saturdays — like a sip ‘n shop Wassail Walk and an open-air Christmas market.
From the first spark of electricity in the state to the finest holiday lights around, Marshall’s oversized stature in Texas history makes it an intriguing destination to explore.
Downtown Marshall features the Harrison County Courthouse.
The Stagecoach Road
Explore Marshall
Savor: Family-friendly Rueggenbach Brewing Co. recently opened on the courthouse square with an inviting rooftop patio and 14 beers brewed on-site. Nosh on a Bavarian pretzel or German-inspired charcuterie board with smoked sausages and brats. Twisted Pines Winery, south of town, is another newcomer with live weekend music and sparkling wines in a peaceful countryside setting. For oenophiles, dinner at Pazzeria by Pietro’s is a must — the casual Italian restaurant boasts a $250,000 wine cellar. Choose from hundreds of hard-to-find wines as well as classic gems to pair with your rigatoni alla vodka or thick Sicilian pizza. And no trip to Marshall is complete without dinner at The Ginocchio, an elegant dinner restaurant with a one-of-a-kind setting in an 1896 railroad hotel.
Shop: For 120 years, Marshall Pottery turned out glazed stoneware pots, crocks, jugs, bowls, and butter churns with a creamy tan color and signature double blue stripes. Practical and eminently usable, the pottery was found in homes all over Texas. The company closed in 2015, but you can still find the pottery at antique stores like Sisters Art & Vintage and the Weisman Center. Martinez Pottery keeps the local tradition alive with hand-turned pottery in similar styles and the same color scheme. For something to fill your new dishware, drop by Bear Creek Smokehouse to stock up on summer sausage, peppered bacon, and habanero ham. The restaurant slings a mean brisket sandwich, and you can browse Texas-inspired gewgaws and dingle-dangles in the general store. Don’t forget to pet the miniature donkey.
Enjoy: Marshall’s restored Texas & Pacific Railroad depot is an ornate red-brick ode to the golden age of train travel — and it’s where you can still catch the Amtrak north to Chicago (18 hours) or west to Fort Worth (5 hours) and Los Angeles (47 hours). It’s a 10-minute walk from the station to the Michelson Museum of Art, an outstanding body of work by the American impressionist painter Leo Michelson. The fantastic small museum is well worth a stop for art lovers; it also has a robust collection of African masks and antique Chinese opera puppets. There’s even a Matisse!
Snooze: Experience peak B&B amidst the ruffles and floral wallpaper at Wisteria Garden, an 1884 Queen Anne two blocks from the courthouse square. Roseville Bed & Breakfast is 10 miles west of town and features an extended front porch and noteworthy morning meals with cherry cobbler, fresh tomato pie, and biscuits with hot fig preserves. The most updated accommodations are short-term rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo, including apartments and entire homes in town. Marshall also has several funky log cabins for rent and a smattering of three-star chain hotels along Interstate 20.
How to Get There: Do something wild and take Amtrak’s Texas Eagle train, which departs daily from Fort Worth Central Station at 2:18 p.m. and arrives in Marshall at 6:59 p.m. To drive, head east from Fort Worth on Interstate 20 for about 180 miles. Take Exit 614 onto TX-43 heading north and continue for 4 miles, and then turn left onto S. Washington Avenue. The courthouse square is straight ahead in 1 mile. The trip takes a little over 3 hours with no stops.
Memorial City Hall illuminated at night
by John Henry
Craig Goldman Walks the Path of Giants in District 12
In January, Craig Goldman will take his place in the U.S. House of Representatives, joining the legislative body that serves as the voice of the American people.
Goldman will go to the “People’s Chamber” in Washington among the rookie class of the institution’s 435 members and as part of a Republican majority.
One of his first duties upon being sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025, mostly will be ceremonial. On Jan. 6, a joint session will receive and count the votes of the Electoral College, making official the election of Donald Trump as the 47th president.
It is expected to go off without the tongue-wagging theater of, ahem, native sons and stunt performers who interrupted the proceedings the last time Congress took up certification.
Yet, given all the pressing national concerns, not to mention all the dysfunction and volatility that permeate the federal capital, Goldman might do well to follow the counsel of Sam Houston, Texas patron saint, who told his men as they crossed the Buffalo Bayou into the San Jacinto prairie: “Trust in the God of the just and fear not.”
Goldman is also following in the footsteps of giants in the U.S. House from Texas’ District 12, including his immediate predecessor Kay Granger, the first Republican woman from Texas elected to Congress in 1997. Granger is the longest-serving member of the Texas delegation and rose to become the first Republican woman to chair the powerful Appropriations Committee.
“Ross Perot Jr. said it best,” Goldman said, “‘Kay Granger is a living legend.’”
Goldman, who won the seat by defeating Democrat Trey Hunt on Nov. 5 on pro-defense, pro-business dogma, is taking the same path to Washington that many have — through the Texas state House. He won the seat to represent District 97 in 2012. His leadership roles in the chamber included majority leader.
John Nance Garner and Sam Rayburn both arrived in Washington by way of the House in Austin.
Goldman’s only real obstacle to the coveted seat in Washington representing a weighted Republican District 12 was a primary runoff against John O’Shea, who took aim from the far right and a more curious angle of term limits which are at odds with history.
Congressional tenure has been a very good friend to Fort Worth.
Goldman will be the sixth person to represent District 12 in more than 100 years, beginning with Fritz Lanham, who won a special election to succeed James C. Wilson, appointed by President Wilson to the federal bench.
Lanham served from 1919-47. He was dubbed the “father of Fort Worth’s helium plant” for his work in securing for Fort Worth the nation’s only helium producing plant in the 1920s. The federal building downtown is named in Lanham’s honor.
Jim Wright won election in 1954, upsetting Wingate Lucas, Amon Carter’s “private errand boy congressman,” as Wright described him in a public spat with the newspaper pub-
lisher. Wright would eventually rise to Speaker of the House in a 34-plus year career that brought bountiful blessings to Fort Worth industries.
Pete Geren, as Granger’s immediate predecessor, held the seat from 1989-97.
Rather than try to score points with the fringes with populist demagoguery, representatives of District 12 have established a tradition of getting things done for Texas and Fort Worth.
In a speech to the Texas Legislature in the early 1980s, Wright gave some insight into how that happened. It’s in traditional Texas values and virtues, he said, that the Texas delegation was so profoundly effective.
It started, the then-future speaker said, with a time-honored “Texas tradition to place patriotism above partisanship.” He followed by speaking of the Texas virtue of the good of one’s word. Trust.
Thirdly, an all-for-one, one-for-all mentality, which makes “your Texas congressional delegation” the strongest and most effective in Congress.
We don’t always agree on issues, he said, but we do agree on an overriding principal: When a member of the Texas delegation needs help with a project that is vital to his or her district, he has friends.
“And when a matter of policy arises which is clearly in the interest of our state, it has the enthusiastic and undivided backing of the entire delegation.”
Lastly, was a spirit of noblesse oblige, the responsibility of the privileged to act with generosity toward those less fortunate. Such was the example of Sam Houston, Wright said, who gave his enemy, Santa Anna, a reprieve of his life at San Jacinto. There, of course, were also very practical reasons for doing so other than charity.
All of that sounds like a good foundation for beginning what could be another long District 12 career.
Nonetheless, considering the times, Goldman would be wise to follow Houston’s advice about trusting in the God of the just and fearing not.
Just to cover all his bases.
If you’re seeking some holiday gift-giving advice, we suggest checking out the shelves of local retailers and work of local craftsmen. Whether searching for that perfect present for a son, daughter, partner, or pops, Fort Worth has enough options to make the elves of the North Pole green with envy.
*All items can be purchased at the TCU Campus Store, bkstr.com/tcustore For the Horned Frog Homer
(Clockwise from top left)
Pom Wordmark Beanie Frogs Script Sweater Horned Frog Pickleball Paddle Wordmark Football by Nike 15-ounce Spirit Mug Riddell Mini Helmet Holiday-Themed Revolve Tumbler
(Clockwise from top left) Texas Rattlers Picture Book “Venom’s Eight-Second Dream,” shop.texasrattlers.com Magnolia Tag Logo Skateboard Deck, Magnolia Skate Shop, magnoliaskateshop.com Chloe Nutcracker Plush, Bkids, bkidsfortworth.com Akito the Fox Digital Camera, Bkids, bkidsfortworth.com PlanToys Wood Bake Display, The Happy Lark, thehappylark.com Ravensburger Puzzles, The Happy Lark, thehappylark.com “Les Miserable” Tickets for March Performance, Bass Performance Hall, basshall.com City Boots Girls Spa Wrap, Lila and Hayes, lilaandhayes.com For Toddlers, Tykes, and Teens
A spread from Bocca Osteria Romana.
BEST NEW Restaurants
The New York Times hearted our Ethiopian cuisine. Texas Monthly says our barbecue is No. 1 in the state. Michelin just high-fived our birria. Our city’s restaurant scene not only continues to grow, it’s gaining national cred.
By Malcolm Mayhew
Photos by Darah Hubbard, Thanin Viriyaki and Darrell Byers
Come for the barbecue, stay for the carbonara. That sentiment easily sums up Fort Worth’s culinary scene these days. While our city has made impressive strides in expanding its palate over the past few years, we are still a town unapologetically attached to meat — specifically, smoked meat, which has been Fort Worth’s signature dish as long as we can remember.
It’s certainly about time the rest of the world recognizes our world-class barbecue joints. Over the past few years, local and national media outlets, from Texas Monthly to The New York Times, have told the world what we already know: That barbecue doesn’t get any better than places like Goldee’s Bar-B-Q in Fort Worth and Smoke N’ Ash in Arlington, two ’cue restaurants that have won numerous accolades.
Just a few weeks ago, the Michelin Guide — considered by many to be the Bible of restaurant guides — weighed in, honoring Goldee’s, Smoke ‘N Ash, and Panther
City Barbecue with awards that reiterate the impacts they’ve made on Texas cuisine. (Birrieria Y Taqueria Cortez was also among those honored with an award.) None were bestowed with stars — the ultimate Michelin seal of approval — but one might interpret their awards (Goldee’s received Michelin’s Bib Gourmand award for good food at a good price, and the others were “Recommended”) to maybe mean we’re on the right track to star-dom.
But there has always been more to Fort Worth’s restaurant scene than barbecue. Come, tourists, and indulge in Panther City’s brisket elote and Hurtado BBQ’s Texas twinkies — but around the corner, you’ll find exquisite pastas, made by hand; seafood freshly flown in from around the globe; smashburgers worth every calorie and clogged artery; and chilaquiles that’ll send you to the moon.
Which brings us to the topic at hand: Our annual best new restaurant story, a look at the best and most delicious restaurants to open over the past two years in and around Fort Worth. Any restaurateur or chef or server will tell you it hasn’t been easy keeping doors open, and sadly, many restaurants that could have and should have appeared on this list didn’t survive the staffing and supply chain challenges — not to mention a capricious economy — that plagued restaurants near and far.
Other restaurants flourished, finding their footing and their audience with the winning combination of food, drink, and vibe.
Before we unveil our picks for the city’s best new eateries, a note: We usually pen this story every two years. Starting in 2025, it’ll become a yearly feature — a testament to the number of good restaurants that continue to open.
Now, in alphabetical order, our choices for the city’s best new restaurants:
Bocca Osteria Romana
Opened: August 2024
Newly opened on South Main — and hidden down an alley that runs alongside the 411 building — Bocca Osteria Romana is the city’s best new restaurant not just because of what it is (a fantastic place to have a plate of pasta), but because of what it’s not. It’s not flashy, it’s not expensive, there’s not a name-brand chef in the kitchen (although we’ll argue owner/chef
Alessandro Salvatore, who runs the restaurant with his brother, Alfonso, will soon become one). While many of the restaurants that have opened over the past few years have poured money and time and energy into how they look, Bocca depends more on how it feels — and it feels like a neighborhood restaurant, quaint but lively, energetic but not chaotic, cozy yet cool. The food, of course, is dynamite: Mostly everything is made in-house, including the
Brix Barbecue
pastas, which aren’t car crashes of multiple ingredients but simple, made with only two or three ingredients, like the pastas you get in Italy, which, after a trip here, you may never need to visit again.
What to order: Twice-baked lasagna, blue cheese gnocchi, pumpkin sage ravioli, cacio e pepe, carbonara — anything and everything we’ve had has been outstanding. A meal isn’t complete without an order of the freshly made focaccia bread, served straight out of the oven, still piping hot when it hits your table. There are artfully designed salads, too, peppered with fresh fruits, vegetables, and housemade dressings.
Details: 411 S. Main St., instagram.com/boccafortworth/
Brix Barbecue
Opened: August 2023
Fort Worth is definitely enjoying some newfound fame as a barbecue destination, and Brix BBQ is one of the reasons why.
Trevor Sales’ South Main restaurant — a rustic double-decker with rooftop dining and a dog-friendly patio — is certainly steeped in tradition, as he serves expertly smoked brisket, ribs, and housemade sausage, but his ever-changing menu is catapulting the genre forward at a breakneck pace. Every week, it seems, Sales is testing out or introducing new menu items, such as steak frites, smoked chicken corn chowder, a smoked porchetta sandwich, and brisket ragu. Brix is also one of the few ’cue spots in Fort Worth to fully embrace Sunday brunch with items like a monolithic brisket and egg burrito and phenomenal lemon blueberry pancakes topped with burnt ends. Why the heck did it take so long for someone to combine barbecue with pancakes? Brix serves excellent smashburgers too, their patties etched in the perfect amount of crispness and greatness and blanketed in an addicting housemade sauce that should be jarred and sold.
What to order: Barbecue aficionados will find much to love, from the moist brisket, with its wobbly fat that melts away at the touch of your tongue, to the housemade sausage, which jettisons a wild amount of juice and flavor when you bite into it. From that point, work your way around the menu to the burgers and his rotating specials. Those
Cafe Americana
The Crescent Hotel’s The Blue Room
burnt end pancakes, we should reiterate, are a must.
Details: 1012 S. Main St., brixbarbecue.com
Cafe Americana
Opened: March 2024
Arlington’s dining scene, as vast as it is, has lacked in the fine dining department. Cafe Americana is a step in the right direction. Don’t let the modest exterior or remote locale fool you into thinking this high-end, Spanish-inspired restaurant is anything but spectacular. Open the door and you’ll be greeted by walls adorned with vivid art, imaginative craft cocktails, and chef-inspired takes on tapas, paellas, and other staples of Spanish-American cuisine. The restaurant originally featured the handiwork of Fort Worth chef Mark Guatelara, fondly remembered for his Filipino food trailer Ober Here. Following his departure a few months ago, the restaurant now rests in the capable hands of chef Mouhssine “Moose” Benhamacht and Liesl Best, who’ve developed a menu that sticks close to Guatelara’s concept but also incorporates their own style. A quartet of steaks cozy up next to buildyour-own charcuterie boards, fabulous paellas crackling with exotic spices and flavors, and freshly made empanadas. Everything’s meant to share, and the tables are situated so closely together, you’re bound to make new friends, even if they just want you for your food. What to order: Start with some small plates — the charred octopus, for sure, maybe the grilled padron peppers, definitely the potato and carrot stew empanadas. Your meal should also include a paella — we love the seafood rendition, spiked with mussels and shrimp. For entrees, Benhamacht offers four cuts of steaks, ranging in size and price, along with a near-perfect pineapple glazed salmon. Decadent desserts, such as coconut cake, are ridiculously huge — never, ever, ever a bad thing.
Details: 403 E. Main St., Arlington, cafeamericanatx.com
The Crescent Hotel’s The Blue Room
Opened: February 2024
The lavish and luxurious new Crescent Hotel offers several dining options, but its
Dayne’s Craft BBQ
Gusto’s Burger Bar + More
Lola’s Cuban Food
culinary pride and joy is The Blue Room, a restaurant-within-a-restaurant found inside Emilia’s, the hotel’s main in-house restaurant. Designed using a color scheme of blue tones perhaps meant to emulate the ocean, The Blue Room is aimed at wellwalleted diners craving a more intimate and elevated experience than most restaurants offer. Service is highly personal: Servers dote and sweep away crumbs, a sommelier comes by to suggest wines, and chef Preston Paine may even visit your table to see how you liked the dover sole, which is of course fileted tableside, much to the oohs and aahs of guests. There’s an air of exclusivity here that extends to the menu, which is separate from Emilia’s. Smaller in size and specially curated by Paine himself, it typically includes entrees from the land, sea, and air, along with several small dishes where Paine often stretches his legs creatively. When we visited, hors d’oeuvres included a roasted squash tartlet, with caramelized peanuts and pickled mustard seeds, that ranked as one of the best one-bites we’d taken in a while. Caviar service has since been added, and along with big ticket items such as dover sole, you’ll find approachable — and more affordable — options such as seared Peking duck breast. What to order: You don’t go to Vegas just to play the penny slots. You go all in. Approach
The Blue Room with the same philosophy — prepare to spend big and you’ll have fun. Made for two, the dover sole is the dish du jour. It comes with its own show: A server debones the fish tableside. Another showy dish is the rack of lamb, carved next to your table. Apparently, servers here are trained to be fishmongers and butchers. Sure things include light and divine scallops and fresh oysters served with a seasonal mignonette sauce.
Over the past few years, Dayne’s Craft Barbecue has grown from a backyard business for owners Dayne and Ashley Weaver to a food trailer to a full-on brickand-mortar, which the couple opened last year in Aledo, where they found the absolute perfect home for their skillfully
Megu
crafted barbecue. It’s an old building, built about a century ago, with rickety doors and floors that squeal when you walk across them. Best of all, Dayne’s resides right next door to a set of train tracks. Peer out the window or grab a seat on the patio, and you can watch the trains zoom by day and night — the quintessential way to kill time in Texas.
What to order: Of course, the vibe wouldn’t mean squat if the food wasn’t good, but you know it is — there’s usually a long line to get in. That line moves fast, though, as the Weavers now have a full kitchen crew and staff to dish out their robustly smoked brisket, ribs, chicken, and housemade sausage, plus terrific sides such as mac and cheese dusted with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and rotating specials like candy apple pork belly burnt ends. To answer before you even ask: Yes, Dayne’s is serving its popular smashburgers every day they’re open. The restaurant is now serving breakfast, too, with items such as meat-andegg burritos big enough to split.
Details: 100 S. Front St., Aledo, daynescraftbarbecue.com
Gusto’s Burger Bar + More
Opened: October 2023
A Coors Light, tater tots, a burger, and a big patio — that combo has worked wonders for Gusto’s Burger Bar + More, a laid-back spot on the Near Southside that serves some of the city’s best smashburgers. There’s an art to smashing burgers, and owner Jonathan Arguello has mastered it, assembling wonderfully messy burgers made from thin, smashed patties, American cheese, a special sauce, and not much else — not that much else is needed. The flavors are so perfect, you wonder how Arguello gets it right where so many others fail. He’s not afraid to season his patties or pour on the ketchup, if you so desire, and he doesn’t use pale, flimsy veggies for those who want LTO. He uses stuff that looks like it was just plucked from the earth, all color and crunch. Arguello’s graduation from food truck to brick-andmortar has been serendipitous, for sure. His restaurant occupies the same cool bungalow where another great burger joint, the Bearded Lady, once called home. “It was meant to be,” he said to me
Plank Provisions
61 Osteria
Si Tapas
soon after he opened. Most definitely. What to order: Although there are other menu items, you’re going to want a burger. Our go-to is the Backyard Burger, slathered in ketchup and mayo, and piled high with pickles, LTO, bacon, and melty American cheese. Get it with the terrific, thick-cut, appropriately salty fries and, of course, a Coors Light. Details: 1229 Seventh Ave., instagram. com/___gustos/
Lola’s Cuban Food
Opened: April 2023
Cuban food isn’t exactly a cinch to find in Fort Worth, unless you count a few shops that sell Cuban sandwiches. The cuisine’s scarcity in Fort Worth led couple and Cuba expats Miquelin Herrera and Linaim Morin to open a Cuban food truck in 2019. Parked on Henderson near downtown, the truck found its groove and its audience and often sold out in a matter of hours. Bolstered by the success of the truck, the couple opened a brick-and-mortar in 2023 in southwest Fort Worth — a groovy, upbeat spot that has provided a wider swath of Fort Worthians with a much-needed education in the ways of Cuban cuisine.
What to order: When they advanced from truck to brick-and-mortar, they went from a dozen items to 30 or so, some known to casual food-lovers, like empanadas, some that dig a little deeper. A good place to start is the bistec encebollado, a classic Cuban dish made with steak and onions, or the vaca frita, a dish comprised of shredded and fried beef, a rollercoaster of flavors and textures. Served boiled or fried, a side of yucca should accompany every entree, and no meal is complete without one of their specialty coffee drinks and a piece of silky flan.
Who would have thought there’d come a day when Fort Worth would be at the forefront of a vegan movement? But here we are, with a half-dozen vegan restaurants and food trucks, helping pave the way for vegan cuisine in a state known primarily for beef. Opened by Amy McNutt and James Johnston, who
also own Spiral Diner, Maiden is the first vegan restaurant of its kind in Texas: a fine dining/tasting menu concept in which everything served is plant-based. Diners opt for a five- or eight-course seasonal tasting menu or nab a first-come, first-served seat at the stylish bar, which has its own menu with a la carte dishes such as meatless steak frites, baked white cheddar mac and cheese, and char-grilled artichokes. The restaurant also offers “tea time,” in which a large selection of hot and cold teas are served, along with teainfused cocktails and light bites.
What to order: The tasting menu changes with the season. Recent offerings have included Belgian endive and daikon salad, lemongrass grapefruit consommé, apple mille-feuille with buckwheat tartlet, and banana-apple-orange-spiced granita.
Details: 1216 Sixth Ave., maidenvegan.com
Megu
Opened: November 2023
Peter Liang’s upscale, refreshingly unique restaurant in the TCU area has been a quiet sensation since it opened this past winter in the cool, midcentury-mod-style Campus Tower building on University. Megu’s menu is two-in-one, encompassing dishes from both French and Japanese cuisine. Liang’s extensive background in both types of food (he worked in several kitchens in New York and elsewhere before he landed in Texas) led him and a biz partner to open a similar concept in Weatherford, but Liang wanted to fly solo, and that’s when Megu came along. Not only is his menu unique, so is the service: Liang is often a one-man restaurant, handling hosting, serving and cooking duties; on busy nights, a small staff helps out. Few restaurants invite you to interact with the chef like this, which makes for a highly personal — and unforgettable — experience.
What to order: Megu is one of the few Fort Worth restaurants to offer Japanese A5 Wagyu, a richly marbled cut of beef that may very well rank as one of the best things you’ll ever eat. But sushi is Megu’s specialty, and a great way to try much of it is the Love Boat, a gargantuan plethora of rolls and sashimi served in a big, wooden boat.
Details: 3113 S. University Drive, instagram. com/megu_tcu
61 Osteria
Opened: January 2023
Sometimes the best restaurants in Fort Worth are the ones that don’t feel anything like Fort Worth. Either through the decor or food, or both, they take you somewhere else, and for a few hours, you’ll completely forget you’re dining in our city. That’s what you can expect to happen at 61 Osteria, the modern Italian restaurant opened by Adam Jones and Blaine Staniford early last year in west downtown, on the street level of the First on 7th tower. Designed by Fort Worth-based architecture firm Ibañez Shaw Architecture, the restaurant combines design elements that are both modern and midcentury modern. Diners are engulfed by floor-to-ceiling windows, and everywhere you look, there’s something cool to see, whether it’s the rainforest marble wall that separates the dining room from the bar or, hovering above the main dining area, a series of sculptural elements designed to emulate the famous chandelier at the Four Seasons hotel in New York. Beneath, between, behind, there’s something to cool to see. What to order: Pastas, all painstakingly made by hand, are the focal point here, and there are several, such as Mafaldine Cacio e Pepe, a semolina pasta with cracked black pepper and pecorino pepato; Maine lobster gnocchi; serpent tail pasta stuffed with house ricotta cheese, with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, black truffle, and preserved lemon; and tagliatelle bolognese made with braised brisket, veal and pork-based sugo, and topped with aged Parmesan. Details: 500 W. Seventh St., 61osteria.com
Plank Provisions
Opened: October 2023
While we typically seek out local and/ or family-owned restaurants for our annual Best New Restaurants story, we sometimes make an exception for a formidable corporately owned restaurant, and that’s where Plank Provisions comes in. Developed by the same company behind the still-going-strong Blue Sushi, Plank Provisions is a stylish seafood restaurant located in The Shops at Clearfork shopping center. The kitchen is led by a North Texan, executive chef Jake Morgan, who has fresh fish flown in every week, if not
every day. He takes an artistic approach to his food, marrying seemingly dissimilar flavors, then presenting them artfully, often beautifully. Plank is a different vibe than the clubby Blue Sushi. Muted colors abound, giving the space a serene, if not upscale, feel.
What to order: For an appetizer, try any of the sushi rolls or the crispy and slightly spicy redfish ceviche. Entrees include an excellent rendition of fish and chips, made with flash-fried cod and served with dill slaw; nicely blackened catfish; and baja fish tacos wrapped in house-made corn tortillas.
Details: 5289 Marathon Ave., plantprovisions.com
Si Tapas
Opened: January 2024
Many of us gave up hope that West 7th would ever become a haven for good restaurants again; Fireside Pies and Tillman’s seem like an eternity away from the West 7th of today. But strides are being made to bring good restaurants back to the area; Si Tapas is definitely a step toward achieving that goal. Tapas have never found their footing in Fort Worth, but maybe that’s because Ildefonso Jimenez wasn’t making them for us. Jimenez staked his claim years ago in the field of tapas, perfecting them at Dallas’ Cafe Madrid. Here in Fort Worth, where he has opened the second location of the Dallas-born Si Tapas, he serves beautifully crafted small plates like serrano ham croquettes and fried pork belly with chocolate sauce in the old Fireside space, which still retains its sepia tone, romantic charm, and old-world feel.
What to order: The menu is absolutely huge, filled with plates both large and small. We suggest getting a little bit of everything, including the Spanish potato omlette and grilled baby lamb chops.
Details: 2949 Crockett St., sitapas.com
Teddy Wongs Dumplings & Wine
Opened: October 2023
Through pop-ups, cooking classes, caterings and word of mouth, local dumpling aficionados Hao Tran and Dixya Bhattarai helped popularize Chinese dumplings in Fort Worth, opening the door for Teddy
TeddyDumplingsWongs & Wine
Tesoro
photo by Crystal Wise
Wongs, which has given them a touch of class. A spinoff of a similar concept in Addison called Bushi Bushi Dim Sum, Teddy Wongs comes from New York chef Patrick Ru and Jeffrey Yarbrough, a Fort Worth native, hospitality industry veteran, and commercial real estate broker. Together, they’ve created a restaurant, in what was once a gas station, that is both high-end and super-casual. Night-onthe-towners sit side by side, amid black tablecloths and clinking wine glasses, with folks in jeans and shorts and Toadies T-shirts. All come together for the restaurant’s signature item: dumplings, of which there are more than a dozen varieties, all made by hand. Elsewhere on the menu, there are Chinese classics such as kung pao shrimp, orange chicken, and various fried rice dishes, along with the less common (or less common in Fort Worth, at least) Peking duck, served half or whole. An extensive wine list features bottles from most corners of the world; there’s also a small but mightly sake list, too. What to order: Xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, which come in two flavors: pork or a mix of crab and pork. They’re served in a round bamboo basket to keep them warm. The restaurant recently added two new must-trys: lobster dumplings and Wagyu potstickers.
Details: 812 W. Rosedale St., teddywongs. com
Tesoro
Opened: October 2023
Tesoro is a wholeheartedly unique, family-run Mexican restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch only, that specializes in a dish that doesn’t get nearly the love it should: chilaquiles, the Mexican breakfast staple made with eggs and fried tortillas. While most Mexican restaurants that serve this dish only serve it one way, Tesoro offers a half-dozen renditions, with various toppings and salsas. Elsewhere on the Camarillo family’s menu, you’ll find other unusual offerings, including pancakes topped with strawberry and chocolate syrup and Gansito candy, and a breakfast burger topped with bacon and eggs. There are no chips and salsa, enchiladas or other Tex Mex mainstays — it’s not that type of place. And what a
breath of fresh air that is. Most likely, there will be a wait, as the dining room barely stretches to 400 feet (there’s more legroom on the festively decorated patio). It’s not a restaurant for everybody, but its uniqueness makes it stand out among our city’s crowded Mex Mex and Tex Mex scene. What to order: The restaurant’s signature dish, chilaquiles. The OG version is made with green and red salsas and topped with pulled chicken is outstanding. Those into the birria craze will love the birriaquiles, a plate of crispy tortilla chips topped with birria beef stew, salsa, beans, cheese, sour cream, and cilantro. Details: 2919 Race St., instagram.com/tesoromexican
Walloon’s
Opened: July 2023
Last on our list (its name does begin with a “W,” after all) but first on our minds when it comes to fine dining on the Near Southside, Marcus Paslay’s lively seafoodand-then-some restaurant is barely a year old, but with its neighborhood-spot charm, it feels like it’s been here forever. Perched on the corner of Magnolia and Hemphill, inside the historic LaCava building, it’s the fourth restaurant in Paslay’s small empire of eateries and, like his others, it has a style all its own. The cozy bistro-inspired tables, situated within arm’s distance of one another, conjure a New York state of mind, while the rollicking bar is straight out of New Orleans. Paslay describes the menu as his love-letter to the food of New Orleans, Chicago, and the Gulf Coast, so expect a seafood-first philosophy, along with some cool surprises, like an excellent Italian beef.
What to order: There are plenty of seafood options, and to sample many of them, splurge for the impressive seafood tower, jammed with poached shrimp, cold-water oysters and tuna crudo. Piled with thinly sliced, braised sirloin and crowned with crunchy and spicy giardiniera, the Italian beef is a fun and flavorful ode to the Chicago staple. Redfish is another must-try, its skin expertly seared, its texture appropriately buttery and smooth. Appetizers include oysters Rockefeller, steak tartare, French onion dip, Louisiana BBQ shrimp, and deviled eggs.
Details: 701 W. Magnolia Ave., walloonsrestaurant.com
Walloon’s
Our stage is set for Cowtown and the surrounding region, 1919 et seq Fort Worth, that is, in the midst of a rambunctious industrial surge that would give rise as readily to criminal mischief as to honest enterprise.
Our protagonist is an honest and handshake-trusting livestock entrepreneur of the Texas Plains, as naive as he is ambitious. Too smart to dismiss as some honyock from the boondocks, the fellow is nonetheless seen in such a light by the greedy, grinning speculators who would sucker him into an investment scam. His ability to play the rube, the clodhopper hick-from-the-sticks, will serve him well, but only after he realizes he has been bilked, bigtime — and sets out on a vigilante quest of five relentless years.
But we are getting ahead of the game, and no fair spilling the outcome before J. Franklin Norfleet has had his say in the matter. Norfleet (1865-1967) is one of the great legends, strange but truer than strange, a figure of mythological caliber who had sensed something that smelled a whole lot like easy money and followed the scent straightaway into a trap. He crawled, indignant and angry, out of that sucker-money pitfall — and then set out to sucker-bait his very tormentors into a vengeful snare. Cost him even more than his initial loss, yes, it did, but Norfleet and his wife adjusted from prosperity to humble circumstances for the long balance of his mortal span. His bizarre adventure seems to have been its own reward.
I was working in 1970 as an intern with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society at Canyon, Texas, when Dr. H.D. Bugbee, curator of that outfit’s Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, suggested that story of Norfleet, by then recently deceased, could use some empirical research — elaborating upon, or tempering, Franklin Norfleet’s patently self-interested memoir of the 1920s.
With two credentialed historians, George E. Turner and Jerry Sinise of Southwest Heritage Magazine, I found abundant primarysource materials. The three of us set out to tell the fuller story, as gleaned from a basis in police and prison records, newspaper accounts, Norfleet’s vivid recollections, and the scenario of a never-completed motion picture called “Norfleet,” from 1929. Beyond its addition to the archives of the Panhandle-Plains Museum, our research found its way as a collaborative manuscript into Sinise’s anthology of Texana, Pink Higgins, the Reluctant Gunfighter, and Other Tales of the Panhandle (Nortex Press; 1973).
Becoming Norfleet
The Norfleet identity dates from two ancestral brothers who had sailed with Scotland’s North Fleet to America during the 17th century. Sailed, that is, until a shipwreck left only the brothers surviving, washed ashore on the coast of Virginia. The English colonists called them the Nor’fleet Boys, streamlined to Norfleet.
We can skip over a great deal of the rest, for the clan remained in Virginia until midway through the 19th century. First descendant to settle in Texas was Jasper Norfleet, who landed in Lampasas County in 1864 after a hitch in uniformed combat with the Confederate Army. J. Franklin Norfleet was born the following year to Jasper and Mary Ann Norfleet. Jasper, a rehabilitated Confederate who became a Texas Ranger, sought to develop a ranch near Fort Concho, a site plagued with chronic-to-acute wars between settlers and the indigenous Apaches, who of course had prior claim. The Norfleets found a more stable start at San Saba.
As a youngster, Franklin, or Frank, worked the dwindling buffalo ranges of the North Plains, collecting and preserving hides from an already endangered species. He exterminated coyotes
by Abda Laka
for various ranches, becoming a cowhand in the process and working along trail drives across Texas. By 1886, Norfleet was working for the Snyder Bros. Cattle Co., which held lands from Austin to the Panhandle region, and helped to bring herds totaling 5,000 head from San Saba to open range between New Mexico and Littlefield, Texas. That June, Norfleet was left in charge of the cattle, a remuda of saddle horses, and uncounted, unfenced acres. His home base became Epworth, Texas — first post office settlement in Hale County — now known as Hale Center, near Plainview.
When the Snyder Bros.’ land changed hands in 1888 to the ownership of barbed-wire manufacturer Isaac Elwood, Norfleet became foreman of the resulting Spade Ranch. He built an adobe headquarters and fenced the property, adding windmills for irrigation and livestock — meanwhile buying adjacent land that eventually totaled 20,000 acres. Norfleet cultivated a forbidding, bewhiskered appearance, the better to discourage outlaws and interlopers, until 1894 when he married Mattie Eliza Hudgins, daughter of Hale County settlers. The Norfleets took up residence at the Spade Ranch headquarters. Two of their four offspring died in childhood; the others lived well into the 20th century.
Frank Norfleet became an independent rancher. He bought a footsore, underfed mare for five bucks from itinerant cowhands and nourished the creature to a ranch-worthy state. From this horse sprang Norfleet’s fabled Five-Dollar Strain, which became famous in the Panhandle-Plains area as the fastest cattle-working ponies in the industry. Norfleet cultivated a new image as a hospitable sort, as generous as he was prosperous. It was during this period that Norfleet encountered the Joe Furey mob, whose stocks-and-bonds scammers would engineer his financial wreckage.
Mule-Headed
tract from Capt. Dick Slaughter. Capt. Slaughter failed to keep the appointment at the St. George Hotel; had he been there as planned, Norfleet’s story might have turned out differently.
Norfleet was a gregarious fellow: “My particular knack for starting conversations with strangers is the despair of relatives and friends who would have me more conventional,” he said. While waiting for Slaughter to return to Dallas, Norfleet struck up a conversation with a man who professed to be a mule buyer from Hill County. The guy called himself R. Miller. Said Norfleet: “He could talk mules so well that never once did I suspect him of being a pretender.”
Norfleet declared his intention to sell his ranch in Hale County and buy a larger piece of land. Miller happened to have a friend who was looking for land in Texas. Said Miller, “Maybe he would be interested in your place.”
As if on cue, the purported friend walked past them in the hotel lobby, and Miller (an assumed name, alias Hamlin) introduced him to Norfleet.
“They talked for a moment, and then Hamlin motioned me over, where I was introduced to W.B. Spencer.”
Spencer, a dapper but seemingly aloof chap, gradually developed an interest in Norfleet’s land and said he would wire his employer in Minneapolis to ask about an acquisition. Norfleet became convinced — that is, hooked, with scarcely a doubt.
Spencer’s boss was due in Dallas. Norfleet and Spencer were waiting in chairs in the lobby of the Adolphus Hotel. Norfleet felt a lump in his chair, reached behind himself, and found a wallet. Therein, Norfleet found a Masonic Lodge card bearing the name of J.B. Stetson; $240 in greenbacks; a $100,000 bond, payable to McLean & Co.; a letter in some cryptic code; and a card listing Stetson as a member of United Brokers. The name was another ruse: The alleged J.B. Stetson (no kin to the prominent manufacturer of manly headwear) was an alias for one Joe Furey, and Spencer was an accomplice.
A sideline in mule breeding kept Norfleet traveling at intervals. “It was with a carload of mules,” he wrote in a memoir, “that I had taken to Dublin, Texas, that my story begins.” Once the beasts had been delivered to an oil-boom site at Dublin, Norfleet traveled to Dallas. There, he intended to purchase a 10,000-acre
Norfleet determined that Stetson was a guest at the Adolphus. Norfleet and Spencer approached Stetson’s suite to ask if he had mislaid anything. Stetson, or Furey, a gruff and stocky sort, barely cracked the door — replied, “No!” — and slammed the door. As Norfleet and Spencer started toward the elevator, Stetson came running after them, shouting that he had lost a
J. Frank Norfleet
valuable pocketbook. Norfleet asked for a description, then handed the billfold to Stetson. Stetson, profuse in a show of gratitude, offered Norfleet a $100 reward, which Norfleet rejected. Spencer took a $100 offer, feigning no prior acquaintanceship with Stetson.
Stetson regarded the coded letter. “I’m mighty glad to get this back,” he said, and went through the motions of deciphering the paper. Stetson told Norfleet and Spencer to stay parked in the suite while he visited the Stock Exchange Building. Stetson returned presently and announced that he had withdrawn $20,000, then asked Norfleet: “My brother, you refused to accept the hundred dollars I offered you for finding my pocketbook. Would you mind my placing that amount on the market, and would you accept whatever it might earn?”
Baiting the Hook
wife,” wrote Norfleet, “for we felt that I had undertaken a great deal in promising to pay $90,000 in 45 days.” The hook sunk deeper.
Norfleet borrowed $20,000 from Farmers & Mercantile Bank in Plainview, and he and Spencer headed back to Dallas. They met Ward on the train. While awaiting a conference with Stetson at Dallas’ Cadillac Hotel, Norfleet received a call from Fort Worth: Stetson had relocated to the Fort Worth Cotton Exchange. Norfleet and Spencer met Stetson at Fort Worth’s Westbrook Hotel. The three gathered the next day at the Cotton Exchange.
Stetson was busy as usual at deciphering coded messages, which he said contained orders to sell Mexican Petroleum on a two-point margin: “He suggested that we climb aboard and make something for ourselves,” said Norfleet. “Accordingly, he wrote out a bidding slip and handed it to Spencer.”
Norfleet had no objection. Spencer asked Stetson to invest his $100, likewise. Stetson left again, returned again, and gave Norfleet and Spencer $800 each. They agreed to meet again the next day. The cash was the come-on. Then, Norfleet said, “Stetson took me to the Dallas Cotton Exchange Building... I later learned that it was a custom of the swindlers to [impress their prospect] with the name of a legitimate exchange... They staged their play carefully... Stetson’s credentials gave him the appearance of a gilt-edged standing.”
Norfleet was unwelcome on the exchange floor, not being a member, and Stetson suggested he wait at the hotel with Spencer. Norfleet became leery, but Spencer reassured him until Stetson rejoined them, persuading Norfleet to drop his newfound $800 on a bid. Spencer ran that errand, returning with cash earnings of $68,000 and forking over a $28,000 share to Norfleet.
A new arrival, E.J. Ward, introduced himself as an Exchange honcho and demanded that Norfleet and Spencer establish their credit to the coincidental tune of $68,000.
Norfleet prepared to head homeward to Hale Center to fetch $20,000 in cash to confirm his Exchange membership. No sooner had he packed to leave Dallas, than Capt. Dick Slaughter arrived, offering a 45-day option for $5,000 on 10,000 acres. Norfleet was to pay a balance of $90,000 at the end of the option period. (Slaughter was not associated with any stock-exchange scams.)
Spencer accompanied Norfleet back to Hale Center. In a seeming coincidence, Ward — the fake Exchange official — was taking the same train to Plainview. Spencer waxed ecstatic upon viewing Norfleet’s ranch, surveying it as a legitimate land buyer would. Norfleet was asking $102,600 for his ranch, and Spencer said his employer would pay. “This greatly pleased me and my
Spencer took the money thus raised, the due bill for $68,000, and the bid, and left for the Exchange. Stetson left presently. Spencer returned, looking pleased with himself. Norfleet noticed on a receipt that Spencer had bought Mexican Petroleum instead of selling. Stetson barged into the room, demanding to know what had gone awry: “Someone bought exactly the amount I had instructed to sell!” Spencer showed him the receipt.
“Why, you’ve ruined us!” Stetson raged. Spencer collapsed in a seizure of weeping hysterics — convincingly staged. Stetson rushed out, saying he would try to hedge the deal with a selling gambit. He returned with an official-looking order to sell $80,000 worth of Mexican Petroleum at a two-point margin. The men settled in to await results.
As if on cue, a fourth member of the Furey-as-Stetson gang arrived: Charles Gerber claimed to be the secretary of the Fort Worth Exchange. He said that Norfleet, Spencer, and Stetson had earned $160,000. He demanded that they must sock $80,000 into a downtown bank to prove their solvency.
Back to Hale Center
Norfleet headed back home to secure an additional $25,000, his part of the $80,000. His wife balked, but he proceeded to the bank in Plainview, where his reapplication was refused. Norfleet borrowed the sum from a brother-in-law. Back in Fort Worth, Norfleet found that Stetson had retrenched at the Dallas Exchange. Of the $80,000, only $70,000 had been raised (so Stetson allowed).
“It was agreed that Spencer should leave for Austin to raise the $10,000 and wire the amount to me... Stetson and I were to affirm our bids and collect the $160,000 from the Exchange...”
Mattie and J. Frank Norfleet
Stetson pocketed the $70,000 and agreed to meet Norfleet at the Cadillac Hotel in Dallas the next day. Stetson never showed, nor did Spencer return. Norfleet’s $45,000 had been plucked like feathers from a scalded chicken.
Norfleet’s indignation became obsessive: “Forty-five thousand dollars gone!” he repeated his wavering thoughts, from fear to near-madness. “Ninety-thousand dollars in debt! Fifty-four years old!” Regaining his composure, he ditched the remorse and selfpity and swore to track down the culprits. He told his family: “This is a big old world, but it is entirely too small for me and those crooks to live together on it in peace.” Mrs. Norfleet bade him to hup to it — she would attend to the ranching business. She cautioned him to “bring them back alive,” adding, “Any fool can kill.”
Norfleet’s first move was to invade his own privacy with statements to the Associated Press and as many newspapers as would publish his warnings. The public appeal prompted responsive letters from across the continent, many containing practical information. Mrs. Norfleet pointed him by chance to E.J. Ward and Charles Gerber. She recalled that Spencer, while visiting the ranch, had mentioned connections in every state but California: “I counted up all the states he had mentioned..., and California was the only one he had neglected. Strike you at all funny?”
It did strike Norfleet as funny, but not ha-ha funny, and he began his search at San Bernardino, reasoning, “Might as well start from the bottom of California and work up.” There, as if by chance, he found Ward and Gerber, and Christmas Eve of 1919 found them locked away in the San Bernardino Jail on accusations from Norfleet and another victimized Texan who had read Norfleet’s newspaper interviews. Ward croaked himself in jail. Gerber received a long prison sentence.
board of ever-shifting numerical figures. While there, the pair received a cryptic note and appeared to see through Norfleet’s disguise. They threatened him accordingly, but he got the drop on them and escaped, taking his would-be assailants as temporary hostages until he could board an outbound train. The two never had sensed that their easy mark would be packing twin .45-calibre Colts.
Norfleet had taken the note from his captives. It read: “That is Norfleet. Don’t let him get started... He’ll kill every damned one of you. Don’t let him get away, boys... — [signed] Joe.” Fureyalias-Stetson had spotted him but proved too fearful to make an approach in person.
Ranging the length and breadth of Florida and veering into Cuba, Norfleet lost Furey’s trail but found and then lost traces of Spencer. Norfleet returned to Hale Center to find a telegram from Fort Worth announcing the arrest of Hamlin, the purported mule-flesh customer.
Three Down, Two To Go
Norfleet had purchased 300 head of standard-bred cattle for $50 a head, and he sold these at a chumpchange $23.75 a head to finance his remaining pursuit. He justified the loss as a righteous investment — a typical example of his neglectful business losses, from which he never recovered.
Norfleet trailed Spencer to Florida. Norfleet’s vigilante campaign found him alternating disguises — full-bearded, here, clean-shaven, there, sometimes sporting a jaunty cap in place of his usual cowboy hat, adding a bucktoothed overbite appliance when he wanted to appear as an ignorant rube. The backwoodshick pose nearly got him killed in Florida.
Traveling now under the assumed name of Parkinson, Norfleet got himself spotted as an easy mark by another stock-syndicate huckster in Tampa. Norfleet bandied it about that he had $50,000 to invest in a celery farm, and the scout (who introduced himself by the name of Johnson) proposed instead a market investment, also suggesting a horse-betting racket. Johnson and an accomplice named Steel escorted Norfleet to a mock-exchange building, which contained a clacking telegraph wire and a black-
Furey’s trail ranged from San Antonio to San Francisco to an established residence in Los Angeles. Here, Norfleet met two compromised deputy sheriffs, Walter Lips and Andy Anderson, who had strongarmed a bribe to watch the Furey household in anticipation of Norfleet’s arrival late in 1920. Norfleet had encountered similar corruption in Florida — but in L.A., Lips and Anderson carried out the deceit to a greater degree. They pretended to be poised to arrest Furey, repeatedly reporting that Furey had not appeared, but spiking Norfleet’s suspicions by insisting that he stay away from the address. Although Norfleet had been granted a Texas Rangers token commission with the power to arrest, he nonetheless lacked such authority as Lips and Anderson displayed.
Other leads sent Norfleet to Tijuana, Mexico, then to San Diego. The hottest tip led Norfleet to Jacksonville, Florida — from which Furey had wired a large sum of money to his wife in Los Angeles. Norfleet arranged with the L.A. telegraph office to call him if any other such wire should come through. Thus alerted, Norfleet caught a train to Florida. He stopped off at Littlefield, Texas, and traveled back to Hale Center before resuming the journey to Florida.
Arriving at home, Norfleet found his wife had sold a favorite
horse, called Hornet, for a paltry $75. (Hornet had attracted earlier offers as high as $350.) Disheartened at this development but still welcoming the cash to advance his pursuit, Norfleet heeded his wife’s insistence that he would need a helper in Florida. He took along their son, Pete.
In the lobby of Jacksonville’s Mason Hotel, Pete Norfleet spotted Furey. The Norfleets trailed the racketeer to a café. Furey, sighting his nemesis, set up a holler that Norfleet was trying to rob him. Several panicked patrons closed in on Norfleet while Furey took the nearest exit. Pete, waiting outside, nabbed Furey at gunpoint. The Norfleets hustled Furey to the hoosegow, but a crooked policeman tried to free Furey with a forged bond form. Norfleet countered by displaying a formal warrant for Furey’s arrest.
Resisting Furey’s attempts to escape while en route to Fort Worth, Norfleet listened to the charlatan’s story of his own shakedown by deputies Lips and Anderson: “They demanded $20,000 [for protection],” as Norfleet quoted Furey. “We couldn’t dig up that much.” Furey’s wife had given them $12,000. They had held Furey’s son as a hostage until Furey’s bank account yielded an additional $8,000.
Lips and Anderson, arrested in Los Angeles, landed 14 years’ residence, each, in San Quentin. Furey was sentenced to 20 years in the penitentiary at Huntsville, Texas. (As late as 1924, Norfleet found himself arguing against a parole for Lips.)
Spencer-at-Large and Growing Larger
alike. A wire awaiting Norfleet in Fort Worth claimed Spencer had been nabbed in Utah.
Confronted by Norfleet in Salt Lake City, the jailed man gave his name as A.B. Hunt. Norfleet said, “Well, you’ll do me for Spencer.” A purported wife of the captive gave another name, Mildred and Charlie Harris. Norfleet said, “Well, Mildred, he’ll do me for Spencer.”
Spencer finally fessed up to his right name. He turned to his Salt Lake jailer, pointed to Norfleet, and said: “That man can be in the way more than any other damned man in the world. He always comes along at the right minute for himself and the wrong minute for me.” Then, to Norfleet: “We beat you the first time, but you have beaten us all the other times. Well, what’s the use?”
Spencer landed in prison at Leavenworth, then at Huntsville. Furey died in the Huntsville lockup.
While narrowing his focus to instigator W.B. Spencer, Norfleet learned that Hamlin had jumped bail. Hamlin was recaptured in Oklahoma City and returned to Fort Worth for trial and eventual conviction. A tip steered Norfleet onto Spencer’s flight to Canada. In Montreal, Norfleet and his son nabbed Spencer — who escaped anew and led his pursuers a quicksilver chase through New York, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and finally Colorado.
Posing as a small-town Texan named Mulligan, Norfleet let it be known in Denver that he was expecting an oil strike on his acreage — a case of the sucker suckering the confidence racketeers. A nine-week sting operation with the Denver District Attorney’s office would cast a broader net than Norfleet had intended — but it cracked a phony stock-exchange racket — and pointed to the whereabouts of W.B. Spencer.
Spencer lit a shuck out of Denver, leaving a suitcase at the Empire Hotel. Clues from the baggage launched a new crosscountry chase. Spencer, now traveling under the alias of William Percy Hurd, eluded the police in Montreal and headed back to Texas, or so it seemed. In Mineral Wells, a quarry approximating Spencer’s description was dismissed by Norfleet as a mere look-
Winnings amidst the Losses
Norfleet called the score accomplished, even though he had spent $75,000 out-of-pocket in chasing down the antagonists who had bamboozled him out of $45,000. Not to mention that he had exposed at least 75 others in various confidence rings.
Norfleet was asked many times to hunt down other bunco racketeers, but he had enjoyed as much as he could tolerate of that taxing sideline. He had neglected his personal affairs, and he was obliged to dispose of practically all his holdings to pay off the creditors. He had enough remaining for himself and his wife to live on the bare essentials. He wrote the memoir, published as Norfleet — but found himself tempted by vanity to become a motion-picture actor.
A film producer known as Otto Backer launched Norfleet Productions and cast Norfleet as himself in an empty-promise “Norfleet” movie. The director was a fellow who represented himself as a relative of the established silent-screen filmmaker
D.W. Griffith. Location-shooting in New York City and a New Jersey nightclub, July through October of 1929, yielded seven reels (an hour-and-change) — considered to be lost footage, although still photographs survive — before the money ran out. Norfleet had invested in the pie-in-the-sky venture. Ripped off again, though with stories enough to fill a lifetime of adventurous reminiscences.
Franklin Norfleet had narrowed his circle of enemies to his quarry, all duly dispensed with. He had made many friends during the chase. He had found corruption and honesty, bigotry, and understanding, and although his trusting nature had been jarred by the fleecing, he seems never to have lost confidence in humanity at large. He died at 102 on Oct. 15, 1967.
WINSTEAD – FORT WORTH OFFICE
Winstead is deeply rooted in Fort Worth. More than just an office location, this city is our home. Our attorneys actively contribute to the community’s growth and prosperity through their leadership and volunteer service. Our team is dedicated to building collaborative relationships with our clients. We work closely with them to help achieve their goals in key industries, such as real estate, financial services, investment management and private funds, higher education and P3, airlines, healthcare and life sciences, sports business, and wealth management.
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Pictured: (left to right): Patrick Dooley, Dajana Santic, Dawn Livingston, Kelly Decker, Beth Hoffacker, Trisha Pizano, Martha Freeman
Top Attorneys 2024
While it’s true that legal advice is best left to the pros, you also want to make sure the pro you have in your corner is up to the task. To ensure you have the best representation, we recommend starting here with Fort Worth Magazine’s 2024 Top Attorneys, our annual listing of the best lawyers in town, as voted for by their peers.
This year, 659 lawyers made the list, categorized by specialty and whether they’ve been in practice for more or less than five years.
How we did it: Earlier this year, we asked local attorneys to submit nominations via our website, fwtx. com. The magazine applied a minimum number of votes it took to make the list, giving bonus weight to lawyers who made the list any of the prior three years. We then asked a panel of highly regarded lawyers in the area to review the list prior to publication and make recommendations on other lawyers who should be on the list, and even ones who should come off for any reason. With this input, we finalized the 2024 Top Attorneys list.
By including a lawyer on these lists, the magazine does not recommend or endorse his or her service. Lawyers licensed as of December 2018 are considered to have more than five years in practice for this list.
Top Attorneys 2024
MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN PRACTICE
ADMINISTRATIVE
Stephanie Milliron
Shannon Pritchard
Kim Smith
ADOPTION
Gerald Bates
Heidi Cox
Eric Freeby
Alyssa Jacobs
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
John Brookman
John Allen Chalk
Randy Hall
Kight Higgins
Wade McMullen
Len Wade
APPELLATE
Marianne Auld
Russell Barton
Colin Benton
John Cayce Jr.
Joseph “Joe” Greenhill
Thomas “Tom” Harkins Jr.
Steven Hayes
Caitlyn Hubbard
David Keltner
Christopher “Chris” Knight
Thomas Michel
Karen Precella
Brittani Rollen
Jody Sanders
William “Brent” Shellhorse
AVIATION
Geffrey “Geff” Anderson
Jeffrey “Jeff” Gilmore
Jonathan Harrison
Daniel Vela
BANKRUPTCY
John “Bobby” Forshey
Katherine “Kat” Hopkins
H. Brandon Jones
Mark Petrocchi
Stephen “Steve” Pezanosky
David Pritchard
Jeff Prostok
Robert Simon
BUSINESS/ COMMERCIAL
Chad Cacciotti
Zachary Cate
James “Jim” Gordon
Constance Hall
George Haratsis
Marshall Jacobini
Christine “Chrissy” Long
Michael “Mike” Moore
Mitchell Moses
Randall Schmidt
Carey Thompson
Andrew “Andy” Wambsganss
CHILD WELFARE
William “Aulstin” Gardiner
CIVIL LAW & LITIGATION
Daniel Aguilar
Jason “Chad” Arnette
Cash Barker
Mary Barkley
Jacob “Jake” Boyd
Bryan Bruner
Joe “Kirk” Bryant
Alyse Burks
Hugh Connor II
Maria “Alejandra” Conoley
Larry Cotten
Anthony Cuesta
Caroline Cyrier
Randal Dean
David “Brad” Dowell
David Drez III
Henri Dussault
Laura Elkind
Jacob Fain
Graigory Fancher
Donald “Don” Ferrill
Charles “Chad” Fillmore
H. Dustin “Dusty” Fillmore III
Walker Friedman
Brian Garrett
Steven “Steve” Gordon
Douglas “Doug” Hafer
Michael Hassett
Michael “Mike” Henry
Frank Hill
Emily Hollenbeck
William Jenkins Jr.
Donald Kaczkowski
William “Bill” Kirkman
John Lively Jr.
Trey Loftin
David Luningham
Brant Martin
Matthew “Matt” McLain
Jerold Mitchell
Richard “Bruce” Moon
Caleb Moore
Preston Mundt
Jay Newton
Jon “Andrew” Norman
Michael “Shane” O’Dell
Schyler Parker
Misty Pratt
John Proctor
David Rapp
Joseph “Joe” Regan
Cailin Ringelman
Top Attorneys 2024
Roland Schafer
Andrew “Andy” Sims
Mack Ed Swindle
Stephen Taylor
Ryan Trammell
Stephen “Kyle” Voss
Brandon Weaver
Kyle Weldon
Jay Wieser
Eamonn Wiles
Charles “Chuck’ Milliken
CIVIL LAW, TRANSACTIONAL
John Davis
Charles Milliken
Christopher Morris
Rick Sorenson
CIVIL
LITIGATION
Brian Newby
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Allison Allman
Braden Allman
Michael Anderson
Joseph Austin
Lars Berg
Gina Bruner
Caleb Bulls
Timothy “Derek” Carson
Logan Cochran
Kelly Curnutt
Timothy “Tim” Davis
Russell Devenport
Roger Diseker
Mark Dugan
Ralph Duggins
John Easter
Paul Elkins
Christian Ellis
Zachary Farrar
Michael Forman
Lynne Frank
Katherine “Kate” Hancock
Timothy “Tim” Howell
Bruce James
Roland Johnson
Dee Kelly Jr.
Phillip “Phil” King
Matt Koronczok
Christian “Reed” Loftis
Marcus Mungioli
Jason Nash
Michael Peck
H. Allen “Allen” Pennington
Adam Plumbley
James “Jim” Scott
Brian Singleterry
Marylynn Smitherman
Emily Steppick
Elizabeth Thomas
Jeffrey Tillman Jr.
Joe Tolbert
Philip Vickers
William “Bill” Warren
Scott Wheatley
Jeffrey “Jeff” Whitfield
Thomas Williams
Julia Wisenberg
Shauna Wright
CONSTRUCTION
E. Aaron Cartwright III
Stephanie Harrison
Stephen Harrison
Grant Jordan
Andrew Keetch
Bryan Kelly
Cara Kennemer
Hunter McLean
Daniel “Luke” McMahan
Matthew Motes
Andrew Piel
Bradley Rice
Richard Schellhammer
CORPORATE COUNSEL
Andrea Palmer
Jennifer Willingham
Samantha Wommack
Craig Woodcook
CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Brian Barnard
Paul Bradford
Natalie Carlgren
Douglas “Doug” Clayton
David Cook
Taylor Cummins
Tave Doty
William “Kent” Durham
Lisa Falcone
Charles “Charlie” Florsheim
Adam Fulkerson
Robin Happel
Justin Hoover
Evan Malloy
Nathan McCune
J. Drew Neill
Christopher Nezworski
John Phair
Brandon “Scot” Pierce
Vernon Rew Jr.
Andrew Rosell
Philip Spencer
Jarratt Watkins
Stephen Westermann
Chelsea Wood
CRIMINAL
Frank Adler
Steven “Steve” Baker
Allenna Bangs
Brandon Barnett
Laurence “Larry” Beaver
Lanny Begley
William Biggs
Pamela Boggess
* Congratulations to our Fort Worth Magazine 2024 Top Attorneys winners
FORT WORTH OFFICE Cassidy Pearson*, Clayton Bryant, Chris Nickelson*
Top Attorneys 2024
Arthur “Art” Brender Jr.
John Brender
David “Miles” Brissette
Tiffany Burks
Blake Burns
Kara Carreras
Virginia Carter
Edward “Ed” Castillo
Cody Cofer
Daniel Collins
Craig Dameron
Mark Daniel
Brian Eppes
Lance Evans
Taylor Ferguson
Steve “Bob” Gebhardt
Myra “Cami” Gildner
Robert “Bob” Gill
Ashley Gilmore
Harvey “Ray” Hall Jr.
Phillip Hall
Michael “Mike” Heiskell
Daniel Hernandez
Lisa Herrick
Bryan Hoeller
Jeffrey “Jeff” Hoover
Jason Howard
Elizabeth “Christy” Jack
Madeline Jones
Jeffrey “Jeff” Kearney
Tracie Kenan
Jeffrey Kennedy
William Knight
Emily LaChance
Christopher Lankford
Landon Loker
Demetrice Lopez
Jesse Lotspeich
James Luster
Leticia “Letty” Martinez
Chelsi McLarty
Colin McLaughlin
Blakely Mohr
Mitchell “Mitch” Monthie
Kyle Morris
Brian Newman
John “Eric” Nickols
Shawn Paschall
G. Andrew “Andy” Platt
Stephanie Richardson
Matthew “Matt” Rivers
Albert Roberts
Paul “Micheal” Schneider
Thomas “Frank” Sellers
Lee Sorrells
Justin Sparks
Jeffrey “Jeff” Stewart
Anna Summersett
Jessica Theriot
Mary “Alex” Thornton
Dustin Trammel
Lindsay Truly
Benson Varghese
Veronica Veyhl
William “Michael” Werley
Gregory “Greg” Westfall
Mollee Westfall
Harry White
Brian Willett
Luke Williams
EDUCATION/SCHOOL LAW
Janet Bubert
Sarah Flournoy
Michael “Mike” Leasor
Andrea Paris
Lynn Rossi Scott
Matthew Wallis
James “Jim” Whitton
ELDER LAW
Lisa Jamieson
Dana Zachry
FAMILY
Timothy Alexander
Katherine Allen
Andrew Anderson
Bryan Ballew
Elizabeth “Liz” Barr
Leslie Barrows
Norma A. Bazan
Cory Bennett
Kathleen “Katie” Berry
Sarah Blake
Jefferson Branch
Max Brewington
Ola Campbell
Tina Campbell
Kristen Carr Mullins
Nicole Carroll
Tawanna Cesare
Mark Childress
J. Kevin Clark
Colleen Cornelison
Malorie Crosley
Lori Dally
Paul Daly
Emily Daniell
Kelly Decker
Louis “Bodie” Freeman III
Alexis Gebhardt
Kayla Gertsch
Wade Griffin Jr.
Bonny Haynes
Lisa Hoppes
Taryn Horton
Elizabeth “Brooke” Hubbard
Ashley Iovine
Jessica Janicek
Jeffrey “Jeff” Johnson
J. Steven King
Mark Lane
William “Cade” Lovelace
Sean Lynch
Paige Lyons
Dana Manry
Patton Maynard Sr.
Andrew McAlester
Janine McGill
Brent McMullen
Zena McNulty
Constance Mims
Meet Our Fort Worth Magazine 2024 Top Attorneys
FIRST ROW: Chelsea T. Wood, Allison B. Allman, Ginger M. Webber, Jay K. Rutherford, Heidi Angel, Brittani Rollen, Joseph P. Regan
Jackson Walker continues to advance the world of business by helping companies of all sizes navigate today’s increasingly complex, interconnected legal landscape.
SECOND ROW: Tyler F. Wallach, Michael J. Vecchio, Adam L. Plumbley, Colin L. Murchison, Evan M. Malloy, William R. Jenkins
THIRD ROW: Lauren Azopardi, Michael C. Farmer, Andrew Keetch, Tim Davis, Taylor Cummins
FOURTH ROW: Je rey R. Gilmore, Je rey Grable, John David Kirby, Nathan McCune
FIFTH ROW: Joel W. Heydenburk, Brett M. Epstein, Scott A. Wheatley
NOT PICTURED: Jarrod Cone, Len A. Wade
Top Attorneys 2024
Ricky “Rick” Mitchell Jr.
Kimberly Naylor
Lyndsay Newell
Gary Nickelson
John “Chris” Nickelson
Chandni Patel
Cassidy “Cassi” Pearson
Lisa Peterchuck
Jessica Phillips
Alison Porterfield
Michelle Purvis
Danielle Reagan
Stephanie Sabelhaus
Justin Sisemore
Curran Skinner
Dwayne Smith
Susan Smith
Lori Spearman
Kimberly Stoner
Melissa Swan
Carrie Tapia
Chrissy Tefera
Anna Teller
Donald Teller Jr.
Jeffrey “Turner” Thornton
Cindy Tisdale
Sara Vargas
Whitney Vaughan
G. Thomas “Tom” Vick Jr.
Courtney Walker
Katrina Washington
Daniel “Danny” Webb
Dana White
Drew Williamson
Michael Wurtz
Paul Youngblood
Laura Zachariah
HEALTH
Rebecca Eaton
Bruce McGee
Wayne Whitaker
IMMIGRATION
Rosa Maria Berdeja
Veronica Garza
Rocio Martinez
Lisa McBee
Edwardo Meza
Jason Mills
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Bradley Birchfield
Carder Brooks
Decker Cammack
Joseph “Joe” Cleveland
J. Heath Coffman
Clark Cowley
Scott Fredricks
Charles Gunter Jr.
Dave Gunter
Cheryl Leb
Angélique McCall Ditty
Stephen “Steve” Mosher
Enrique “Rick” Sanchez Jr.
Richard “Rocky” Schwartz
David Skeels
Juan Vasquez
Brian Yost
LABOR & EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYEE
Jason Smith
LABOR & EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYER
Lauren Azopardi
Nicholas “Nick” Bettinger
Tom Brandon
Vianei Braun
Russell Cawyer
Jennifer Covington
Karen Denney
David Goodman
Laura Hallmon
Caroline Harrison
Claudine Jackson
Spencer Mainka
Lu Pham
Jay Rutherford
Taylor Winn
LAND USE & ENVIRONMENT
Joseph “Ray” Oujesky
Tyler Wallach
MEDICAL MALPRACTICEDEFENSE
Gregory “Greg” Blaies
Jordan Parker
Joshua “Josh” Ross
Sunny Smith
MOVING VIOLATIONS
Andrew Hawkins
Justin Holt
Sommer Walker
NONPROFIT LAW
Darren Moore
Dana Stayton
OIL & GAS
Donald “Prichard” Bevis Jr.
William “Bill” Bredthauer
William “Cole” Bredthauer
Eric Camp
Jeffrey “Jeff” Grable
Raymond Kelly III
Jeffrey King
Timothy Malone
Mark Matula
Terry McClure
John “Pat” Murphy
Andrew “Drew” Neal
Robert “Mark” Oliver
Niravkumar “Nirav” Patel
Clark Rucker
Bart Rue
Brian Smith
Mason Smith
Todd Spake
Paul “Taylor” Spalla
CONGRATULATIONS
Joe Cleveland Intellectual Property
Ally Conoley Civil Law & Litigation
Henri Dussault Civil Law & Litigation
Logan Cochran Commercial Litigation
Jennifer Covington Labor & Employment - Employer
Heath Co man Intellectual Property
Jim Creel Tax Law
Veronica Chavez Law Real Estate
Andrew Norman Civil Law & Litigation
Michael Raeder Personal Injury - Defense
Sarah Flournoy Education/School Law
Reed Loftis Commercial Litigation
Russell Norment Real Estate
Lynn Rossi Scott Education/School Law
Joe Tolbert Commercial Litigation
Matt Koronczok Commercial Litigation
Angélique McCall Ditty Intellectual Property
Andrea Paris Education/School Law
Mike Sweet Probate, Estates, Trust
Jim Whitton Education/School Law
Left to Right (Page 1, Standing Up): Tristan L. Watson; Shelli A. Harveson; Trevor S. Wooten; Christopher J. Pruitt; Andrew L. Wambsganss; Michael L. Forman. Left to Right (Page 1, Sitting Down): Geno R. Slavchev; Jacey L. Mizer; Zachary S. Cate; Misty M.Pratt; Christopher T. Nezworski; Left to Right (Page 2, Standing Up): Randal L. Dean; R. Mark Oliver; Eric C. Freeby; Alyssa A. Jacobs; Tyler G. Scholes; Hannah E. Orand. Left to Right (Page 2, Sitting Down): Peyton D. Dietz; Michael J. Moore; Abigail D. Irwin; S. Kyle Voss; Jaret R. Thurston.
Top Attorneys 2024
John Thompson III
PERSONAL INJURYDEFENSE
Daniel “Dan” Bates
Wesley “Wes” Hightower
Sandra “Sandy” Liser
Tara McAfee
Christopher “Chris” Pruitt
Michael Raeder
Jackie Robinson
TyAnthony “Ty” Stimpson
James “Jim” Watson
PERSONAL INJURYPLAINTIFF
Seth Anderson
Matthew Aulsbrook
Wade Barrow
Robert “Rieker” Carsey
Delia Castro
John Cummings
Edward “Dwain” Dent
Devon DuPuy
Courtney Hanson
John David Hart
Travis Heller
Gregory “Greg” Jackson
Kolter Jennings
Brittanie Johnson
John Jose
Steven Laird
Gregory “Greg” McCarthy
Mitch Miers
William “Travis” Patterson
Kimberly Penepacker
Stephen “Steve” Postlewate
Victor Rodriguez II
John “Tony” Ross Jr.
Mattilyn Smith
Jason Stephens
Christopher “Chris” Stoy
Tennessee Walker
Jonathan “Jack” Walters
Ben Westbrook
Coby Wooten
PROBATE, ESTATES, TRUST
Heidi Angel
David Bakutis
Marvin Blum
Michael Bourland
Natalie Brackett
Elizabeth Brooks
Kandice Damiano
Lindsay Daniel
James Davidson
Matthew “Matt” Davidson
Kelly DeBerry
Ellen Dickerson
Levi Dillon
Robert Fitzgerald
Tena Fox
Lucien “Stephen” Franscini V
Catherine Goodman
Ross Griffith
Shannon Guthrie
Janet Hahn
Mary “Beth” Hampton
Shelli Harveson
Amanda Holliday
James Holliday
Karen Johnson
Lynn Kelly
Richard “Paul” Lancaster
Roddy “Ann” Lopez
Robert “Bob” Loudermilk
Phillip “Phil” McCrury
R. Dyann McCully
Robert “Keith” Morris III
Colin Murchison
Jeffrey Myers
Morgan Parker
Robert Putman
Rachel Saltsman
Margaret “Megan” Sanders
Lani Sandu
Melinda Smith
Dulaney “Dee” Steer
Michael “Mike” Sweet
Leslie Thomas
PUBLIC FINANCE
Jonathan Cranz
Dan Settle Jr.
REAL ESTATE
Kendall “Ken” Adair
Mark Bishop
Edward Boschini
Jarrod Cone
Ryan Damiano
Richard DeBerry
Brett Epstein
Noelle Garsek
Robert “Bob” Ginsburg
Michael Goodrich
James “Jim” Griffis
Bryon Hammer
Sarah “Sadie” HarrisonFincher
Timothy “Tim” Harvard
Alan Hegi
Joel Heydenburk
Brandon Hill
Leslie Hunt
Chad Key
Jared King
Veronica C. Law
Lisa Leaton
Matthew Luensmann
Michael Malone
William “Bill” Miller
Sharon Millians
Gary Moates
Russell Norment
Jeremy Pruett
Kylie Rahl
Jeffrey “Jeff” Rattikin
Robert “Robby” Reeb III
Brian Restivo
J. Andrew “Andy” Rogers
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Top Attorneys 2024
Grant Sorenson
Kenneth Stogdill
Thomas “Tom” Turet
Michael Vecchio
Judd “Jody” Walker
Hannah Watkins
Ginger Webber
Robert “Bob” West
Dan White
SECURITIES
Jarrod Azopardi
John Fahy
Toby Galloway
William “Bill” Greenhill
Andrew Homer
Calvin “Cal” Jackson
TAX
Sean Bryan
James “Jim” Creel
Clinton “Corey” Fickes
John Hunter
Kevin Kuenzli
Gary “Len” Woodard II
LESS THAN FIVE YEARS IN PRACTICE
ADMINISTRATIVE
Alessandra Papa
APPELLATE
Jacob deKeratry
AVIATION
Rachel Barr
BUSINESS/ COMMERCIAL
Meredith Milton
CIVIL LAW & LITIGATION
Stefan Garcia
Joanna Hughes
Abigail Irwin
Jacey Mizer
Tyler Scholes
Xintong Song
CIVIL LAW, TRANSACTIONAL
Peyton Dean
Tristan Watson
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Michael Farmer Jr.
Jessica Francis
John Fronk
Kelsey Linendoll
Dillon Minick
CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Gabriella “Gabi” Snow
CRIMINAL
Erika Flores
Tanner Ford
Audrey Hatcher
Macy Jeffers
Marissa Matthews
Ashton Moore
Olivia Stoner
EDUCATION/SCHOOL LAW
Drake Pamilton
FAMILY
Tanner Breed
Chloe Chartier
Brianda Curry
Scott Edmonds
Avni Hathi
Alissa Jackson
Hailey Klingbeil
Haley Shaw
Megan Weiershausen
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Kiala Ellingson
LABOR & EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYER
Lanie Bennett
PERSONAL INJURYDEFENSE
Hannah Caroselli
Jaret Thurston
PERSONAL INJURYPLAINTIFF
Michael Galyen
Serech Kissire
Dillon Vaughn
Riley Waters
PROBATE, ESTATES, TRUST
Annie Counts
Madison Craig
Hannah Orand
REAL ESTATE
John David Kirby
SECURITIES
Melissa Clark
TAX
Christopher Beck
TECHNOLOGY / VIRTUAL
Paul Farmer Jr.
GENERATIONS OF EXPERIENCE
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At Decker Jones, we take pride in our tradition of providing clients with unparalleled innovation, value, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to the 22 Decker Jones attorneys and all the trusted advisors named 2024 Top Attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine. We are honored to be recognized among the best lawyers in our community.
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Blaies & Hightower
SPECIALTY: Our firm is primarily a civil litigation boutique. However, within the litigation field, we practice in a diverse mix of areas ranging from medical malpractice, personal injury, and trucking lawsuits to complex business litigation, employment law, and professional liability. We also provide outside general counsel services to advise and counsel clients on ways to avoid becoming our litigation clients. AWARDS/ HONORS: Among our attorneys are several attorneys who have repeatedly been named Top Attorneys in Fort Worth and Texas Super Lawyers, numerous attorneys who served on the law reviews of their respective law schools and graduated
from law school with high honors, and every single partner in the firm has an AV peer review rating from Martindale Hubble. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Texas Bar Foundation; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; and Eldon B. Mahon Inns of Court, as well as many other professional associations. FIRM’S GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our greatest professional achievement has been maintaining a strong relationship with many clients for the entirety of the 26 years we’ve been in business. We have a very loyal and longstanding group of clients whom we have served well, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Keeping
those clients happy for over 26 years is our greatest professional achievement. APPROACH TO LAW: We strive to provide highquality legal services with a personalized approach to our clients’ legal needs. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Our ability to successfully and efficiently assist our clients due to our experience, intellect, and personal dedication to doing what is best for the client.
FREE ADVICE: Hire a lawyer you can trust to do what’s in your best interest. PICTURED: Greg Blaies, Grant Blaies, Wes Myers, Robin Singh, Greg Gober, Jennifer Litke, Kyler Cruz, Nicole Hogan, Stefan Garcia, and Joe Wolf; (Not Pictured) Wes Hightower, Jim Hryekewicz, and Brian Garrett.
SPECIALTY: Varghese Summersett is a premier personal injury, family law, and criminal defense practice dedicated to helping people through life’s greatest challenges. Each division is comprised of experienced, award-winning attorneys who are committed to providing exceptional communication, unmatched service, and unparalleled outcomes. The firm is headquartered in downtown Fort Worth but also has offices in Dallas, Southlake, and Houston. AWARDS/HONORS: Varghese Summersett has been named a Fort Worth Small Business of the Year, a DFW Favorite Law Firm, a Best Company to Work For, a Best Place for Working Parents, and one of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. The firm’s lawyers have also been recognized as Top Attorneys, Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Best Lawyers, and Ones to Watch in America. Four lawyers
are board-certified, the highest designation an attorney can achieve. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Our attorneys are at home in the courtroom, but we are also deeply involved in the community outside of it. We serve as adjunct law professors, gubernatorial appointees, nonprofit board members, and even in the military. We are committed to making a positive impact on our community and our country, bringing our passion for service to every facet of our professional and personal lives. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Our attorneys have helped thousands of people through the darkest moments of their lives. Our greatest achievement is that past clients continue to trust us to represent their family and friends. MISSION: Varghese Summersett’s mission is to provide unmatched service and obtain unparalleled outcomes while
maintaining a growth mindset, connecting with compassion, and supporting our firm family. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Our unique value is folding premier customer service into expert legal representation. As trial attorneys, we understand the importance of results, but as service providers, we also understand the necessity of a peaceful process. FREE ADVICE: Proactive representation is key to ultimate success. If you feel something is wrong or out of place, get an expert legal opinion immediately. Delay is detrimental. PICTURED: (left to right) 2024
Top Attorneys: Anna Summersett, Letty Martinez, Tiffany Burks, Ty Stimpson, Kristen Carr, Wade Griffin Jr., Christy Jack, Turner Thornton, Lisa Herrick and Benson Varghese. Not Pictured: Nicole Carroll, Audrey Hatcher, Hailey Klingbeil, Mitch Monthie, Stephanie Sabelhaus, Alex Thornton.
Varghese Summersett PLLC
300 Throckmorton St., Ste. 700 Fort Worth 76102 817.203.2220 versustexas.com
Stephens Law Firm PLLC
SPECIALTY: We focus exclusively on representing individuals and families who have been involved in an 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle accident, a life-changing personal injury, or who have lost a loved one in a wrongful death. The firm limits its practice to select cases, allowing us to fully understand our clients’ losses and struggles while forging a strategic plan to help them piece their lives back together. “When we take on a case, our client’s problem becomes our problem, and we are driven to righting that wrong,” says Jason Stephens. AWARDS/HONORS: Jason
Stephens – AV® rated by Martindale-Hubble; Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association, (2011-present); Texas Super Lawyer by Thomas Reuters, (2004-present); member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates. Rieker Carsey – Texas Super Lawyer by Thomas Reuters, (2022); Rising Star-Super Lawyer (2020-21); and president of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers (2020). FIRM’S PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Jason, Rieker, and their talented support team are devoted to helping clients get answers, move toward healing, and seek the financial
compensation they deserve. The firm takes the trust of clients seriously and personally and always strives to serve their clients and community with honor and integrity. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We are extremely passionate about what we do and have 25-plus years of experience with a long track record of success. This isn’t just a job — it’s our calling! PICTURED: Attorneys Jason Stephens and Rieker Carsey
Stephens Law Firm PLLC 1300 S. University Drive, Ste. 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817.420.7000 stephenslaw.com
BNSF Railway
Jennifer L. Willingham, Sr. General Attorney
Chrissy H. Long, General Attorney
SPECIALTY: Jennifer Willingham has served in many different roles during her 13 years at BNSF. Currently she is BNSF’s senior litigation counsel providing strategic direction on legal risks and mitigation strategies affecting business decisions as well as managing a large portfolio of litigated matters across the 28 states in which BNSF operates. Chrissy Long currently serves in the regulatory space, advising BNSF operating departments on compliance with federal safety regulations and providing input to federal agencies as they create and modify regulations that affect the railroad industry.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Jennifer – Baylor University School of Law, J.D.; Chrissy –The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. AWARDS/HONORS: Chrissy – Top Attorney 2023, Fort Worth Magazine; Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Jennifer –Executive Committee member, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; member and former director of Tarrant County Bar Assoc. Jennifer and Chrissy – Members of the State Bar of Texas. Chrissy – Member of Tarrant County Bar Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: At BNSF, in-house attorneys have grown to become the company’s biggest utility players. In a market filled with some of the best legal talent, Jennifer and Chrissy stand out for their success in counseling clients who face unique sets of legal considerations, while furthering BNSF’s goal of improving the safety and service it provides to customers and the communities it serves.
SPECIALTY: Criminal defense. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATION: B.S. from University of Oklahoma, 1993; J.D. from St. Mary’s University, 1996; Board Certified in Criminal Law since 2011. AWARDS/HONORS: Selected as Super Lawyer since 2019. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: My most significant professional accomplishment has been achieving not-guilty verdicts for my clients. PROFESSIONAL MISSION: My professional mission is to achieve the best possible outcomes for my clients. This can involve getting cases dismissed or no-billed by the grand jury, securing not-guilty verdicts at trial, or negotiating fair and just resolutions with the State. WHAT SETS HIM APART: With nine years as a prosecutor, 19 years in private practice in Tarrant County, and Board Certification in Criminal Law, I am wellequipped to assist those in need of a criminal attorney. My practice is fully dedicated to defending individuals who require protection from prosecution. FREE ADVICE: You have the right to remain silent when interacting with the police — exercise it. PICTURED: Shawn Paschall.
SPECIALITY: Exclusively Family Law. CERTIFICATIONS: Lori – Trained in Collaborative Law. Daniel and Steven – Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. AWARDS/HONORS: Lori – Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2019-2024); Top Attorney in Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine (2017-2024). Daniel – Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2012-2020), and Super Lawyer (2021-2024); Top Attorney in Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine (2022-2024). GREATEST
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Lori –Swearing in before the United States Supreme Court. Daniel – Acceptance to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. APPROACH TO LAW: As a firm, we prioritize matters with sensitivity, creative legal strategies, and a deep understanding of evolving family and legal dynamics. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Results! Our exceptional team of family lawyers stays up to date on the latest legal developments, which ensure optimal outcomes for our clients. It’s not enough for us to just say we are great at providing exceptional results for our clients, we go out and continue to prove it time and time again. FREE ADVICE: Finding a lawyer is hard: do your homework. Find a lawyer you trust, listen to them, and take their advice.
PICTURED: J. Steven King, Daniel P. Webb, Lori E. Dally, Max Brewington, and Sara Vargas.
Dally & Webb Family Law, PLLC
2813 S. Hulen St., Ste. 250 Fort Worth 76109* 817.409.1136 lori@texfamilylawyer.com 106 S. Jones St. Granbury 76048 817 408 3541 daniel@texfamilylawyer.com
The Dent Law Firm
Dwain Dent, Alyssa Alfaro
CONCENTRATION: Wrongful death, pharmaceutical, insurance, and injury. EDUCATION: Dwain Dent – St. Mary’s School of Law and TCU undergraduate. Alyssa Alfaro – UNT Dallas College of Law and Trinity University undergraduate. REASON FOR BEING A LAWYER: They have a passion for fighting the giants, i.e., David versus Goliath. Being an advocate for those who feel overwhelmed by the legal system. HISTORY: The Dent Law Firm, founded in 1990, has successfully represented thousands of clients in serious injury and death claims, claims against insurance companies, car wrecks, aviation, and other personal injury cases. HONORS: Dwain has been recognized by Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation, Washington, D.C., 2011; Preeminent Lawyers in America; Who’s Who in American Law; MillionDollar Advocate Forum member; voted “Top Attorney” in Fort Worth Magazine, 2003 - present; voted “Texas Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly magazine every year since 2003; St. Mary’s Law School Distinguished Graduate, 2012; St. Mary’s Law School Hall of Fame, 2013; Recognized Best Lawyers in America; Board Certified Personal Injury State of Texas, National Board of Trial Advocacy. Alyssa has been voted 360West Top Attorney 2024 in Personal Injury. ADVICE: “Never assume an insurance company will do the right thing.”
The Dent Law Firm 1120 Penn St. Fort Worth 76102
817.332.2889
thedentlawfirm@cs.com
thedentlawfirm.com
FOCUS ATTORNEYS TO KNOW
Dorsett Johnson, LLP
SPECIALTY: Real Estate, Corporate, Commercial, and Construction. AWARDS/HONORS: Lawyers of Distinction; Legal Elite, U.S. Business News; Super Lawyers; Board Certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization; Texas Bar Foundation. GREATESTPROFESSIONALACHIEVEMENTS: The combination of making a positive impact on the wealth of our clients and enhancing the careers of our team members serves as our firm’s greatest professional achievements. MISSION: We “play to win” on behalf of our clients, as opposed to going through the motions. If the representation calls for guidance on a business transaction or complex litigation, our firm focuses on the goals of our clients to obtain positive outcomes. WHATSETSTHEMAPART: We focus on our clients. We communicate with our clients. We take care of our clients. FREEADVICE: Prior to having an immediate legal need, create a relationship with outside legal counsel as part of your business strategy. PICTURED: Kasey Rachel, DFW Managing Attorney and J C Johnson, Law Firm Managing Equity Partner. DorsettJohnson,LLP
Dorsett Johnson, LLP
407 Throckmorton St., Ste. 500 Fort Worth 76102
Offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Brownsville 817.900.8202
SPECIALT Y: Criminal Law. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: At Gildner Law, we are committed to defending the right s of ever y individual, regardless of background or circumstance We uphold the belief that ever y citizen is entitled to fair, capable, and vigorous representation. We strive to provide our clients with the highest level of advocacy, compassion, and professionalism, ensuring their voices are heard and their right s protected throughout ever y step of the legal process WHAT SETS HER APART: Cami Gildner brings a wealth of local insight to her clients’ cases , including detailed knowledge of the county’s criminal laws and procedures as well as deep courtroom experience, having tried over 130 cases in front of juries Her dedication to each client goes beyond mere representation; she tirelessly champions their rights , ensuring they receive a zealous and compassionate defense MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Board member for the Tarrant Co Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; adjunct professor at TCU, Criminal Justice Department; member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association; Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney 2024 EDUCATION: SMU Dedman School of Law, J.D., 2010; TCU, Master of Liberal Arts , 2007; Vanderbilt University, B.S., 2005.
GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Representing Tarrant Count y at the National College DUI Defense Conference, January 2025; adjunct professor for Legal Issues in Law Enforcement at the TCU Lead Program; founding member, Tarrant Count y District Attorney Intimate Partner Violence Unit.
Law Office of Cami Gildner 817.773.2767
Law Office of Cami Gildner
Myra “Cami” McCluer Gildner
The Law Offices of Gill & Brissette
SPECIALTY: Criminal Defense – State and Federal, Criminal Appeals. We leverage the unique perspective of criminal defense attorneys combined with extensive judicial and prosecutorial experience. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Bob Gill – Retired State District Judge, Board Certified in Criminal Law. D. Miles Brissette – Board Certified in Criminal Law, Certified Forensic Video Technician. Don Bodenhamer – TCU Athletic Hall of Fame; past president of TCU Letterman’s Club. Preston Spivey – newest member of our team. AWARDS/HONORS: Gill – board member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association (TCDLA); author of Texas Criminal Lawyer’s Handbook and Texas Criminal Forms. Brissette – president, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA); president – Texas Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).
PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: We treat every case like it is our only case. Each client receives personalized attention and a full measure of our experience and ingenuity. Our talent and attention to detail make a difference in every case that we accept. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We specialize in difficult cases. Our in-house private investigators and full-service digital forensics lab are designed to deliver effective representation in complex cases. FREE ADVICE: If you suspect trouble, call a good criminal defense lawyer immediately. The early stages of an investigation can be critical. PICTURED: Preston Spivey, Bob Gill, D. Miles Brissette, Don Bodenhamer.
The Law Offices of Gill & Brissette 3663 Airport Freeway Fort Worth 76111 817.803.6918
GillBrissette.com
Info@GillBrissette.com
Johnson McNulty, Attorneys at Law
SPECIALTY: Family Law, Probate, Estate Planning. AWARDS/HONORS: Super Lawyers, Top Attorneys. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Board Certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board of Directors for the Texas Family Law Foundation, State Bar of Texas. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Consistently exceeding our clients’ expectations, while also obtaining the results they need to protect the most important parts of their lives. MISSION: “Chess over Checkers.” We care about our clients, and we always seek to set them up for longterm success. We accomplish that by not only creating and executing excellent trial strategies, but also by working with them to plan for their family’s future after the trial is over. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The level of personal attention and strategic detail that goes into each and every case sets us apart. Every client is treated with the same level of importance and respect; each case is treated as if it is the most important case we’ll ever handle. FREE ADVICE: Choose an attorney who cares about you and your success as an individual. If you feel like you are just a number at a firm, you probably are just a number. PICTURED: Jeffrey Johnson, Chloe Day, Zena McNulty, Douglas Wright.
Johnson McNulty, Attorneys at Law
212 S. Main St., Ste. 120 Fort Worth 76104
817.576.6537
johnsonmcnulty.com
info@johnsonmcnulty.com
SPECIALTY: Family Law, Mediations, and Estate Planning. EDUCATION: Texas A&M School of Law, J.D (2015); Texas A&M University-Commerce, B.S Criminal Justice (2008). CERTIFICATIONS: Texas Mediation Certification. AWARDS/HONORS: Rated “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, 2022-2024; Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney, 2018-2024; Forbes Advisor Best Divorce Lawyers of 2024 (Fort Worth); 360 West Top Attorney, 2024.
GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
Putting families back together and securing their futures. Whether it’s completing an adoption, estate plan, achieving primary possession for a noncustodial parent, or retaining parental rights in a CPS case, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing families thrive. APPROACH: We get to know our clients personally and then develop a case plan designed to optimize that client’s mental, physical, and financial well-being to the greatest extent possible. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We help our clients succeed both in and out of the courtroom and try to leave them stronger, braver, wiser, and more whole than when they first walked through the door. Plus, our office is unapologetically pink — because the law isn’t black and white, and neither are we. FREE ADVICE: When facing a legal situation, remember that even a fish wouldn’t get caught if it kept its mouth shut. The more you say, the more likely you are to put your foot in your mouth and make things worse.
Dawn King Law Group
5608 Malvey Ave., Ste. 103 Fort Worth 76107
817.840.5111 office@DawnLKing.com DawnLKing.com
SPECIALTY: My firm specializes in Elder Law & Estate Planning, Family Law, including complex Divorce and Custody litigation, property settlements, custody modification, family law trial cases through an aggressive maverick-style of lawyering. EDUCATION: B.S. in Psychology, Lamar University; J.D., Texas Wesleyan University; retired Judge of Roanoke after 14 years. EXPERIENCE: Established over 26 years ago with approximately 8,100 cases to date. AWARDS/HONORS: Past board member of Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Texas Family Law Bar Section, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Lawyers with Purpose, Tarrant County Family Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, North District, U.S. District Court. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Winning custody and property division cases that help that person continue in life with a fresh start and helping families plan for their future through Estate Planning. APPROACH TO LAW: Establishing an effective game plan to help my clients by using wisdom, experience, and litigation by providing personal and direct contact through very difficult events. SPECIAL INTERESTS: Fellowship of the Sword, New River Fellowship Church, Vision Life Ministries and Dressing Souls. FREE ADVICE: “Hire me before your spouse does!”
Mark Lane Law Office
4000 W. Vickery Blvd., Ste. B Fort Worth, Texas 76107
EDUCATION: Chris Lankford – J.D., Baylor Law School. Marissa Matthews – J.D., Texas A&M University School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Chris Lankford and Marissa Matthews have both been voted 2024 Top Attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine. This was Chris’ 11th consecutive year being voted a Top Attorney. Chris Lankford’s other accolades include being named a 2024 National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyer, 2024 Super Lawyer Rising Star, and 2024 Top Attorney by 360 West MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Chris Lankford is the past-president of the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section, and Marissa Matthews is on the board of directors for the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association. Both are members of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and Tarrant County Bar Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Each of the many times we have heard a jury say, “Not Guilty” for a deserving client. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: We put our clients first and leave no stone unturned. Our firm is known for trying tough cases with great success. We believe excellent results come from hard work. We get to know our clients, their cases, and devote countless hours to mastering the law. FREE ADVICE: The most difficult paths should never be traveled alone. PICTURED: Chris Lankford and Marissa Matthews.
Law Firm
300 Burnett St., Ste. 121 Fort Worth 76102 817.500.4357
Lankford
William A. Knight
SPECIALTY: Criminal Law. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: J.D./MBA with honors, St. Mary’s University; BBA, Southern Methodist University; Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
AWARDS/HONORS: 2019 Child Abuse Prosecutor of the Year for Tarrant County as voted by law enforcement; Assistant Chief Prosecutor; former Intimate Partner Violence Unit Prosecutor; former Special Victims Unit Prosecutor; lecturer for the State Bar of Texas and Texas A&M Law School; Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney 2021 – 2024. GREATEST
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Receiving a hug from a 10-year-old boy who thanked me that his abuser will never hurt him again.
MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: All Saints’ Episcopal School Board of Trustees member; The Federalist Society, former chapter president; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, parishioner; Colleyville Lions Club; Sons of the American Revolution. JUDICIAL RACE: I am excited to be the Republican Nominee for Judge of Criminal District Court No. 2 for Tarrant County in the 2024 general election on Nov. 5, 2024. By the time you read this, the election will have taken place. Thank you very much for everyone’s support for this race! Win or lose, I am grateful for the Lord’s opportunity to run for office. “Put a Knight in the Court!”
William A. Knight
P.O. Box 1066
Fort Worth 76101
william@knightforjudge.com
Paid political ad William Knight Campaign in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act. Annette P. Tofan Treasurer.
KoonsFuller, P.C. Family Law
SPECIALTY: Family law is all we do, from premarital agreements to appeals and everything in between. Our four full-service North Texas offices offer a level of clout and a range of resources unmatched by any other family law firm in the Southwest. MISSION: To provide the best family law representation to our clients while simultaneously helping them work toward the primary goal of reasonable settlement of their case. If litigation becomes necessary, we strive to provide our clients with the best legal representation every step of the way, from preparation to trial to appeal. WHAT SETS THEM APART: KoonsFuller is one of the largest family law firms in the Southwest and familiar with courts all over Texas. Whether your case calls for informal negotiations, mediation, collaborative law or court proceedings, KoonsFuller is equipped to handle cases of all sizes and issues and has been doing so for over 40 years. FREE ADVICE: Family law should always be approached with the mindset of preservation of the post-litigation family. If reasonable terms are available, settle if you can. If it appears that contested litigation is in your future, hire attorneys with plenty of courtroom experience. PICTURED: PICTURED: (left to right) Kimberly Stoner, Drew Williamson*, Dana Manry*, Heather King*, Jessica Janicek*, Courtney Harbaugh Walker and Bonny Haynes. *Board-Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
SPECIALTY: Commercial and Residential Real Estate & Title Insurance, Real Estate Investments, Private and Hard Money Lending, Creative Real Estate Financing. EDUCATION: Martin A. Garcia – Texas A&M School of Law, J.D., 2012; Certified Title Insurance Professional designation from the Texas Land Title Association, 2018-2025. AWARDS/HONORS: Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney since 2014; Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in Real Estate since 2016; 2018 Texas Wesleyan Young Alumnus Achievement Award; 360 West and 76107 Top Attorney recognition since 2016. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Leaving partnerships behind to wholly go solo two years ago while simultaneously continuing to grow the operation with quality people and establishing a record-setting profitability despite the uncertain market. MISSION: To continue being the face of Fort Worth real estate and title insurance by facilitating the most creative and innovative transactions. PICTURED: (left to right, back row) Ethan Stinson, Martin Garcia, and Katy Spurlock; (seated) Whitney Walls, Shari Adrian, Kyle Wilson, and Courtney Coulter.
Law Offices of Jason Mills, PLLC Immigration Law Firm
SPECIALTY: The Law Offices of Jason Mills was established in 2001 as a full-service immigration and naturalization law firm specializing in Immigration Law. Established by Jason Mills, the first-ever board-certified specialist in immigration and nationality law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Fort Worth in 2006, it is a successful multidisciplinary practice focusing on all aspects of U.S. immigration law, including consular processing, waivers, removal defense, family-based visas, business visas, and investor-related cases.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Mills – Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M, 1995; Juris doctorate from Texas A&M School of Law, 2000; international studies, Cambridge Law School, England; admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Northern District of Texas, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Creating an honest environment for people to come in and get advice. APPROACH TO LAW: It is essential to be honest and efficient with clients. The firm’s approach in maintaining clients begins with keeping the client informed. The firm emphasizes a progressive and hands-on approach to problem-solving and effectively and efficiently handling legal matters. FREE ADVICE: Check references in the form of former clients before hiring an attorney. PICTURED: Jason Mills, Lauren Wallis, and Jorge Arias.
Law Offices of Jason Mills, PLLC 1403 Ellis Ave. Fort Worth, Texas 76164
817.335.0220 Fax 817.335.0240
immigrationnation.net info@immigrationnation.net
P.Micheal Schneider Law Firm, P.C.
FOCUS: Family Law and Criminal Defense. PREFERRED CASES: High-Conflict Divorce Litigation; Custody Cases; Jury Trials; Family Violence Defense; Sex Crimes Defense. WHAT SETS US APART: We have an exceptional team of attorneys that not only have experience in procedure, evidence, and trial dynamics, but a reputation within the Tarrant County legal community of advocating fiercely for our clients. From the initial client meeting through the final disposition, our attorneys use experience, empathy, keen legal knowledge, and problem-solving skills to provide an unparalleled level of representation for our clients. We understand that every case and every client are different, and we communicate and listen to our clients to ensure they understand the overall legal process and any options they may have available to achieve a favorable result in their case. Our attorneys are compassionate toward our clients but truly excel in the courtroom. FIRM’S MISSION: Win every case. MOTTO: Be a tiger! PICTURED: Taryn Horton, Melissa Swan, Jessica Phillips, Micheal Schneider, Alison Porterfield, Danielle Reagan.
400 E. Weatherford St., Ste. 106 Fort Worth 76102 • 817.850.9955
Mansfield/Arlington Office 714 Hunters Row Court
Mansfield 76063 • 682. 276.6050
Alliance/Keller Office
5332 N. Tarrant Pkwy. Fort Worth 76244
817.849.2404
TeamSLF.com
P. Micheal Schneider Law Firm, P.C.
Fort Worth Office
SPECIALTY: Criminal defense, federal and state. All federal or state charges including firearms, self-defense, DWI, and white collar. Our representation includes individuals or entities with white-collar allegations; clients accused of DWI; and clients forced to defend themselves who later face criminal charges.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Justin Sparks – BBA, Baylor University; J.D., Texas A&M School of Law. Macy Jeffers – B.A., Alabama; J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law. Tanner Ford – B.S., Westfield State University; J.D., Western State College of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Justin –Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorneys, 2010-2024; Texas Monthly Super Lawyer 2019-2024; Texas Monthly Rising Stars, 2014-2017; Texas Monthly 2017 Up and Coming 100 (ranking amongst attorneys in all Texas practice areas); year-round speaker on self-defense and stand your ground. Macy – Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorneys, 2023-2024, Distinction Award 2020-2021 –Lubbock County Criminal Defense Clinic. Tanner – Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorneys, 20232024, Academic All-American as a member of the Westfield football team. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Proactive, not reactive. We pride ourselves on our preparation and results.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: The appreciation from our clients and their families when we successfully defend them. PICTURED: Tanner Ford, Justin Sparks, and Macy Jeffers
Sparks Law Firm
603 E. Belknap Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.334.0300
justin@sparkslawfirm.com sparkslawfirm.com
SPECIALTY: Criminal Law in Federal and State Courts. EDUCATION: Sam Houston State University, B.S., Criminal Justice, with honors; TCU, Master of Public Administration Program; South Texas College of Law/ Houston, J.D. HONORS/AWARDS: Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubble for 20 years; nominated by a United States District Judge for the Court Advisory Committee of the Northern District of Texas, 2014-2020; president of the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, 2020-2022; The Eldon B. Mahon Inns of Court, 2024 Serjeants of the Inn Award.
MEMBERSHIPS: Federal Bar Association; Fifth Circuit Bar Association; National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (former president); College of State Bar of Texas. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: I have tried over 250 complex felony jury trials, including the American Sniper/Chris Kyle case in Stephenville and the Mexican Cartel “hit” case in Southlake, which drew national TV interest.
PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: I am a tough, well-respected attorney who works zealously within the bounds of the law to achieve the very best outcome for my clients. WHAT SETS HIM APART: My family has practiced law in Texas since 1896. My legacy makes me unique because it is motivation to work faithfully and diligently for my clients. ADVICE: Make the correct choice if a lawyer is needed to serve your best interest.
J.Warren St. John
801 Cherry St., Unit 5, Ste. 2020 Fort Worth 76102 817.336.1436 stjohndefense.com jwlawyer1896@yahoo.com
J.Warren St. John
Chris Stoy Stoy Law Group, PLLC
SPECIALTY: Personal Injury, Plaintiff. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Undergrad – Texas A&M University; Law School – St. Mary’s University; Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. AWARDS/HONORS: President of Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: American Board of Trial Advocates, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Tarrant County Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, State Bar of Utah. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Obtaining board certification in personal injury trial law was probably one of the most difficult achievements in my career. The board certification exam lasts two days, and its difficulty pales in comparison to the law school entrance exam and the state bar exam. MISSION: Stoy Law Group’s professional mission is to provide the highest quality legal representation to persons injured by the wrongs of others. To accomplish its mission, Stoy Law Group follows the “less clients, more attention” approach. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Stoy Law Group has a strong reputation for taking cases to trial. While most personal injury trial lawyers have only tried a few cases in their career, Chris Stoy has tried 32 cases to jury at the time of this publication. FREE ADVICE: You should not assume insurance companies will do the right thing. They may. But you need to make sure they do. PICTURED: Chris Stoy.
Stoy Law Group, PLLC 4055 International Plaza, Ste. 550 Fort Worth 76109 817.820.0100
warriorsforjustice.com chris@stoylaw.com
Tefera Law Firm, PLLC
SPECIALTY: Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate. EDUCATION: B.S. in Economics from University of North Texas and J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University. EXPERIENCE: 17 years (licensed June 29, 2007). AWARDS/HONORS: Super Lawyers Rising Star for Estate Planning & Probate, and Family Law 2017, Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney 2020-2024, Southlake Style Top Lawyers 2024. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Texas Bar, Tarrant County Bar, Tarrant County Family Law Bar, Family Section of the State Bar, Texas Bar College. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Coming from living in a two-bedroom home that was managed by a single mother of five to managing a thriving law practice is my greatest accomplishment. WHAT SETS HER APART: Personal service provided by the attorney. My clients do not have to go through a gatekeeper to get to me. I’m here for them! MISSION: My mission is to practice law in such a way that I have happy clients and thus abundant referrals. INTERESTS: Junior League of Fort Worth, Van Cliburn Piano Competition, and Fellowship of the Parks. FREE ADVICE: Always be completely honest with your lawyer. Lawyers cannot zealously advocate for you if they are missing facts. PICTURED: (left to right) Paralegal Leia Calbert, Attorney Chrissy Tefera, and Legal Assistant Katia Resendiz.
Tefera Law Firm, PLLC 1205 Hall Johnson Road Colleyville 76034
817.503.0776
Fax 817.398.4252
legal@teferalaw.com
The Law Office of Carey Thompson, PC
EDUCATION: Michigan State University, B.M.; Texas Wesleyan University, J.D. AWARDS/HONORS: National Top 500 Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled; National Top 250 Social Security Disability Leadership. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: My greatest sense of satisfaction comes from helping everyday people navigate everyday legal matters. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We are small and close-knit, providing services to small and close-knit families and businesses. We realize that when a person hires us to help them with Social Security Disability, Probate, Estate Planning, or Small Business work, it may be the only time he or she ever hires an attorney. We listen to our clients and strive to offer sound legal advice, practical solutions, and on-going communication. FREE ADVICE: In the realm of business, you should plan big while you are small because it is difficult and more expensive to go back and take care of the small things once you are big. PICTURED: Carey Thompson and Laurie Weir, attorneys.
The Law Office of Carey Thompson, PC 728 S. Saginaw Blvd. Saginaw 76179 817.840.7503 thompsonlawtx.com carey@thompsonlawtx.com
Carey Thompson
SPECIALTY: Nate Washington – Plaintiff’s Personal Injury. Katrina Washington – Family Law. EDUCATION: Nate – BBA, University of North Texas; MBA, University of North Texas; JD, South Texas College of Law. Katrina – BBA, University of Houston; JD, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Life Member of the Million Dollar Forum, Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Forum, Lawyers of Distinction. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Obtaining a confidential seven-figure settlement for a young man with catastrophic injuries from an insurance company that denied all liability just two months earlier. WHY THEY CHOSE THE LEGAL FIELD: To be a voice for those that are unable to speak for themselves. APPROACH TO LAW: Our approach is based upon something that a great judge once told us: “If you prepare for a settlement, you get a trial. If you prepare for a trial, you get a good settlement.” We assume from the start that we are going to have to tell our client’s story to twelve strangers at trial. FREE ADVICE: Protect the family. Our relationships with our families matter more than money or titles. When the Washington Firm tackles a serious injury or wrongful death case, our goal is to achieve an outcome that protects the family. PICTURED: Nate Washington, Esq. and Katrina Washington, Esq.
SPECIALITY: Westbrook Law specializes in trucking wrecks, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, workplace injuries, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian wrecks, car wrecks, slip and falls, and premise liability injuries. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATION: Texas A&M, B.A.; Texas A&M School of Law, J.D.; Texas Trial Lawyer College graduate. AWARDS/HONORS: Rising Star as rated by Super Lawyers, 2024; 360 West Top Attorney, 2024; Best of the Bar for a Top 100 Verdict in the State of Texas, 2020.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Tarrant County Trial Lawyers President 2025, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, Tarrant County Bar Association.
GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Top 100 Verdict in the State of Texas, 2020. Multiple million-dollar settlements. MISSION: Westbrook Law exists to provide a custom level of representation to people who are hurt through another person or company’s fault. WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THE FIRM: Our core values include vigorous advocacy, integrity, and delivering “wow” customer service. This means you will be updated monthly on the status of your case; you will be able to speak to your attorney when needed, and we will take your matter all the way through trial if necessary. FREE ADVICE: Never accept the insurance company’s first offer. PICTURED: Ben Westbrook, Alisha, Crystal, Ashley.
Westbrook Law, PLLC
8507 Benbrook Blvd. Fort Worth 76126
817.489.5499
westbrooklawfirm.com team@westbrooklawfirm.com
Ben Eric Westbrook
Witherite Law Group
SPECIALTY: Personal injury with a focus on commercial motor vehicle wreck. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: Victor Rodriguez II – Texas Tech School of Law. Devon Dupuy – University of North Texas, B.A.; Barry University School of Law, J.D. Mitch Miers – The University of Texas, Austin, B.S.; St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D. AWARDS/HONORS: Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, Personal Injury Top Attorney in 2025. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas, Tarrant Trial Lawyers Association, Denton County Bar Association. MISSION: We lead by results and character, with our mission aiming to be the most knowledgeable, experienced, reputable, client-centered, and most successful attorneys in the industry. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Witherite Law Group’s “People First” philosophy is centered on prioritizing both our clients and community. We take the time to understand each client’s unique needs and ensure they are informed throughout the process. Additionally, our in-house medical team is dedicated to making your health and well-being a top priority. FREE ADVICE: In Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Chicago, the statute of limitations typically ranges from two to five years, depending on the specifics of your case and sustained injury. It’s crucial to consult with a personal injury attorney promptly to ensure your legal rights are protected. PICTURED: Victor Rodriguez II, Devon Dupuy, Mitch Miers.
Witherite Law Group
901 W. Vickery Blvd., Ste. 900 Fort Worth 76104 817.263.4466 witheritelaw.com
Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C.
FOCUS: Personal Injury Litigation. The firm focuses on negligence cases including truck wrecks, car and motorcycle collisions, premises liability, injuries caused by animals, traumatic brain and catastrophic injuries, and cases of wrongful death. EDUCATION: Coby Wooten –B.A., political science, Texas State University; Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Mattilyn Smith – Double B.A. History and Philosophy, University of Texas Austin; Texas A&M School of Law. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Wooten is a litigator with over 28 years of experience. He is a Board of Regents Litigator Award winner and has an Avvo Superb 10+ rating. Smith is a trusted name in the legal community. Both are repeat winners of Texas Monthly Super Lawyers. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Wooten – Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyer Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and the Academy of American Truck Accident Attorneys. Smith –Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice, and Texas Women’s Trial Lawyers Association. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The firm has a history of great success and great results. They are committed to aggressively advocating for personal injury victims against big businesses and insurance companies to get them the compensation they deserve. Quality representation for all across the state of Texas.
Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C. 1301 Ballinger St., Ste. 100 Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817.632.8400ph cobywootenlaw.com
Durham Legal, PLLC
SPECIALTY: Mergers & Acquisitions; General Corporate Law; Commercial Real Estate. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D. AWARDS/HONORS: 2021 Top Attorney in Corporate Finance / Mergers & Acquisitions; recognition as Fort Worth’s Forty Under Forty. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Texas Bar Foundation – Sustaining Life Fellow; Tarrant County Bar Foundation. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Rather than simply arguing negotiating points in our transactions, we seek to understand difficult issues as deeply as possible so that we can explore creative solutions to get deals done. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We are a small firm with little overhead but with experience in complex business transactions, allowing us to provide quality legal services at a competitive rate. FREE ADVICE: In choosing a transactional attorney, look for someone who is easy to talk to. That’s very important to getting deals done! PICTURED: W. Kent Durham.
Charlie Florsheim, General Counsel Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services
SPECIALTY: Higginbotham is a single-source solution for insurance, risk management, financial services, and HR/employee benefits services. Established in 1948, Higginbotham currently ranks by revenue as the nation’s 20th-largest independent insurance brokerage. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: BBA, magna cum laude, TCU; JD, cum laude and Order of the Coif, SMU Dedman School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Best Lawyers in America (2024). GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: As counsel to Higginbotham for the past 15 years (initially as outside counsel, now as General Counsel), I am proud to have played a role in the impressive growth of Higginbotham’s business during that period. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Our values guide our every decision and every action. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Higginbotham is employee-owned and specializes in tailoring programs to meet each client’s unique needs. Higginbotham stands by these programs with its Day Two Services®, which provide proactive customer support through the life of each policy.
Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services
500 W. 13th St., Fort Worth 76102 866.377.1959 | higginbotham.com
The Mohr Law Firm
Blakely Ian Mohr, Managing Partner
Lanny Begley, Associate
SPECIALTY: State and Federal Criminal Defense, including Federal and State Litigation, Appellate Litigation, Voir Dire and Jury Selection, Pretrial Discovery and Investigation, Constitutional and Evidentiary Issues, and Family Law.
EDUCATION: Blakely Mohr – Texas Wesleyan University, J.D. Lanny Begley – Baylor University, J.D. AWARDS: Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney, and more. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Countless Not Guilty verdicts, Dismissals, and Deferred outcomes. PROFESSIONAL MISSION: We guarantee Mohr Law and “Less Bull.” WHAT SETS THEM APART: We serve our clients under the principles of equality, respect, honor, and pride. Our goal is to make sure that clients can make an informed decision at all points in their legal representation. ADVICE: Find a lawyer you can trust. Without trust, there can be no real attorney-client relationship.
The Mohr Law Firm
950 E. State Hwy. 114, Ste. 160, Southlake 76092, 817.345.3637 1209 E. Belknap St., Fort Worth 76102, 682.213.5613 themohrlawfirm.com | NorthTexas@themohrlawfirm.com
Sunny L. Smith
SPECIALTY: Medical Malpractice Defense; Health Care; Professional Liability Defense; Personal Injury Defense. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: B.A., Texas Wesleyan University; J.D., Baylor School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: AV-rated Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory; “Texas Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly Magazine, 2010-2013; Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers; Top Attorney Fort Worth Magazine, 2021, 2024. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Tarrant County Bar Association; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Fellow, Tarrant County Bar Foundation; Litigation and Women in the Law Sections of State Bar of Texas; Dallas Bar Association; U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas.
Sunny L. Smith
Ray Peña McChristian Law Firm 101 Summit Ave., Ste. 705, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.335.7201 | Fax 817.335.7335 | raylaw.com
Slack Davis Sanger
John Jose and Dillon Vaughn
SPECIALTY: Workplace Injury, Product Liability, Commercial Truck Accidents, and Wrongful Death. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: John Jose – J.D., SMU; B.S., UT Austin; Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Dillon Vaughn – B.B.A., ACU; J.D., Texas A&M School of Law. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: SDS resolved a case involving a chemical plant explosion resulting in the death of a young plant worker and serious burn injuries to another. It’s an example of complex international liability issues with catastrophic injuries that the firm is equipped to handle to a successful conclusion. MISSION: SDS’s mission is to handle serious complex injury and wrongful death cases that most personal injury firms are not built to handle. WHAT SETS THEM APART: SDS handles a limited number of cases and has the horsepower to prosecute them anywhere nationwide and worldwide against well-funded and formidable defendants.
SPECIALTY: Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Family Law Mediator, and Collaborative Attorney, serving the entire DFW area. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: B.A., SMU; J.D., SMU School of Law; Board-Certified by State Bar of Texas in Family Law. HONORS/AWARDS: Texas Super Lawyer; Arlington Family Law Attorney of the Year; Top Attorney, Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Being sworn in by Chief Justice Rehnquist to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000. APPROACH TO LAW: We strive to provide the highest level of legal expertise tempered with empathy and understanding of the great emotional toll that clients are experiencing in their family law cases. MOTTO: When your family and finances matter, experience counts!
PICTURED: Donna J. Smiedt
Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt, PLLC 3216 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington 76016 817.572.9900 | smiedtlaw.com | arlingtondivorces.com
LexisNexis,
by Dr. Jerry Hu
Navigating Vision and Wellness
Untreated vision problems can affect one’s life far beyond blurred sight.
Decreased vision significantly contributes to increased risks of falls, hip fractures, and eventual admission to nursing homes among older adults. Understanding the primary causes of decreased vision and their implications is crucial for prevention and management.
Causes of Decreased Vision
Refractive Errors
Refractive errors, including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, are common vision problems that occur when the shape of the eye prevents light from focusing directly on the retina. Myopia causes distant objects to appear blurry, hyperopia affects near vision, and astigmatism leads to overall distorted vision. These conditions often require corrective lenses, which can be cumbersome and may not fully restore normal vision.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is an age-related condition that typically begins in the 40s, where the eye’s lens loses flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects. This condition necessitates bifocal or trifocal glasses, which can cause visual distortions, particularly in the downward gaze. These distortions impair depth perception and contrast sensitivity, increasing the risk of falls.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a leading cause of poor vision in people over 50 and 60. They occur when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, reducing clarity and brightness of vision. Cataracts
significantly contribute to fall risks due to impaired visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, often leading to hip fractures and increased likelihood of nursing home admissions.
Impact on Health and Independence
Decreased vision affects an individual’s ability to navigate safely, increasing the risk of falls and related injuries such as hip fractures. Statistics show that one-third of people over 65 fall each year. Falls account for over 90% of hip fractures, with nearly 319,000 older adults hospitalized annually for such injuries. These injuries often necessitate prolonged rehabilitation or permanent care in nursing facilities, with one in three individuals who lived independently before a hip fracture spending a year or more in a nursing home afterward. Furthermore, 40% of hip fracture sufferers are unable to walk independently a year later.
Strategies for Prevention
1.
Refractive Surgeries
Refractive surgeries offer long-lasting solutions for refractive errors:
• LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis): This procedure reshapes the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.
• SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction): A minimally invasive surgery that corrects myopia by removing a small piece of corneal tissue.
• EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens): Suitable for high myopia, this involves implanting a lens
inside the eye without removing corneal tissue.
Refractive surgeries like LASIK and SMILE have revolutionized approaches to correcting vision impairments.
2. Cataract Management
Regular cataract checkups are essential for early detection and management. Cataract surgery is a highly effective intervention where the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear artificial lens. Modern cataract surgery is safe and successful, with advanced technology intraocular lens (IOL) implants offering significant benefits:
• Multifocal IOLs: Correct presbyopia and reduce dependence on bifocal or trifocal glasses.
• Toric IOLs: Address astigmatism effectively.
• Light Adjustable IOLs: Allow postsurgery adjustments using UV light to fine-tune vision without additional surgery.
Dr. Scott Cherne emphasizes, “The advancements in IOL technology have greatly improved outcomes for cataract patients, enhancing their quality of life by reducing reliance on glasses.”
3. Importance of Regular Eye Exams
Annual eye exams are crucial in maintaining optimal eye health and preventing serious complications from undetected conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy. Regular checkups allow eye care providers to monitor changes in vision and adjust treatments accordingly.
In conclusion, understanding the causes of decreased vision and implementing preventive strategies can significantly reduce fall risks and maintain independence among older adults. Regular eye examinations at a reputable institution ensure that individuals receive comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs.
Our eyes are one of our most precious gifts. That’s why it is important that we maintain good vision and eye health as we age. To help you select a vision care specialist who will meet your needs, the following experts want to tell you more about themselves, their practices, and how their services can help improve your outlook on life.
The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Magazine.
Key-Whitman Eye Center
SPECIALTY: Ophthalmology – adult eye care including treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and dry eyes. Also offering laser vision correction and high-tech lens implants for reduced dependence on glasses and contacts, as well as cosmetic eyelid surgery. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: ChianHuey “Amy” Hong, M.D. – cum laude, Columbia University; B.A., pre-med and economics; medical degree, UT Southwestern Medical School; internship, ophthalmology residency and glaucoma fellowship, Tulane School of Medicine. Ronald Barke, M.D. –undergraduate and medical school, University of Southern California; internship, Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center; fellowship, Jules Stein Eye Institute in lens and cataract biochemistry; training, UT Southwestern Medical School, fellowship in oculoplastics and residency in ophthalmology; currently on staff as a clinical volunteer at UT Southwestern Medical School. Lauren May, M.D. – Northwestern in Chicago, medical degree and residency in ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.; two-year fellowship in oculoplastics. Mingi Choi, OD – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Rosmary Sanchez, O.D. – University of Texas at Arlington, B.S. in Biology; Texas Women’s University, MBA, and University of Houston College of Optometry, Doctor of Optometry. WHAT SETS THEM APART:
Key-Whitman is one of the few eye centers that offers the full range of options to improve your vision, with customized LASIK and high-tech lenses for cataract procedures. INNOVATIONS: The advances in high-tech lenses like the Light Adjustable Lens, Synergy, Vivity, PanOptix, Symfony, and the Toric lens using the latest techniques with Femtosecond laser, which give many patients a wide range of vision for near or far distances with less dependency on glasses or contacts. FREE ADVICE: Everyone needs to have regular eye health exams. Oftentimes, permanent vision loss can be easily prevented with early diagnosis and treatment of conditions before any symptoms are present.
PICTURED: (left to right) Mingi Choi, OD, Ronald Barke, MD, C. Amy Hong, MD and Rosmary Sanchez, OD. (Not photographed): Lauren May, MD
Key-Whitman Eye Center
910 N. Davis Drive • Arlington, Texas 76012
400 W. Arbrook Blvd. • Arlington, Texas 76014
3400 N. Tarrant Parkway • Fort Worth, Texas 76177
817.460.2272
Toll-free 1.800.442.5330
Fax 817.265.9684
patientservices@keywhitman.com keywhitman.com
WHAT SETS THEM APART: Texas Eye and Laser Center (TELC) has been delivering cutting-edge eye care in Tarrant County for nearly 50 years. They introduced LASIK and PRK to Fort Worth in 1997 and have remained at the forefront of laser vision correction ever since. In 2011, TELC introduced LenSx® Blade-Free Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery to the metroplex. As clinical investigators in numerous FDA studies, they have also pioneered in each generation of intraocular lenses for the treatment of cataract, presbyopia, and astigmatism, including the PanOptix trifocal implant, Tecnis Synergy, Vivity extended-depthof-focus lens, Tecnis Eyhance lens, ClearView by LensTec and light-adjustable-lens by RxSight, among many other state-of-the-art intraocular implants. In 2019, they brought to Fort Worth the most advanced laser vision correction — SMILE (aka no-flap LASIK). Advanced technologies aside, what makes Drs. Hu and Cherne truly special is their emphasis on personal touch and exceptional patient experience. AREAS OF SPECIALITY: TELC offers a complete range of eye-care services including Blade-Free Customized LASIK; SMILE (no-flap LASIK); LenSx® Blade-Free Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery; premium cataract implants including PanOptix, Synergy IOL, Vivity, Tecnis Symfony and Eyhance, Toric IOLs, light-adjustablelens by RxSight, EVO™ Phakic ICL; cornea collagen crosslinking (CXL), Intacs intracorneal rings, corneal transplants; MIGS; glaucoma care; treatment of macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. EDUCATION: Jerry G. Hu, M.D. –Duke University School of Medicine; fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA; Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology. Scott A. Cherne, M.D. ‒ Loma Linda University Medical School, American Board of Ophthalmology. PICTURED: D’Laine Heisterkamp, O.D.; Keith Head, O.D.; Megan Solis, O.D.; Jerry G. Hu, M.D.; Stacey Webb, O.D.; Scott A. Cherne, M.D. and B. Ellie Stivala, O.D.
VISION SPECIALTY: Optician focusing on independent eyewear designs and digital freeform Rx lens technology. AWARDS/ HONORS: Top 10 Optical Retailers by INVISION magazine; 2022 Eyewear Store of the Year by the Vision Council; Finalist for Emerging Eyewear Designer of the Year by Vision Expo East 2024; Game Changer of the Year by Eyecare Business GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Black Optical has been recognized as a leader in the eyewear industry with expansion into five unique markets and introduction of Kuro Athletics single lens Rx technology, the first-of-its-kind technology for performance eyewear. INNOVATIONS: 3D digital measuring technology for enhanced and precise frame and lens fittings. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Inspired by Michelinstarred dining and hotel hospitality, we offer a five-star experience that engages all the senses. We focus on personalized service, attention to detail, and comfort, ensuring a truly bespoke eyewear fitting. FREE ADVICE: When it comes to eyewear, ignore the “face shape” rules and buy what you love. That said, find an optician you trust to ensure proper proportions and accuracy in lens fittings.
PICTURED: Gary Black.
Black Optical and Kuro Athletics 5141 Monahans Ave. Fort Worth 76109 469.942.6688 blackoptical.com kuroathletics.com stylist@blackoptical.com
Black Optical and Kuro Athletics
Brian E. Flowers, M.D. Ophthalmology Associates of Fort Worth
MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Glaucoma Consultation and Surgery, Cataract Surgery. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: M.D., The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Residency, Washington University/Barnes Hospital; Glaucoma Fellowship, University of California - San Francisco. AWARDS/HONORS: 2021 American Glaucoma Society Surgery Day Lecturer; American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Achievement Award, 2019; American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, 2006; 30 papers published in peer-reviewed journals; hundreds of presentations given nationally and internationally. Tennis: Ranked No. 7 in the U.S. in singles and was the No. 1 doubles player in the country as a youth. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: ExaminerAmerican Board of Ophthalmology, Board Member- American Glaucoma Society Foundation, Fellow - American Academy of Ophthalmology. HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS: Fort Worth Surgery Center, Cook Children’s Hospital - Director Glaucoma: Child Vision Center.
GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Awarded the 12th Surgery Day Lectureship at the annual American Glaucoma Society meeting 2021. This keynote address is awarded to the “individual who has contributed to the excellence and advancement of glaucoma surgery.” INNOVATIONS: Our practice is one of the leading glaucoma research centers in America. UNIQUE PATIENT CARE: We care deeply about our patients, and because of our standing, we are able to offer tomorrow’s technology today. FREE ADVICE: The options for glaucoma and cataract care today are truly incredible. Excellent vision, less dependency on glasses and eyedrops are all possible.
Ophthalmology Associates of Fort Worth 1201 Summit Ave. • Fort Worth 76102 817.332.2020 fortworth2020.com
Martin Reinke, M.D.
SPECIALTY: Ophthalmology: Cataract Surgery, Premium Lens Implants (Toric Lens, PanOptix, Vivity, Tecnis Odyssey), Diseases of the Retina and Vitreous, Diabetic Retinopathy/Lasers, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma Treatment.
EDUCATION: B.A., magna cum laude, Harvard University, 1986; M.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, 1990; Ophthalmology Residency, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, 1995; Vitreoretinal Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1997. CERTIFICATIONS: Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology. AWARDS: Physician’s Recognition Award, American Medical Association. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Texas Ophthalmological Association, Texas Medical Association, Tarrant County Medical Society. AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital Las Colinas, Baylor Scott & WhiteIrving, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Texas Health Surgery Center Arlington. PATIENT CARE: A commitment to excellence in eye care is enhanced by our outstanding, caring staff. Dr. Reinke is a uniquely talented surgeon who personally provides all preoperative and postoperative care.
Reinke Eye and Laser Center
1310 N. White Chapel Blvd. • Southlake, Texas 76092
SPECIALTY: Retina specialist; board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologists specializing in the most advanced treatments for medical and surgical diseases of the retina including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membrane, and intraocular tumors. EDUCATION: The physicians have trained at leading institutions, including the Johns Hopkins Hospital Wilmer Eye Institute, Harvard Medical School, Duke University Eye Center, Wills Eye Hospital, University of Southern California, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, Associated Retinal Consultants/Beaumont Health, and the Georgetown University/Retina Group of Washington. PATIENT CARE: We believe the most important qualities of the doctor-patient relationship are communication, trust, and compassion. As physicians, we should know more than our patients about their disease; our goal is to have them understand their disease at least as well as we do. We are humbled by our patients’ trust and feel that trust is a strong foundation upon which our relationship is built. Our goal is to heal; often, that healing comes from soothing the mind or the heart through compassion. We advise our patients to take an active part in their treatment.
Retina Center of Texas
3455 Locke Ave., Ste. 310 Fort Worth, Texas 76107
305 Morrison Park Drive, Ste. 100 Southlake, Texas 76092
3804 W. 15th St., Ste. 130 Plano, Texas 75075
12222 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 250 Dallas, Texas 75243
Regan Wickes, once upon a time a PGA professional, is now hitting the sweet spot on scrumptious brisket and other smoked meats that come out of his Wicked 3D barbecue truck in Arlington.
by Malcolm Mayhew
Pride and Passion
Fort Worth chef Angel Fuentes’ love for food and cooking shines through at Los Guapos Mexican Street
Food, his newly opened restaurant on West 7th.
My fondest memory of watching Angel Fuentes cook is from about three years ago when I was dining with a friend at Guapo Tacos, his gas station taqueria just east of downtown.
One of his employees called in sick, and when your kitchen is usually comprised of two people, there went half your staff. Fuentes told me what was going on and added there might be a bit of a wait.
Waiting for my food, I sat there and marveled at how Fuentes bounced from the counter to the grill, making orders while taking orders, stirring pozole with one hand, answering the phone with another. He was the cashier, cook, busser, and dishwasher, all rolled into one.
A person with less passion, less drive, less patience might not have even opened that day. But tenacity has
helped Fuentes weather a storm or two, and it’s also brought him to where he is today: the owner of a terrific new restaurant that celebrates his heritage and the food he knows and loves.
Called Los Guapos Mexican Street Food, it opened in September on West 7th Street. The space has housed several other restaurants, such as Emmy’s Smokehouse and 360 Smoke Shack. It’s next door to The Abbey Pub, whose co-owner, Dusty Smith, is one of Fuentes’ partners in the restaurant; Jim Austin, CEO of a biopharmaceutical engineering company called Conecraft, is also a partner.
It’s not a huge place, nor is it as small as a gas station restaurant. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating. “It’s the perfect size for what I want to do,” Fuentes says. “Spotlight some of the
Photos by Darah Hubbard
Swoon city: Walloon’s Italian beef with a side of housemade chips.
Fort Worth chef Angel Fuentes (middle) with biz partners Jim Austin (left) and Dusty Smith.
food I grew up on and give my friends a place to come and have a beer.”
The menu features many of the dishes for which Fuentes made a name for himself at Guapo Tacos and its predecessor, Mariachi’s Dine In, such as birria tacos, huge burritos packed with proteins and veggies, and torta sandwiches big enough to share.
He’s also introduced several new items, such as alambre and huaraches. Alambre is a traditional Mexican dish comprised of chopped meats and vegetables, held together with melted cheese, and served with tortillas.
Huaraches consist of oblongshaped pieces of fried masa dough topped with smashed pinto beans, vegetables, and proteins.
A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Fuentes says he wanted to bring more flavors of his youth and home to his new restaurant. “I know there might be some people who aren’t familiar with these dishes,” he says. “But that’s the whole point of owning a restaurant, right? To introduce people to new flavors and food that they may not be aware of.”
Fuentes says he’ll resurrect another dish from his days at Guapo and Mariachi’s as a special: pozole. His
mother and grandmother provided the inspiration for the traditional Mexican soup, which is made from hominy, chili peppers, and other ingredients.
His menu also includes another homage: The Embargo torta is named after the much-missed Embargo nightclub and restaurant, a downtown spot where Fuentes used to work.
“Man, I loved working there,” he says. “The vibe, the food — I learned so much there. I owe a lot to the people who worked there and gave me a chance.”
But most Fort Worth diners didn’t catch wind of Fuentes’ cooking until Mariachi’s Dine In opened in 2018. Located inside a funky gas station just east of downtown, Mariachi’s became known for chef-inspired takes on birria tacos, elote, quesadillas, and other up-a-notch renditions of Mexican cuisine.
Three years ago, when Mariachi’s
owner Ashley Miller moved the restaurant to Fort Worth’s west side, Fuentes chose to stay behind and rebrand the space as his own concept called Guapo Tacos.
Guapo turned out to be a major success: In 2022, it was named best taco shop by Fort Worth Magazine readers, and a year later, Fuentes won the award for Rising Star Chef of the Year at the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.
When he and Miller went their separate ways, Fuentes admits, he wondered if he should move forward with a new endeavor or go back to his previous life and job as a computer programmer.
“It was a crossroads moment,” he says. “I did a lot of soul-searching and just decided I was going to keep going and see what happens next.”
‘The Michelin Guide,’ the proverbial bible of the culinary world, comes to Texas and gives Fort Worth a few approving nods.
Three restaurants in Fort Worth and one in Arlington were honored Nov. 11 at what was certainly one of the most important culinary events to ever take place in the state: the inaugural Texas Michelin Guide ceremony.
Fort Worth’s Goldee’s Bar-B-Q,
Panther City Barbecue, and Birrieria Y Taqueria Cortez, along with Smoke ’N Ash BBQ in Arlington, were recognized by the French tire company that also happens to produce the most widely known and respected restaurant guide in the world.
Goldee’s Bar-B-Q, ranked by Texas Monthly as the No. 1 barbecue joint in the state, received Michelin’s Bib Gourmand award, the latest prize for the Kennedale-area ’cue joint owned by a group of lifelong friends. Bib Gourmand awards are meant to honor value restaurants with exceptional food.
Panther City Barbecue, Smoke ’N Ash, and Birrieria Y Taqueria Cortez were among the dozen or so Texas restaurants bestowed with a “Recommended” nod by Michelin, which some consider to be the next best thing to earning a Michelin star, the coveted end-all award in the culinary world.
Restaurants listed or ranked by Michelin often experience a major uptick in sales, while diners who follow the guides consider them essential tools for mapping out vacations and trips. Hoping to attract more international visitors to their respective cities, visitors’ bureaus in five Texas cities — Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio — paid a reported amount of $900,000 to bring Michelin to Texas; Michelin’s so-called inspectors, the people who rank the restaurants, began surveying Texas eateries earlier this year.
No Fort Worth restaurant was awarded a star on Michelin’s punctilious one-to-three-star rating system, and no Texas restaurant received two or three stars.
During the ceremony, which took place in Houston, Panther City BBQ owners Chris Magallanes and Ernest Morales were front and center on stage while their restaurant was being recognized during the “Recommended” award. It was a cool moment, seeing these two longtime friends who built their ‘cue business from the ground up, starting out with a trailer before graduating to a brick-and-mortar that has helped turn Fort Worth into a barbecue destination.
While many predicted Goldee’s and Panther City would receive some
Birria tacos at Michelin-approved Birrieria Y Taqueria Cortez
sort of recognition, it was a nice surprise to see Smoke ’N Ash and Cortez honored. Smoke ’N Ash is an innovative, husband-wife barbecue restaurant that combines Ethiopian cuisine with smoked meats, while Cortez is a monstrously popular mom-and-pop taqueria for which critical acclaim has been somewhat elusive (we were early champions).
Unsurprisingly, Houston and Austin dominated the ceremony. Several Austin restaurants received the coveted one-star rating, including Barley Swine, Craft Omakase, Hestia, InterStellar BBQ, Olamaie, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, and la Barbecue. In Houston, BCN Taste & Tradition, March, Le Jardinier, Musaafer, and
Tatemó were awarded one star.
Dallas’ Tatsu also received a single star, as did Corkscrew BBQ in Spring and Mixtli in San Antonio.
Austin and Houston restaurants were also all over the “Recommended” restaurants, and a pair of Austin eateries, Dai Due and Emmer & Rye, were given Green Stars, awarded to restaurants whose sustainability efforts match the quality of the food.
Fort Worth’s inclusion in the firstever Texas Michelin Guide will last at least three years, says Mitch Whitten, chief operating officer of Visit Fort Worth, which partnered with Texas Tourism to bring Michelin to the city.
The Chowtown Lowdown
Calisience’s brick-and-mortar may have closed earlier this year, but owner Jacqueline Anaya’s excellent Mex-Mex food lives on. Throughout the month of December, Anaya will be serving her terrific birria dishes every Sunday during brunch at Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, 1508 W. Magnolia Ave. Of course, she’ll have her well-loved/much-missed tacos dorados, along with a half-dozen other dishes, such as birria chilaquiles, papas con huevo, birria grilled cheese, migas, and her fantastic birria ramen. Every time I run into Anaya, she tells me she hasn’t completely shut the door on finding a new home for Calisience. That’s why she’s been hosting occasional pop-ups, to keep her culinary chops sharp. Her events at Paco’s happen every Sunday in December from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. instagram.com/calisience
Lend a hand, if you can, to our good friends at local vegan pizza shop Pizza Verde. Over the past few weeks, the west side pizzeria, located at 5716 Locke Ave., has been broken into not once but twice. The break-ins were barely a month apart, happening Sept. 25 and again on Oct. 30. Doors and glass were broken and smashed, according to posts on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Those wanting to help with expenses can Venmo them at pizzaverdetx or Paypal at pizzaverdetx@ gmail.com.
A Cajun restaurant that started out in a River Oaks gas station has found a permanent home on the city’s east side. Always Cooking NOLA has moved into a space at 6301 Randol Mill Road. Owner/chef Damian Crockem makes some of the best Cajun and soul food in the city. Try his crawfish mac and cheese, jambalaya, dirty rice, boudin balls, and barbecue shrimp. facebook. com/alwayscooking.nola
A new location of the Cheba Hut sandwich shop has opened in Arlington at 504 E. Abram St. It’s a chain, but a good one with imaginative sandwiches, lots of veggie options, and Kool-Aid on tap. The Fort Worth location on the Near Southside has been booming since it opened a few years back. chebahut.com
A new coffeeshop has opened just west of downtown, and grizzled news veterans like me will recognize the guy who’s running the show: Scott Keenan, a longtime journalist, VP, and news director at CBS News. Keenan partnered with longtime coffee pal Kristian Willems to open Match Point Coffee on West 7th. According to CultureMap, Keenan enrolled in the Texas Coffee School to learn the tricks of the trade, including how and where to source coffee beans. Currently, Match Point’s beans are coming from Cuvée Coffee roasters in Austin, CultureMap says. In addition to coffee, the shop serves a wide range of hot and cold teas, pastries, and breakfast tacos from Fort Worth’s Tacos y Rocky. 3618W.7thSt.,matchpointcoffee.com
Goldee’s received Michelin’s Bib Gourmand award
Panther City BBQ received a “Recommended” award
by Malcolm Mayhew
Photos by Darrell Byers
Ways to be Wicked
A new barbecue trailer in Arlington, Wicked 3D BBQ, specializes in sinfully good smoked meats
If you’ve heard the name Regan Wickes, it can mean one of two things: You know about his barbecue truck, Wicked 3D Craft BBQ, or you’re really into golf.
Before he turned into a professional barbecuer, the Arlington resident was a PGA professional. He clarifies: “I wasn’t a professional golfer,” he says, laughing. “I was a golf professional.”
The best thing about his time spent as a golf professional was meeting his wife, he says. They met on the green
and married soon thereafter. “I got a couple nice checks, too, but meeting her was the best thing that playing golf brought me,” he says. “It was fun, but it wasn’t the road for me.”
His path, he says, belongs to the world of barbecue. Wickes has been cooking professionally since 2021, when Wicked 3D — named after his three daughters, Delaney, Delyla, and Delorey — was officially born. But he’s been honing his craft a lot longer, since
he was a kid. “I had an old propane grill, which wasn’t working at the time,” he says. “I stripped it down and rebuilt it and taught myself how to cook with fire.”
Today, his food is finally catching fire with North Texas barbecue aficionados who’ve seen raves on social media for his smoky, peppery brisket and thick and juicy pork ribs. The meat side of his menu also includes chicken, bologna, turkey, and two kinds of sausage. He also offers smashburgers, whose super-thin patties are made from brisket, and for sides, there’s brisket-studded pinto beans, mac and cheese, and potato salad.
Like most barbecue spots these days, he comes up with rotating menu items. Recent specials have included a smoked bologna patty melt, brisket quesadillas, and pumpkin pie with a cheesecake swirl, topped with buttered pecan crumble.
“That’s the fun part in all this,” he says. “I mean, it’s all fun. But coming up with creative ways to do barbecue, whether it’s a new dish or just a new ingredient you’re using, is what does it for me.”
Wicked3DBBQ,wicked3dbbq.com
A big tray of delish from Wicked 3D BBQ
Regan Wickes and employee Justin Carvajal work the flattop
by Brian Kendall
photo by Richard Rodriguez
The Art of Precision in Home Design
Scott Sangalli and The Morrison Group bring perfectionism and pragmatic design to the 2025 ‘Fort Worth Magazine’ Dream Home.
It’s not shocking to learn that Scott Sangalli, CEO and chief home designer for The Morrison Group, was at one point the youngest person to pass the CPA exam. After all, accounting requires precision and attention to detail — one decimal point off or one number incorrect, and it could result in something catastrophic. Sangalli applies this same meticulous and exacting approach to homebuilding.
“An architect or a home designer will tell you, if they do it right, that everything's there for a reason,” Sangalli says. “Our designs are a very personal thing. Every wall is there for a reason; everything is in a certain spot for a reason. Not three inches this way or three inches that way. It's like a Jenga thing. You can't just pull out something and the rest of it works.” Sangalli designs 99% of the houses
The Morrison Group builds, and when I label him a “perfectionist for pragmatic design,” he says, “Exactly. Everything needs to make sense to live a comfortable life.”
In many ways, Sangalli works backward. He first thinks of the end product — everything and everybody that’s going in the house. Where will the furniture go? What if there’s a party? What if there are two people trying to get through this part of the kitchen? He avoids designing or building homes with hot trends or fads with little concern with what goes where. Point being, the space should never hinder one’s ability to do what he or she wants — to live comfortably.
“I don't want any room, whether it's a guest bedroom or whatever, to have a door in the wrong place or for the beds not to fit,” Sangalli says.
According to the builder, there are a lot of homes priced in the millions that look good on the outside — they have a “wow” factor, a façade that
Brad Davidson and Scott Sangalli
impresses — but the layouts are questionable. Does the fact passersby correctly assume the home’s impressive, million-dollar price tag mean the buyer got his or her money’s worth? Sangalli shares a brilliant metaphor.
“Let’s say you spend 200 bucks on a pair of jeans, all right? And you go to the gala or whatever wearing the jeans, and you’re looking pretty good, but the jeans don't feel good. If you have to wear those jeans every day for the rest of your life, you're going to be really upset. To me, if you're going to pay 200 bucks for a pair of jeans, they should feel better than anything you've had on your body because you've got to wear them for the next 10 years. And that's the way I look at a house. It's got to be pretty, but most importantly, it's got to be as comfortable as those set of jeans.”
And it’s this precision, attention to detail, and keen understanding of how people occupy and live in a space that Sangalli and his team at The Morrison Group, which includes senior project manager Brad Davidson, will bring to the 2025 Fort Worth Magazine Dream Home. The Dream Home, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is a collaboration with the industry’s top local professionals that showcases the latest in homebuilding techniques, design, and technology. The Morrison Group is currently constructing the Dream Home in the West Fort Worth neighborhood of Montrachet.
While The Morrison Group was founded over 30 years ago, Sangalli’s been building homes since he was, well, a kid.
“My dad was kind of a part-time builder,” Sangalli says. “He worked at Caterpillar, but we always built our own homes. In other words, we'd build a home and move into it, and then within a year or two, he'd start building another one.”
Sangalli would get his start in the industry with a clever idea to build entire neighborhoods of small, 1,200to 1,800-square-foot homes with smart design, rear-entry garages, and deed restrictions on parking. At a time
when the market was struggling, his homes were selling like hotcakes.
“We never finished a home that wasn't sold up,” Sangalli says.
Following this venture, The Morrison Group has its origin story connected to the 1992 Street of Dreams (not to be confused with the Dream Home or Dream Street, mind you), a multihome showcase in Mira Vista, where Sangalli happened to be building a home for himself.
When one of the builders backed out of the project, Mira Vista approached Sangalli on taking his place. The only problem: It was December and the Street of Dreams was scheduled for May. He had 4 1/2 months to complete the project.
“So, we built the home and got it done with maybe a day to spare,” Sangalli says. “Well, we won all the architectural awards, both public and private. Won the landscape award, won the decorating award for all the homes, won the customer's favorite home, and all that. Well, I got like 15 build jobs off that thing.
“And that’s how it all started.”
A few years later, in 2000, The Morrison Group was builder of Fort Worth Magazine’s inaugural Dream Home. While styles, trends, and techniques have changed, thanks to Sangalli and The Morrison Group’s dedication to timeless design, the first home feels as fresh today as it did at the turn of the century.
Despite the positive press and a stellar product, The Morrison Group has remained a boutique builder. According to Sangalli, “We're always going to be the little guys. I'm never going to be a production builder because that's not where our love is. We enjoy so much building things that people walk in and go, ‘I can't wait to move in.’ That's the greatest feeling in the world.”
The Steeplechase Club presented its 2024 Debutantes at its 107th annual Ball on Oct. 26. Held at River Crest Country Club, President Ross Moncrief chose a West Coast theme to impress his guests and members as they encountered giant palm trees and a “Welcome to Palm Springs” entryway. Rooms had an upscale and sophisticated vibe with oversized peonies and palm leaves and blackand-white draping. The dining room was transformed into a heady lounge
with oversized Steeplechase Officer posters emulating Rat Pack iconic and vintage photos adjacent to the original Rat Pack photos. Upstairs, the focus in the ballroom was a unique stage set, modeled as a midcentury modern pool house complete with swim ladders and life rings. As each Debutante completed her bow, she glided down the steps from the pool house onto a dance floor mimicking the soft blue tones of a virtual pool. Post-breakfast entertainment,
in keeping with a California theme, was the lively LA Allstars with the outdoor patio, fashioned by Melanie Tatum Events, titled Moncrief’s Martini Bar. As a parting gift, guests were indulged with a martini shaker filled with chocolate green olives.
(back row, left to right) Emma Rose Pyron, Emily Kate Bell, Patricia Diane Taylor, Emily Claire McLaughlin, (front row, left to right) Caroline Rose Korman, Kendall Alexandria Schlegel, Emma Taylor Sneed, Grace Elizabeth Faciane
photos by Rick Bettinger of Gittings
White Coat Gala
The JPS Foundation
The JPS Foundation hosted its first White Coat Gala at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on Oct. 19. Attendees enjoyed a night of giving and celebrating impactful members of our community.
The JPS Foundation named Deborah Ferguson, news anchor at NBC 5, the Community Impact award winner for her contributions to JPS Health Network. Dr. Donald Nelms and Dr. Alan Podawiltz were also honored with the Physician Recognition awards for their impact on patient care.
Throughout the evening, guests were invited to give back to the Tarrant County community by donating to the JPS Foundation.
Michael Ferry, Amber Ferry, James Hill, Macy Hill, Elizabeth Ming, Bryan Ming, Mattie Parker, David Parker
Saba Asad, Joy Parker, Nadia AlawiKakomanolis, Kristin Stanley
Sunny & Gregory Jaryga
Justin Smith, Misti Nevels, Alex Bustamante
Karen Duncan, Dorothy DeBose
DeWayne Kirksey, Alan Podawiltz, Sudhakar Karlapudi, William Pientka
photos by Gaspar Hinojosa Brian Maschino
Mad Scientists Ball
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Mad Scientist Ball, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s signature annual fundraiser, was held on Sept. 28. More than 350 people enjoyed competitive live and silent auction bidding, delectable food, and amazing entertainment. The 2024 Chairs were Kimberly & Joseph DeWoody.
Orlando Carvalho, Katherine Carvalho, Blake Patterson, Jack Carvalho
Anna Mpinga, Kei Bryant
Evan Anderson Ryan & Nissa Harrington
Ben & Brittinie Stewart, Nick & Jennifer Punzalan, Lyndon & Jacqueline Westerberg
Joseph & Kimberly DeWoody
photos by Christian Soto Sotos Fotos
GIVE BACK
DECEMBER
Universal Human Rights Month
Celebrating 25 Years of Giving Back
Philanthropy is one of the ways FortWorthMagazine carries out its mission of celebrating Fort Worth and making it better.
During the past quarter of a century, FortWorthMagazine has partnered with more than 225 different Tarrant County nonprofits, contributing over $16 million in cash and in-kind donations.
Dec. 5
Tarrant County Hats for Heart Tea & Luncheon
The Bowden
American Heart Association
Dec. 27
Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Multiple Charities
Give the Gift of Giving
The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever® Gift Card is like any other traditional retail gift card; the difference is that the funds on the card are used to make charitable contributions to any of the 26 great organizations featured in The Catalog, rather than buying material things. The purchaser of the card receives the tax deduction and the recipient gets to direct the funds to the programs and charities that are most meaningful to them.
More than 4,000 children will be diagnosed with a critical illness this holiday season, joining the 392 in Fort Worth who are already waiting for their wishes to come true.
Now, more than ever, the hope and joy of a wish is the most valuable gift you can give because it means you’ve given these children a better chance of surviving and thriving.
Studies show that when a wish is granted, it can help relieve traumatic stress, build compliance with treatment, and provide a better chance at reduced time spent in the hospital. Give the gift of a wish come true. Donate today at makeholidaywishes.org.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
Tickets for the 2024 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl are now available! This December 27th at Amon G. Carter Stadium, 2 teams will enter, but only one leaves the battlefield victorious. Scan the QR code to visit our website and get your tickets now!
Few people in the late 19th century possessed more credentials to refer to themselves as an intellectual than Sir John Lubbock. A politician and polymath with a knack for biology, Lubbock was a scientific Renaissance man who also gave one of the most unscientific quotes about mankind’s natural inclination toward equines. “There is nothing so good for the inside of man as the outside of a horse,” Lubbock wrote in his 1894 nonfiction book, TheUseofLife.So, consider this photograph a moment of therapy.
Prints of this image, along with many others that have either appeared or not appeared in our publication, are available for purchase on the Fort Worth Magazine website. Check out the QR code for the link.
@ogrowald
PHOTO BY OLAF GROWALD
A Joyful Ride
Mansfield resident and financial professional Pamela Gothard has a special connection with her 2025 Mercedes AMG GLE 53 Coupe from Park Place Motorcars Arlington. Her GLE lives up to its luxury label with its bold exterior and stylish, opulent interior that makes her feel happy as soon as she gets in. “When I get in the car, it welcomes me back by name! Seems silly, but it starts my day off on the right foot. The seats give me a big hug when I get in,” Gothard says. “My car makes me smile.”
Inside, the GLE offers a sanctuary of comfort and cutting-edge technology that ensures every journey is a pleasure. As praiseworthy as its comfort and handling are, Gothard raves about
the high-end SUV’s sleek and sporty exterior. “I love the wheels and the blingy Mercedes-Benz emblem on the front,” says the Crestview Missionary Baptist Church of Arlington music leader.
Quickly giving credit to the Park Place Motorcars Arlington staff, Gothard praises the service, care, and attention they provide. “Service is consistent, and I have great relationships with sales experience manager Kenneth Erwin and assistant service manager Josh Spain,” she says. “At Park Place, they’re Experts in Excellence because I feel like I can count on them. The sales experience is streamlined, and the service is outstanding. Having both Ken and Josh as my go-to’s is really important to me.”
