Henry Stuart, R.I.P.
Henry Stuart, the man who founded Addison Airport in 1954 and served as a founding member of DFW, died Friday. He was 87. As a member of the DFW International Airport Board—a post he held for eight years, four as president—his tireless Texas-style sales and promotion talents brought in big business. In the early ’70s, the airport had only two international destinations: Montreal and Mexico City. Under Stuart’s tutelage, the board and staff got American Airlines to move its headquarters to DFW and increased international travel followed. He was also in love with all things French and was the president of the French-American Chamber of Commerce. He received from French President François Mitterrand the Cheviller, Ordre de Merite Nationale for his work promoting business trade between France and Dallas. He was an enthusiastic foodie and oenophile. In 1985, he and his wife, “Miss Marcia,” bought a 400-year-old chateau with a leaking roof near the small village of Razac de Saussignac on the edge of the Dordogne Valley and began producing wine. Chateau Fongrenier-Stuart is still going strong. On a personal note, I grew up just doors away from the Stuarts. Their children, Mickey, Sam, and Annie, were, and still are, great friends of mine. Our families spent many weekends at the Stuart’s cabin at Lake Tawakoni and it was there that I began my education in the finer things in life—Henry used to make baguettes and teach us about wine. We were 13. Last summer, I went to France with Paula Lambert to chronicle the cooking classes she teaches at La Combe in Perigord, which is only about 45-minutes from the Stuart’s estate. They drove over to La Combe and we cooked dinner for them. We served all of Henry’s favorites– foie gras, soufflés, and lemon tart. Monsieur Henri, natch, brought the wine. I sat between Marcia and Henry and we talked about old times. We all had tears in our eyes as they drove off. He was a one-of-a-kind human and he is already missed. Raise a glass of Bergerac in his honor. The funeral is Thursday at 2:00PM. Details to follow.
Update: Services for Henry Stuart will be held at the University Park United Methodist Church (Preston and Caruth) at 2:00 on Thursday.
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I met Henry and his wife once, at a chateau in the Dordogne. We cooked him lamb on the barbeque and he brought his wine. All of us, a group of over ten, talked long into the night about wine, food, France, the Dordogne, Addison airport and goodness knows what else. Nancy is quite right about his warmth and love of people. He contributed, and he listened. We enjoyed that long, late-night session, and I think he did too.
I have known Henry all all of my 66 years. He was a remarkable person and had more vision than most of ever have. Although Henry was my father’s brother, there are things I did not know about him until I read his biography.
He will be missed.