Articles for October, 2010
It’s the Scouting Way for Rex Tillerson, Trevor Rees-Jones
From left: Rex Tillerson, Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones
Rex Tillerson credits his Boy Scout experiences with shaping who he is today—chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., the world’s most valuable company (although Apple Inc. is nipping at its heels.) So despite his busy schedule, Tillerson still makes time to serve as national president of Irving-based Boy Scouts of America—not just by lending his name, but through hands-on leadership and fundraising. That included a visit a couple months back with Texas oilman Trevor Rees-Jones, who yesterday announced that he and his wife, Jan, were donating $25 million to the BSA’s Circle Ten Council in Dallas.
Rees-Jones, the founder of Dallas-based Chief Oil & Gas, said Tillerson and other Circle Ten leaders had done their homework before asking for a check: “You know the Boy Scout saying, ‘Be prepared?’ Well, they were very prepared. And it paid off.” The $25 million gift—the largest in Circle Ten history—kick-starts the council’s $90 million Centennial Campaign, which aims to raise funds for development projects and ScoutReach, a program that allows at-risk youth to participate in scouting even if they can’t afford it.
Leading Off (10/5/10)
1. Here’s an interesting profile of Mark Cuban’s brother Brian, a lawyer, author, and now spokesman for the medical marijuana movement in Texas. [Mean throwaway comment removed. In its place: I apologize to anyone who saw it.]
2. Major League Baseball is just the worst. Really.
3. And finally, a sweet story about a couple and the vacant lot they bought a long time ago.
Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: Oct. 4
Greetings, FrontBurner readers. Even though I discovered today that a local oldies station deems Madonna’s “Borderline” appropriate for its lineup, this is shaping up to be a lovely day. Here’s how you should spend it:
Food: Sullivan’s Steakhouse has created a special menu in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has pledged to donate $5 from every meal sold to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. If you’re feeling indulgent, you could order the asparagus bisque, an 8-ounce fillet, horseradish mashed potatoes, and bananas foster. However, if you’re worried about the link between fat and meat consumption and a host of ailments, you might want to explore the healthier options available (grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, and berries, among other items).
Fun: Check out a free show chronicling the life and music of Etta James tonight at South Side by Lamar. Here’s a little ditty to get you in the mood. Be aware that you can’t buy tickets for this performance, so get there early if you want a seat.
Fitness: Go for a walk, folks. It doesn’t get much lovelier than this.
Looking for something else? Browse these other great things to do in Dallas, and have a great night.
60 Minutes Takes a Dig at Dallas Women
An energetic FrontBurnervian says he watched the 60 Minutes story on Bill Gates and his wife, Ursuline grad Melinda French Gates. In particular, this exchange with reporter Scott Pelley caught his attention:
Pelley: “Now, I’m from Texas, too, so I can say this. You don’t wear your wealth like a Dallas gal.”
French Gates: “Mmm hmm.”
Pelley: “You don’t seem to be a big consumer of jewelry and cosmetics.”
French Gates: “I don’t find great joy in those things. I find much more joy in connecting with people. I’m much more at home being what I call ‘out on the ground’ doing this work. And for me, that’s where I find meaning. I don’t find meaning in material things.”
Vote for the Top Reality Star in Dallas
If you love–or love to hate–reality television as much as I do, you know that a number of folks who appear on these shows hail from Dallas. Heck, we were able to think of more than 30 off the top of our heads. We thought it would be fun to invite as many as we could down to the offices for a cage match to the death, but that didn’t work out for various reasons. Instead, we organized all 32 in a bracket, wrote up some bios, and called in television consultant/Bachelor/ette spoiler Reality Steve for some additional data. Now it’s up to you: go here to check out the bracket, read bios, and vote. You can cast a ballot once an hour, through Oct. 29, for all of your favorites.
The big winner will be announced in January’s issue of D. Long live Tanner P!
Leading Off (10/4/10)
1. Rick Perry had an embarrassing showing at last night’s gubernatorial debate, not responding to any attacks, not answering questions, and refusing to speak for the entire length of the debate. Even Green Party candidate Deb Shafto and Libertarian nominee Kathie Glass trounced Perry with their unchallenged criticisms of the current governor. When Democrat Bill White called Perry’s Texas a political machine, the governor responded by saying nothing at all.
2. Here’s some good news for sketchy lawyers: the Texas bar still does not prohibit sexual relations between lawyers and their clients. That might change, as lawyers try to hack out language that would a close a loophole in the current rule that allows for consensual relationship. Until then, stay away from the Al Biernat’s restroom.
3. Very sad news: the 28-year old woman who was struck by a bicycle on the Katy Trail has died. Be careful out there, people.
Dallas Morning News Endorses Stephen Broden Over Eddie Bernice Johnson
Saying it “with a measure of sadness”, the Dallas Morning News Friday endorsed Pastor Stephen Broden in the 30th District Congressional race over the long-standing incumbent, Eddie Bernice Johnson, who some have quite accurately called the Worst Grandmother in America.
“…we cannot look past the fact that Johnson allowed at least 23 scholarships that could have helped constituents’ children to be funneled to her own family and associates. Such self dealing is shameful, particularly in a district so full of need.”
Amen. Every time EBJ is asked about her role in ScholarGate, she continues to dig herself deeper in, place the blame on others and insist she broke no rules since the money has been paid back. The News poked around with what the real wrong was here — her behavior or the fact that it had been made public?
“I haven’t made a judgment,” she said. At another point, she seemed to suggest somebody had forged her signature on a document. We asked who. She said she didn’t know. We asked whether she had asked who that person was. She said she hadn’t.”
It’s high time to open up the drawbridges on EBJ’s fiefdom and get the southern sector cooking economically. At a recent press conference, Mayor Tom Leppert said he expects Texas to pick up four additional Congressional seats once the results of the U.S.Census are reported. There’s no better place to do business than here in Dallas, he said; all the more reason why we need honest political leaders from every district representing us in Washington.
Jerry Jones Hit With Sexual Assault Suit
The lawsuit was filed September 30 by Patricia Gavin. It is described by Courthouse News thusly: “Sexual assault, theft, false imprisonment, and privacy actions where the plaintiff asserts she was pinned against the wall in a restaurant by the defendant and sexually assaulted, among other things.” The suit was filed pro se, which I think pretty much says all you need to know.
UPDATE (10/2/10): Patricia Gavin herself sent me a copy of the filing. It is, without question, one of the more interesting court filings I have ever read. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up:
Gavin says she’s a former captain in the U.S. Air Force. She claims that Jerry Jones assaulted her at Ocean Prime on the same night that was captured by that famous Deadspin video of a slurring Jones. She also claims that she’s an art dealer; that on the night in question, someone stole her purse, which contained a check for $2 million (British sterling); and that, in an effort to cover this whole thing up, Jones’ financial advisors dosed her with GHB. Oh, also? Somebody got an STD from an assault in the bathroom at Al Biernat’s.
I am not making this up. Is Gavin making it up? If she is, she has a very vivid imagination indeed.
UPDATE (10/2/10): It probably bears mentioning that on September 20 a judge issued a restraining order against Patricia Gavin, prohibiting her from having contact with Jones, his family, or anyone associated with the Dallas Cowboys.
Craig Watkins Is a Big Chicken — Or Is He?
So someone sent me this photo of a guy in a chicken costume. The chicken was dispatched by the Dallas County Republicans to stand outside the Channel 8 studios to draw attention to the fact that DA Craig Watkins had backed out of a debate with challenger Danny Clancy. The debate was to be taped today and aired on Sunday’s Inside Texas Politics.
I called Watkins’ spokesman, my sometime friend Eric Celeste, and said, “Hey, dude, I’m about to post this picture of a guy in a chicken costume. He’s calling your boss a chicken. That’s funny.”
Whereupon Eric launched into a 10-minute disquisition explaining that, in fact, his boss had not “backed out” of a debate. He’d simply never agreed to the debate.
I said, “Dude. I’m not doing journalism here. I just want to post a picture of a guy in a chicken costume. Why don’t you send me something I can just cut and paste into the post?” Here’s what Eric sent:
We turned down several debates for timing reasons, including this one. Danny Clancy turned down a debate for scheduling reasons as well (a Dallas Examiner debate). Why is this news, then? It is only news to Channel 8 when the debate is on Channel 8.
Because the fact is, we never backed out, because we never agreed to do it. As Tim can see from the e-mail exchange I’ve sent him, we declined Channel 8’s request more than three weeks ago. Never. Agreed. To. Do. It.
We’ve scheduled two debates, one of which has occurred. Campaigns are fluid, though, and we always may do more debates, as we have offers from other local stations that offer us more flexibility and a prime time audience. So there.
Yeah, I read the e-mail exchange between the Channel 8 producer, Berna Dean Steptoe, and Watkins’ campaign guy, Kurt Watkins. Craig Watkins didn’t back out. But still. Look! There’s a guy in a chicken suit. So that must mean something, right?
Things to Do in Dallas This Weekend: Oct. 1-3
Let me just say this first: if you’re the type who likes to raise hell before, during, and after a football match, look here, and be sure to download our iPhone app so you can plan where to get into fights on the go.
This afternoon, Manolo Blahnik’s going to be at Neiman Marcus from 1 to 3 p.m. If you buy shoes or a copy of his new book, he’ll reward you with his signature. Isn’t that nice of him?
Tonight, ladies, gather your gaggle for opening night of Cinderella. Meanwhile, the menfolk will be drinking beer, belching, and scratching themselves in inappropriate places at the Ballpark in Arlington. Go Rangers. Or, you could go meet the artists who created those murals in the tunnels leading to Deep Ellum.
Leppert: Manhattan Ain’t Got Nothin’ on Dallas
Even with new office towers springing up around it, The Crescent is still seeing plenty of leasing action. In recent weeks, the Uptown complex has inked 14 deals totaling 140,000 square feet with Morgan Stanley, Maverick Capital, Goldman Sachs, Citicorp and other financial firms. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and business execs gathered this morning at The Crescent Club as Crescent Real Estate Chairman and CEO John Goff announced the transactions—plus a $2.1 million deal with Oncor to install dual-feed power in the property via a separate substation on Lemmon Avenue.
Cars Left Waiting and Running and Running
We attended a party last night on a very cozy residential street that challenged all traffic. Trapped in a slow-moving vehicular conga line that stretched half a block, it was pretty obvious that the valets were overloaded. As we received our ticket, we, like other guests, left our car running to be parked.
After 25 minutes of being sociable at the party, we discovered our auto still in its place in the lineup of cars. . . motors still running and unlocked.
Wonder who would have been liable if one of the cars had run out of gas or turned up MIA?
Cyclists Versus Joggers
Last night, a jogger on Katy Trail, who was wearing her headphones, made an abrupt left turn just as a cyclist was trying to pass her. Both were taken to the hospital. The jogger is in ICU this morning. This story is aggravating. And from the comments, it looks like it’s pitting cyclists against joggers. Since I’m more of a jogger than a cyclist, and I’ve had some close encounters with cyclists on the trail, I want to side with the jogger. (Though I do understand it’s extremely important to always look behind you before you make a change in direction.) But why was the cyclist going so fast? Katy Trail is a fantastic place for walkers, runners, cyclists, skateboarders, rollerbladers, whoever to go out and enjoy what they do. Everyone’s welcome. But you have to look out for one another. I’m just not sure it’s the place for avid cyclists to train. Obviously there aren’t many trails out there to really do this training, though some people are trying to change that. But until then, what are cyclists to do? And what are joggers to do?
Hector Garcia and Craig Holcomb Legally Get Hitched
Thursday’s dedication of the Annette Strauss Square was filled with hundreds of well-knowns including a pair of newlyweds. Last Saturday restaurateur Hector Garcia and former City Councilman/current Friends of Fair Park President Craig Holcomb (pictured right with Hector) legally married at Dumbarton United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.
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