on April 24, 2017 / by Downtown Dallas Inc. / in Blog Posts, DDI News
Three North Texas real-estate legends are getting their due come May 4.
The North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors and Real Estate Professionals (NTCAR) will induct John Scovell, founder and chairman of Woodbine Development Corporation, and Jack Huff, principal at Transwestern in Fort Worth, into the 2017 Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Also, John F. Crawford, the longtime president/CEO who was recently named vice chairman of Downtown Dallas, Inc., will receive the Michael F. McAuley Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service promoting the central city, the region and other causes.
The 30th NTCAR Reunion and Hall of Fame event will be held Thursday, May 4, at the Dallas Country Club (4100 Beverly Dr., Dallas) with a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony at 6:30 p.m. (See bios on all honorees at the end of this release.) Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne are expected to attend. The event’s title sponsor is the Irving Economic Development Partnership.
Huff, who has brokered more than 1,150 transactions with a total consideration in excess of $1 billion, has covered the gamut in commercial real estate with brokerage specialization in the areas of office tenant representation, office-building sales and urban land. His vast investment/development experience ranges from resort land, retail centers and commercial land, to office/medical, mineral interests and parking garages.
A University of Texas-Austin graduate, Huff began his career with Swearingen Management in 1979. He later became a founding member and principal at NAI Huff Partners (formerly NAI Stoneleigh Huff Brous McDowell). It was the largest commercial real estate firm in Fort Worth until January 2011, when Huff Partners merged with global real estate giant Transwestern. His major transactions include the 1995 negotiation of the sale of Continental Plaza Office Tower, which he co-brokered with Wayne Swearingen for $75 million, the 2000 negotiation of the Carter & Burgess Sublease at 777 Main Street with a total consideration of $64 million, and the 2014 sale of 66 acres of land, formerly known as Lockheed Martin Recreational Facilities worth over $24.5 million in total consideration, purchased by Trademark for the Waterside Development.
“Jack Huff is a legendary real estate leader whose hustle and business savvy have left a remarkable footprint on North Texas,” said Chris Teesdale, chairman of the 2017 Hall of Fame event.
Scovell, whose civic contributions rival his business acumen, has been associated with Woodbine Development Corporation since founding the company with Dallas businessman Ray L. Hunt in October 1973. Woodbine has been involved with the acquisition, development, design, construction, and/or asset management of 18,000 acres of land. The resulting 15 million square feet of hospitality (11,000 hotel keys developed including five destination golf resorts), office, retail, warehouse, residential, and mixed-use development represents about $3.5 billion of real estate improvements and value. Current properties include Union Station in Dallas (which celebrated its centennial in 2016) along with Reunion Tower and
the Hyatt Regency Dallas; the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio; Legacy Trails, a master-planned community in San Antonio; and the Hunt Headquarters in downtown Dallas.
Scovell is a former Texas Tech quarterback, Rhodes Scholar finalist and Harvard MBA graduate. In addition to being a past member of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, his local contributions have included leadership roles as chairman or president of the following entities – Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, Dallas Citizens Council, The Real Estate Council (founder as well) and Downtown Dallas, Inc. He was the 2010 recipient of the Linz Award.
“As a lifelong developer, John Scovell has built many things, not the least of which have been great relationships. In addition to his talent, his rare ability to connect with people has been foundational to his success, whether on the football field, in the board room or in the creation of award-winning projects across the country. His dedication, contributions and leadership have not only had a significant impact on our industry, they’ve also been difference makers for dozens of nonprofits in our community,” said NTCAR Hall of Fame Committee Member Greg Cannon.
Since Crawford took the helm at DDI in 2007, more than $5 billion of investment has been made in Downtown Dallas, with the Downtown city center residential population growing by over 185% and membership in the organization increasing by 245%. He has also lent his expertise to numerous civic and charitable organizations, chairing the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce (Dallas Regional Chamber), Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Dallas), Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, March of Dimes and the Greater Dallas Planning Council. He also has been tapped by numerous Dallas mayors to serve on task forces and advisory councils. In August of 2013, he was selected for Honorary Membership in the Texas Society of Architects for his contributions and leadership in stimulating and accelerating the renaissance of Downtown Dallas. Crawford was named to the DCEO Dallas 500 in 2016.
“For decades, John Crawford volunteered his services to an array of organizations, boosting them all in significant ways,” said NTCAR Hall of Fame Committee Member Robert Grunnah. “He continued that success as he guided Downtown Dallas through a period of tremendous growth.”
In addition to Teesdale, Grunnah and Cannon, other Hall of Fame committee members are Kathy Permenter and Darrell Hurmis.
Founded in 1995, the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors and Real Estate Professionals (NTCAR) is a trade association that exists to enhance the business opportunities of its members through real-time access to critical real estate information, education, recognition and networking events. One of the first and leading local commercial real estate associations in the country, NTCAR’s members benefit from proprietary industry resources and customized services.
The NTCAR Hall of Fame was launched in 1988, when the first six distinguished real estate recipients were Trammell Crow; Lyn Davis; Henry S. Miller, Jr.; John M. Stemmons, Sr. and his brother, L. Storey Stemmons; and Angus G. Wynne. Later additions to the roster included John Carpenter; Roger Staubach; Henry S. Miller Company; Ross Perot, Jr.; Gerald Hines and Jeff Hines; and many others.
In 2016, John Goff of Crescent Real Estate and John P. Weber of Weber & Company were the honorees, and Larry Good of GFF (formerly Good Fulton & Farrell) was the McAuley Award recipient.
These and other recent Hall of Fame recipients will be featured in the third edition of THE BOOK – Dallas/Fort Worth Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame – scheduled for release in late 2018. Created in 2008 and updated in 2013 by NTCAR Hall of Fame co-chairs Robert Grunnah, Chris Teesdale, Darrell Hurmis and Greg Cannon, THE BOOK captures the stories of the past Hall of Fame honorees and Michael F. McAuley Award recipients – all legendary figures whose extraordinary vision and real estate prowess played a major role in North Texas’ development over the past 100 years.
The coffee table book, filled with historical photos, is available for purchase for $150. Please contact Cathy Powell at 972-419-4078 for details.
A number of sponsorship levels are available – title sponsor at $25,000 (one), inductee table sponsorships at $10,000, gold sponsorships at $5,000 and bronze sponsorships at $3,000. For more information, go to ntcarhalloffame.org or contact ntcar@eventlinkinternational.com.
NOTE: FOR PHOTOS OF THE HONOREES, PLEASE CONTACT BECKY MAYAD AT 214-352-1881 OR 214-697-7745 CELL OR BECKY@MAYADPR.COM.
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