Methodist Health System hosted a standing room only turnout recently for a luncheon program keynoted by Dallas civic leader and real estate legend Ebby Halliday. The program was sponsored by the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce.

As she nears her century mark birthday, Halliday is still a fiery public speaker as well as a pioneering Texas female entrepreneur legend. She moved her rapt audience from uproars of laughter to wise reflection, with commentary on everything from the upcoming Super Bowl in North Texas, to national politics, a lengthy list of Texas’ economic and other strengths, and business success to work-life balance.

Halliday offered repeated praise for the Dallas area and extended North Texas community as part of a can-do philosophy. She shared the motto, “Do something for someone every day” as a keystone to her daily life and something that can guide anyone in personal and professional success. She explained that it was her beloved late husband’s favorite guiding principle.

A brief video presentation on her life of 99 years established her strident belief that keystones in living are family, faith, and business – in that order. In thanking emcee President Bob Stimson and the Oak Cliff Chamber for sponsoring the program, she quipped, “The chamber is almost as old as I am!” and added, “I’m crammin’ for the finals – I’ll be 100 in a few months.”

Halliday explained that her business career in Texas began when she arrived in 1938 and “stepped off a train and thought I’d gone to heaven” from all the exciting growth and opportunities she saw around her. She parlayed a $1,000 savings nest egg into $12,000 by following advice from a physician friend and investing in lucrative cotton futures. That success allowed her to leave a position as the ladies hat department manager with a downtown department store to open her own millinery shop. The husband of one of her millinery customers was beginning to promote a new idea in steel reinforced cement houses and told her one day, “maybe if you can sell those crazy hats, you can sell my crazy houses.” She did, and the rest became history.

As she nears her 100th birthday, Halliday says she is often asked about her secret to success. She cites it promptly, firmly, and with a twinkling eye, as simply this: “Hard work.” As she noted that she looks forward to North Texas hosting the Super Bowl, and her 100th birthday in a few months, she stated that retirement is not in her plans.

Dallas civic leader and real estate legend Ebby Halliday (center) is flanked by some of the special guests at an Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce luncheon program she keynoted Aug. 26 at Methodist Dallas Medical Center: Methodist Health System Foundation Board Member Warren Rutherford, Methodist Health System Board Member Danell Lichtenwalter, Methodist Dallas Medical Center President Michael A. Mayo, Dallas County Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, and Oak Cliff Chamber President Bob Stimson. In her remarks, the soon-to-be centenarian discussed everything from looking forward to the upcoming Super Bowl in North Texas to national politics.
         
About Methodist Health System
Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated care to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Midlothian Health Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Additional information is available at www.methodisthealthsystem.org. Connect with them through Facebook, YouTube and Twitter at www.methodisthealthsystem.org/socialmedia.