John Lingo Schoellkopf

John Lingo Schoellkopf, a fourth generation Dallasite, died December 8, 2018 from heart complications. Mr. Schoellkopf, 80 years old, was a dedicated husband and father who loved the outdoors, history and his friends. He was civically active for more than fifty years, heading a number of leading Dallas charitable institutions. At the age of 73 he served five months overseas in Kuwait with the American Red Cross in service to the Armed Forces at U.S. base Arifjan. He is survived by Catherine, his wife of 46 years, and four children, Sarah Bloom and her husband, Sam; Laura Hornbach and her husband, Matthew; Amy Langford and her husband, James; and son Mark Schoellkopf and his wife, Jessica; and six grandchildren; Dulany and Oliver Bloom, Luke and Wilson Hornbach, and Hannah and Cecelia Langford. All are Dallas residents except the Langfords who live in London, England. Mr. Schoellkopf was born on January 16, 1938 to Wilson Schoellkopf and Clifton Dulany (Lingo) Schoellkopf. He attended the University Park Elementary School, Texas Country Day (later St. Marks) and graduated from the Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut. After attending Southern Methodist University, he went to work at the Dallas Times Herald as a cub reporter. In time, he grew through the ranks, eventually becoming the Vice President of Administration. It was his years as the Washington D.C. correspondent in the mid-60’s that he most relished. After leaving the newspaper industry in 1970, he entered Dallas politics, heading the influential Citizens Charter Association from 1972 to 1975, when he ran for Mayor of Dallas. He later pursued farming, investments and banking. In the 1980’s, he partnered with Texas A&M’s Research Facility at Overton, experimenting and creating the first production-scale blueberry farm in Texas. The region’s blueberry industry, which he pioneered, is now well established in both Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Schoellkopf began his civic activities in the early 1960’s and went on to become president or chairman of the following organizations: the Boys Club of Dallas, Dallas Housing Authority, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Commission, Greenhill School, the Metropolitan American Red Cross, the Dallas Assembly, St. Augustine’s School and Mission in West Dallas and Tartan Classic Golf Tournament benefiting the Scottish Rite Hospital of Texas. With a lifelong commitment to the betterment of Dallas, Mr. Schoellkopf also held directorships at the following organizations: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Public Television Foundation for North Texas, Friends of the Dallas Public Library, Dallas Theater Center, Texas State Historical Association, Dallas County Campfire Girls, Cotton Bowl Council of the State Fair of Texas, Junior Achievement of Dallas, Community Council of Greater Dallas, United Way, Dallas Association for Planned Parenthood of North Texas, Goals for Dallas Task Force, The West Dallas Community Centers and The Human Services Magnet for the Dallas Independent School District. Mr. Schoellkopf was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. Though he journeyed to Scotland, England and Spain to hunt birds and to Africa for big game, and fly fished for salmon, tarpon and bonefish from Alaska to the tip of South America, his greatest love was the Fincastle Farm in Henderson County, which he owned with his brothers for over 50 years. This East Texas retreat became a special gathering place for three generations of families. Nearby was the Coon Creek Club, where Mr. Schoellkopf was a lifelong member. In Dallas, he was a member of the Brook Hollow Golf Club. Mr. Schoellkopf is also survived by his brother Alan Schoellkopf and his wife Mardie, and sister-in-law Jan Schoellkopf. He is preceded in death by his brother Wilson Schoellkopf, Jr. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, December 12th at 9:00 a.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, followed immediately by a reception at Brookhollow Golf Club. Those wishing to make gifts of remembrance might consider the The Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Dallas or Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.