Daniel Sherman Petty

Dan Petty, a generous man with a heart as big as Texas, passed away on January 11, 2011 after a brief illness. He excelled in education, community service, governmental processes and filling his life with friendships that endured to the end of his life. Dan will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by many private and community boards, sports organizations, his church, economic development commissions, charitable foundations, devoted friends---and especially by his wife Mary Jane Petty, children Adrienne Watson and her husband Chas, Kent Petty and his wife Jennifer, and step-children Maggie Culbertson and her husband Geoff, and Robert Riley. Dan leaves seven grandchildren. His wide and friendly smile spoke volumes about his outlook on life.

From the time he was born in Texarkana, Texas on November 3, 1939 to Gladene and Oscar Petty, he was a born leader and an excellent student. Danny Petty was President of Texas High School Student Body, his Class President and played football on scholarship in Darrel Royal’s first recruiting class at the University of Texas. He has been recognized and awarded many times for both his character and his achievements, including: Dreamers, Doers & Unsung Heroes Award, William J. Pitstick Regional Excellence Award from the North Central Texas Counsel of Government, Award for Excellence in Community Service, and 2011 Texas High School (Texarkana) Distinguished Alumnus. His modesty kept these and other recognitions in the background as he worked with state, local and academic leaders across the state for the benefit of Texans.

Dan Petty was a 1957 Texas High School graduate, received a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Master of Government Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at The Wharton Graduate School, Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Texas, and a Master of Management in Electronic Commerce from the University of Dallas. Dan asked questions and listened carefully but did not tout his own brilliance.

He was Past President of the North Texas Commission, President of Henry S. Miller/Grubb & Ellis Commercial Realtors; President of the Woodbine Development Corporation/Hunt Realty Services and Wilcox Realty Group; an intern with cities of Austin, Texas and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Assistant City Manager of Lubbock, Texas; Director of Urban Affairs for the North Central Texas Council of Governments; Executive Assistant to the Governor of Texas; Director of Public Affairs for the University of Texas; Assistant City Manager of Dallas, Texas; President of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Past Chairman and Board of Directors of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, Board of the State Fair of Texas, and a Member of the Super Bowl Bidding Committee who were instrumental in North Texas winning the 2011 Super Bowl XLV.

His civic service included: Chairman for the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau; Texas Economic Development Commission, Museum of African American Life and Culture, American Cancer Society, Cattle Baron’s Ball, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Kindness Foundation and Dallas County Children’s Services Task Force.

The lists of Dan Petty’s successes in business, government and leadership are eclipsed by his honesty, modesty, thoughtfulness and character. The sum total of his life is not in the number of degrees or the award plaques, but by those who looked to Dan as a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He gave his own tickets for others to have a place to sit at a game; he called to say thanks and wrote letters too; he had the curiosity and delight of a boy when challenges emerged; he was trusted because he was trustworthy; he made leaders of others; he was a giver at all times. His best gift to all of us was his life well lived.

The Petty family will have a private burial in Texarkana, Texas under the direction of East Funeral Home-2807 Moores Lane . There will be a memorial service, Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas for his colleagues and friends with reception to follow.

Condolences may be sent to the family website at www.eastfunerals.com

The family requests that any donations in Dan Petty’s memory go to the Gladene and Oscar Petty Scholarship Fund at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church 4000 Moores Lane, Texarkana, TX 75503-2148 or the Dan Petty Memorial Fund at the First United Methodist Church, 1928 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75201-3238.