Person of the Year

‘SCIENCE IS THE ANSWER’

History-making Lyda Hill touts philosophy of giving

SUPPORT HER CAUSES

Visit lydahillphilanthropies.org to learn more about Lyda Hill and her philanthropy and read about #IFTHENSHECAN – The Exhibit on Page 7B.

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

One of Lyda Hill’s guiding philosophies in her philanthropic efforts is “science is the answer.”

Giving runs in her family, too.

“Because my mother, beloved philanthropist Margaret Hunt Hill, insisted on taking me with her when she volunteered, I actually recall not being old enough to understand that voluntarism was, in fact, voluntary,” the philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Hockaday School alumnae said.

She wrote those comments when signing the Giving Pledge, a movement where philanthropists leave most of their wealth to charity.

“Because I have a fervent belief that science is the answer to many of life’s ‘impossibilities,’ I made the decision long ago to donate the entirety of my estate to philanthropy and scientific research,” Hill said.

In recent years, Lyda Hill and her organization awarded a $50 million grant to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Moon Shots Program, which aims to combat and eliminate cancer.

Other gifts include a $25 million grant to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to establish the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics; a $20 million grant to Hockaday to fund a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) program and other initiatives.

Her commitment to supporting advancements in science to improve the lives of Texans and beyond is why People Newspapers selected Hill as the Park Cities Person of the Year.

It’s also why Hill recently received the Oak Cliff Lions Club’s Bill Melton Humanitarian Award and will receive the History Making Texan Award from the Texas State History Museum Foundation in March.

“Beyond her philanthropy, we are the beneficiaries of Lyda Hill’s extraordinary service as a Life Trustee at Hockaday,” Hockaday Eugene McDermott head of school Karen Warren Coleman said. “She was named a Hockaday Distinguished Alumna in 1986 and is regularly engaged with the life of the school.”

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) founding CEO Tom Luce said Hill also matched the initial gift from the Meadows Foundation to launch the nonprofit, which works to improve the treatment of mental illness, around 2014.

“I’ve always found Lyda to not only be very, very generous but willing to take what I call calculated risks,” said Luce, who is now the founder and chairman of Texas 2036.

MMHPI was named the recipient of the $10 million Lone Star Prize in June of 2021. The Lone Star Prize, sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies and managed by Lever for Change, is a competition launched in 2020 to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. It will enable MMHPI to implement the Lone Star Depression Challenge to enhance the quality of life and mental health care for Texas communities.

Hill’s influence goes far beyond the dollars given, MMHPI CEO Andy Keller said. “When you work for or with a philanthropist like Lyda, it’s not just the infusion of resources; it’s also – she’s basically lending her reputation and track record of backing successful innovations.”

Read more about Lyda Hill at peoplenewspapers.com.

TOP: Lyda Hill with her grandnieces, who also attend Hockaday. BACK ROW: Kathryn Sands and Hill. MIDDLE: Darlington Hunt, Courtenay Sands, and Margo Washburne. FRONT: Conner Wisenbaker. BOTTOM: Hill and J. Small Investments partnered in hopes of turning Pegasus Park into a science and community hub. (PHOTOS: GRANT MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY)

2021 Newsmakers: Neighbors Who Made Headlines

Clay Jenkins

Love him or hate him, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been on the forefront of the county’s response to the pandemic — and often at odds with the state’s GOP leaders.

Jenkins found himself butting heads with Gov. Greg Abbott on numerous occasions, from local control of the pandemic response versus statewide quarterbacking from Abbott’s office, to mandating masks and vaccines. Some loved him for it, while others picketed in front of his home.

Clay Jenkins

(FILE PHOTO)

Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones

The Park Cities couple started 2021 making headlines for buying the historic Elbert Williams house along Turtle Creek to preserve it.

Preservation Park Cities had feared the home was a likely candidate for demolition because of its attractive location on a 1.15-acre lot on Turtle Creek. For their efforts, the couple was recognized along with Preservation Park Cities with a Spirit of Preservation Award from Preservation Dallas this year.

Trevor and Jan Rees-Jones

(PHOTO: COURTESY PRESERVATION PARK CITIES)

Casie Tomlin/ Dallas Justice Now

Letters from those calling themselves Dallas Justice Now asked Park Cities parents to pledge not to send their Dallas Justice Now children to Ivy League (PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE schools. The request THORNTON/PEXELS) stirred up reactions here and made national and international headlines from the British tabloid the Daily Mail, Newsweek, and Fox News. University Park mom Casie Tomlin, though, became suspicious and the organization’s website was linked to a political consulting firm with Republican clients across the U.S.

Philip Bankhead

A year after the pandemic prompted cancellation of the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade, Rotarian Phillip Bankhead stepped up in 2021 when the scheduled parade committee chairman moved and led efforts to bring floats rolling back through Highland Park and University in all their red, white, and blue glory. The Rotary Club of Park Cities presented him a lifetime achievement award.

Philip Bankhead

(PHOTO: COURTESY ROTARY CLUB OF PARK CITIES)

Izzy Martin, surrounded here by her parents Christine and David and siblings Luke, Madeleine, and Faith, hasn’t let her cancer diagnosis dim her desire to help others.

(PHOTOS: LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY, TI ADORO STUDIOS)

‘One of the Best People I Have Ever Met’ ESD student battles cancer but focuses on caring for others

By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

When you’re a dancer, you’re prepared to get injured sometimes. For 11-yearold Isabelle “Izzy” Martin, a dance injury turned out to be much more severe.

But it’s what happened as she fights cancer that earned the Episcopal School of Dallas student more than 900 votes in our Readers’ Choice Person of the Year for 2021.

On Feb. 13, 2020, Izzy injured her leg at dance class — and it turned out to be a broken femur, which didn’t jibe with the low-impact incident. Tests revealed that she had stage four osteosarcoma — a bone cancer. She’s been battling it ever since.

“Despite having 13 surgeries, including a full femur replacement and a skull surgery, she has not only maintained a positive attitude but has also spent countless hours helping the community,” one nominator said. “She’s donated hundreds of care packages for Austin Street Center, is an inaugural member of United Way’s ‘Teens United,’ and has raised over $200,000 for Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer research.”

But if you ask Izzy, she’ll say that what she hopes is that her actions will result in better funding for osteosarcoma research and awareness. “My entire life, I have always believed that knowledge is power,” she said. “So, when we know more about something, we can do more about it. When I first got diagnosed, we learned how little funding goes into pediatric cancer, and specifically osteosarcoma. I want people to know that they can make a difference, no matter their circumstances.” As she’s navigated her illness, she’s made quite an im-

Izzy should be the pression on her friends and teachers, Person of the Year too. because of her love “Izzy’s commitment to engaging of life, her insistence with the ESD comon moving forward munity has been inspiring to witexpeditiously, and ness,” said Jonathan her dedication to Chein, ESD’s head of middle school. making the most of Allison Darnell, the precious time sixth-grade dean and math teacher, that we have. admires both Izzy’s The Rev. Tim determination and “caring heart.”Kennedy “With her strength, determination, can-do-attitude, and humor, nothing limits her. She is so hard-working and determined,” Darnell said. “Though facing significant physical challenges, she has enthusiastically embraced life and lives it to the fullest,” said ESD chaplain and religion teacher the Rev. Tim Kennedy. “Izzy should be the Person of the Year because of her love of life, her insistence on moving forward expeditiously, and her dedication to making the most of the precious time that we have.”

“There is not a flaw about her,” said classmate Wynne Horton. “She is one of the best people I have ever met.”

“Izzy is so funny and the toughest, smartest person I know,” agreed classmate McCall Moore. “She still gets through school just as well as anyone else and never feels sorry for herself.”

With her looking to start her fourth treatment protocol in 2022, Izzy said she has lots of hopes for the year, including “finding more ways to support things I care about,” such as the Austin Street Center and the Osteosarcoma Institute.

She grinned and added one other thing. “I guess I wouldn’t mind having another dog in the family.”

BE #TEAMIZZY

The #TeamIzzy Osteosarcoma Science Fund with the Osteosarcoma Institute raises money to fund a breakthrough clinical trial or research study to advance treatments, survival rates, and ultimately find a cure for osteosarcoma.

Make a gift of any amount to her fund: secure.osinst.org/a/teamizzy

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Among the 10 nominees for Readers’ Choice Person of the Year, two more individuals stood out, garnering our poll’s second and third-most votes.

Courtney Dios

When students walk into Courtney Dios’ class at the Shelton School, they aren’t just sitting down in front of any teacher – they’re getting time with an alumna who understands exactly how they feel.

The Highland Park native said she struggled in school before finding her home at Shelton as Courtney Dios (COURTESY PHOTOS) a student.

As a teacher, she offers her students a “life hacks” class that teaches sewing, cooking, gardening, and even basic survival skills.

“My goal is to teach them how to work smarter, not harder, and give them the knowledge where if they were put in a situation, they would be more confident,” she said.

James T. “Brad” Bradley

Few personalities have been as constant a presence at the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic as celebrated sports photographer James T. “Brad” Bradley. The World War II veteran photographed his first Cotton Bowl game in 1948 when SMU football standout Doak Walker was in his heyday and remains the only sports photographer in the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.

“Through the years, Brad be- James T. Bradley came college football’s favorite photographer,” Bradley’s biography on the Cotton Bowl’s website reads. “Few can match his years of service to a bowl game. A permanent fixture at the AT&T Cotton Bowl, his streak of consecutive games worked has reached an unprecedented 59 games.”

Bradley’s father-in-law, Jim Laughead, had been hired by SMU as a photographer before that in 1947 and quickly asked Brad to join him.

“The business became known as Laughead Photographers and was located on Hillcrest immediately across the street from SMU,” said Gerry York, SMU Heritage Hall curator. “In later years, after Laughead retired, the business became known as Bradley Photographers.”

Bradley has covered more than 40 colleges and several NFL teams. In the summer of 2018, the College Football Hall of Fame had an exhibit dedicated to him and his photography.

The family business continues from his University Park home, where Brad and his son, Jimmy, still take photos for SMU. Brad was named University Park’s Citizen of the Year in 2019 and serves on the city’s Facilities Naming Committee.