In January of 2011, Dan Petty graduated to his next life with God. He had a full life that began in 1939 in Texarkana, Texas. He grew up strong, played football and became president of his graduating high school class. His football prowess gained him a scholarship position on Darryl Royal's first recruiting class at the University of Texas. He kidded me sometimes that he spent most of his time on th ebench, but I know better. I also know that he attended many of the UT games over his life and, at most of them, he could be seen standing on the sidelines when the games were over. He was involved in his own quiet way in UT affairs, much more than any of us knew for certain.
After UT and Wharton, Dan was City Manager for a couple of towns including Lubbock. He was executive assistant to Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe and then became President of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce in the 70s when Dallas was in its building stage. Dan knew lots of folks and made lifelong friends of most of them.
When I was working at the architectural and engineering firm of Caudill, Rowlett, Scott in the 70s, Dan was recruited pretty hard to become president of one of the engineering companies that CRS had acquired. At the last minute, when as he told me, "I had my hand on the door knob," he took a position as President of the Henry S. Miller Real Estate Company in Dallas. I think part of his decision was that he wanted to stay in his favorite city - Dallas.
I was the VP of worldwide marketing for CRS when Dan took the MIller position. Not long after he settled in, he hired Spencer Stuart to find an "office/sales manager" for the Houston office of the Miller Company. I told the recruiter, Jim Parr, that I was not interested, but that I would help him as a source.
The position morphed from office manager to President of the Houston office on my recommendation. Dan turned around and offered me the position and I jumped on it. From that day forward Dan became a close friend and mentor for me until he died.
Dan was a great boss. He understood that Houston was growing and the office had some real professional brokers who would one day lead the profession in Houston. I took the position and Dan began to guide me in making sure that the Houston office was a success. One of the first things he did was to send me to meet his old friend Mayor Louie Welch who was then serving as president of the Houston Chamber of Commerce.
Little did I know that 10 years later, I would be sitting in Louie's chair as the president of the Greater Houston Partnership. Dan always told me to stay involved with the Chamber where the business leaders all gathered to address "big Hairy" problems. Petty steered me right.
Five years later, the Miller family sold the company to Grubb & Ellis, a west coast operation led by Hal Ellis. We were told that it was a "merger of equals" but we knew better and Dan was one of the first people to leave the company during that merger. I shoudl have paid closer attention to that "movie" since I would see it again in not too many years.
Dan joined the Woodbine Development Company. Even though he denied it, I still think that he recommended me to take his place as President of the Texas Operations for the merged companies. Henry Miller made the "ask" and Dan counseled me on how to take the position without moving to Dallas, especially since we had a new son. (Besides I liked Houston better than Dallas and still do.) I commuted almost daily from Houston to Dallas until my son asked that fateful question that most of us have heard, "Daddy, when are you coming home?" We moved to Dallas for a few years, but it was not for me or Grubb & Ellis.
Dan stayed with Woodbine for several years, but was not well-suited for either the real estate development business or the down economy of the mid 80s. He moved to the North Texas Commission where he was a star player. He stayed there until he graduated from this life.
Dan was always there when I needed the answer to any question, a contact, or a sounding board for an idea. He had a way of getting me to think of other options and to find better solutions to any issue that we discussed. That process became especially important when I was told by the Grubb & Ellis management team that, "They were going to make some major changes in the Texas operations starting with me." There is the movie I told you about.
Dan gave my name to Spencer Stuart again since they were looking for a new President for the newly formed Greater Houston Partnership. Dan sourced me for them, counseled me through the hiring and negotiation process so that I could get that assignment, one that I enjoyed for the next 15 years that I honored to lead the Partnership for the 4th largest city in the country. Thanks again Dan.
During late 2000, I was diagnosed with cancer. Dan and I talked about life when we could since we were both carrying heavy schedules. When I ended up in Southern California at Loma Linda for two months of proton radiation treatments, Dan made it a point to come out to spend some time with me. He was the only one of my friends who was able to make it out there. Dan was like that.
More recently, our roles reversed.Dan was coming to the end of his career with the Commission and we talked several times about his transition and his desire to stay active as a consultant after he completed his work for the Dallas Superbowl. He was part of the host committee with Roger Staubach that worked hard to help make it an outstanding success. Too bad that Dan graduated and did not get to see the game.
He "went quiet" in December of 2010 and I learned that he had heart surgery that took quite a toll on someone like him with such a large heart. He never fully recovered from that surgery and health declined to the point where he died. His next life, I am certain, is in heaven where he is quietly organizing the next angel football game, the next celebrations and mentoring all the new arrivals. I just hope that I can "pay it forward" for all the things he did to make my professional life so much richer
Back here on earth, we are missing him and remembering all those times when he was there for all of us who knew and love him.
Safe travels Dan.
Thanks for being in our lives.
JK
After UT and Wharton, Dan was City Manager for a couple of towns including Lubbock. He was executive assistant to Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe and then became President of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce in the 70s when Dallas was in its building stage. Dan knew lots of folks and made lifelong friends of most of them.
When I was working at the architectural and engineering firm of Caudill, Rowlett, Scott in the 70s, Dan was recruited pretty hard to become president of one of the engineering companies that CRS had acquired. At the last minute, when as he told me, "I had my hand on the door knob," he took a position as President of the Henry S. Miller Real Estate Company in Dallas. I think part of his decision was that he wanted to stay in his favorite city - Dallas.
I was the VP of worldwide marketing for CRS when Dan took the MIller position. Not long after he settled in, he hired Spencer Stuart to find an "office/sales manager" for the Houston office of the Miller Company. I told the recruiter, Jim Parr, that I was not interested, but that I would help him as a source.
The position morphed from office manager to President of the Houston office on my recommendation. Dan turned around and offered me the position and I jumped on it. From that day forward Dan became a close friend and mentor for me until he died.
Dan was a great boss. He understood that Houston was growing and the office had some real professional brokers who would one day lead the profession in Houston. I took the position and Dan began to guide me in making sure that the Houston office was a success. One of the first things he did was to send me to meet his old friend Mayor Louie Welch who was then serving as president of the Houston Chamber of Commerce.
Little did I know that 10 years later, I would be sitting in Louie's chair as the president of the Greater Houston Partnership. Dan always told me to stay involved with the Chamber where the business leaders all gathered to address "big Hairy" problems. Petty steered me right.
Five years later, the Miller family sold the company to Grubb & Ellis, a west coast operation led by Hal Ellis. We were told that it was a "merger of equals" but we knew better and Dan was one of the first people to leave the company during that merger. I shoudl have paid closer attention to that "movie" since I would see it again in not too many years.
Dan joined the Woodbine Development Company. Even though he denied it, I still think that he recommended me to take his place as President of the Texas Operations for the merged companies. Henry Miller made the "ask" and Dan counseled me on how to take the position without moving to Dallas, especially since we had a new son. (Besides I liked Houston better than Dallas and still do.) I commuted almost daily from Houston to Dallas until my son asked that fateful question that most of us have heard, "Daddy, when are you coming home?" We moved to Dallas for a few years, but it was not for me or Grubb & Ellis.
Dan stayed with Woodbine for several years, but was not well-suited for either the real estate development business or the down economy of the mid 80s. He moved to the North Texas Commission where he was a star player. He stayed there until he graduated from this life.
Dan was always there when I needed the answer to any question, a contact, or a sounding board for an idea. He had a way of getting me to think of other options and to find better solutions to any issue that we discussed. That process became especially important when I was told by the Grubb & Ellis management team that, "They were going to make some major changes in the Texas operations starting with me." There is the movie I told you about.
Dan gave my name to Spencer Stuart again since they were looking for a new President for the newly formed Greater Houston Partnership. Dan sourced me for them, counseled me through the hiring and negotiation process so that I could get that assignment, one that I enjoyed for the next 15 years that I honored to lead the Partnership for the 4th largest city in the country. Thanks again Dan.
During late 2000, I was diagnosed with cancer. Dan and I talked about life when we could since we were both carrying heavy schedules. When I ended up in Southern California at Loma Linda for two months of proton radiation treatments, Dan made it a point to come out to spend some time with me. He was the only one of my friends who was able to make it out there. Dan was like that.
More recently, our roles reversed.Dan was coming to the end of his career with the Commission and we talked several times about his transition and his desire to stay active as a consultant after he completed his work for the Dallas Superbowl. He was part of the host committee with Roger Staubach that worked hard to help make it an outstanding success. Too bad that Dan graduated and did not get to see the game.
He "went quiet" in December of 2010 and I learned that he had heart surgery that took quite a toll on someone like him with such a large heart. He never fully recovered from that surgery and health declined to the point where he died. His next life, I am certain, is in heaven where he is quietly organizing the next angel football game, the next celebrations and mentoring all the new arrivals. I just hope that I can "pay it forward" for all the things he did to make my professional life so much richer
Back here on earth, we are missing him and remembering all those times when he was there for all of us who knew and love him.
Safe travels Dan.
Thanks for being in our lives.
JK