The Underwood family has had a rich and adventurous life together! From their diverse backgrounds to their love for travel and exploration and, career accomplishments, their story began in South America, where Gina’s grandfather, a successful businessman, investor, and politician in Peru, had a passion for real estate. Gina shared that he even purchased a property in Louisiana, where she spent her formative years in Baton Rouge until the age of 10. Despite English being her first language, the Underwood family is bilingual, and Gina became fluent in Spanish after moving back to Peru at the age of 10. She pursued her studies at Universidad del Pacífico, earning a degree in business and finance. With a deep-seated affinity for the oil and gas industry, Gina worked at ExxonMobil Exploration and Producing Peru and crossed paths with Trey, who was also working in the same industry in Peru for his father’s oil and gas company. Trey lived in Peru for 14 years.
Trey is from Dallas, having grown up in Preston Hollow and attended Park Cities schools before pursuing his graduate degree at Midwestern University for business administration.
After meeting Gina in Peru, they returned to Dallas, where they got married and welcomed their first daughter, Megan McKamy. However, familial obligations prompted them to make a move back to Peru for three years to assist Trey’s family with the formation and administration of their agricultural company in Northern Peru. It was during this period that their second daughter, Charlotte Kate, came into the world. Gina fondly recalled how they took the girls on adventures all over Peru and South America during their early years.
Following their time in Peru, the family relocated once again to Dallas. Gina was rehired by ExxonMobil Corporation, this time at the corporate office in Irving. She devoted herself to the company for a number of years before retiring to focus on caring for Megan and Charlotte. During this time, Gina found fulfillment in pursuing activities she had always desired, such as joining the Junior Group of Dallas Garden Club, the Afternoon Book Review Club, playing tennis at Northwood, and Mahjong with a beloved mahjong group formed by her friend group at Ursuline Academy “The Magnificent Seven” and indulging in their family passion for travel. Eventually, she reentered the oil and gas industry as a consultant while also serving as a district Spanish Translator and Interpreter for Garland ISD and the Dallas County Court Juvenile Department. Meanwhile, Trey flourished as a Finance executive at AutoNation and frequently embarked on fishing trips to the Texas coast, making the most of his leisure time.
Their eldest daughter, Megan, attended St. Rita Catholic School and Ursuline Academy before moving on to the University of Texas at Austin (UT). She is an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta and finds joy in playing tennis, golf and traveling. Currently, Megan is completing an internship for the Highland Park Education Foundation and is also business owner of MUM, a company that imports baby alpaca and designs scarfs and home accessories. Charlotte, at the age of 15, attended Christ the King Catholic School and now attends Highland Park High School. Her love for fashion has ignited aspirations of pursuing it as a career, with plans to potentially attend prestigious institutions such as FIT, Parsons, or a fashion business school in Europe. Trey’s mother, Kathleen McKamy Johnson, was an Idlewild and Fiesta San Antonio Debutante, so it was inevitable for Megan and Charlotte to become Debs themselves, Gina expressed. Kathleen always hosted Deb parties, and Gina vividly remembers being captivated by the grandeur of these events. In fact, Kathleen even preserved her own Idlewild dress to be passed down to Megan and Charlotte.
As avid travelers, the Underwoods have explored various destinations worldwide, with Greece holding a special place in their hearts. They make it a point to visit Greece every year, although one amusing incident involved traveling five hours to Olympia, the home of the ancient Olympic Games, only to find it closed. Nevertheless, it was still a memorable trip. Their adventures have also taken them to Japan and China, countries rich in culture and history. This summer, they have plans to travel to Croatia, Italy, and return to Greece. Closer to home, they enjoy frequenting Café Pacific for intimate date nights, as well as Northwood Country Club and Dallas Petroleum Club. They often take leisurely walks from their home to Highland Park Village, using it as a time to plan their next big adventure.