There are a lot of Rhodes in & around the Park Cities, and if you count the extended family, the number grows to well over 30 (at last count). “My grandfather went to Armstrong [elementary], and since none of us ever wanted to leave, we’ve had a lot of time to multiply!” says Burton.  Burton & Lesley Rhodes both grew up in the Park Cities attending Armstrong & UP elementaries, respectively, and are graduates of Highland Park’s class of 1995. With a graduating class size of under 240, you would think they would have been close friends, but their paths never really crossed until college.

Both attended UT in Austin, and it wasn’t until their junior year when Lesley asked Burton to a Kappa mixer that their relationship really began. “I always thought Lesley was a total catch, but I didn’t have the guts to ask her out,” jokes Burton. “I was actually going to ask another guy out of obligation, but one my friends, Allyson Greenfield (a lifelong friend & Park Cities resident), said to ask the guy I wanted to go with… so I did,” adds Lesley. It’s no accident that Allyson Greenfield was one of Lesley’s bridesmaids.

Lesley was a Communications & Advertising major in college and wanted to move out to San Francisco after graduating. “My parents lived in San Francisco in the early 70’s, and they have the best memories of that city,” says Lesley. Graduating with an MIS degree from the School of Business and hoping to stay near Lesley, Burton was able to land a job with Anderson Consulting in their San Francisco office. They both headed out to the West Coast, each with a group of friends, where they lived for the next three years. “It was an amazing time… getting to spend part of our lives in one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” says Lesley.

However, in 2001, the dot com bubble burst. “There was a mass exodus, and it was as if the entire city was laid off at the same time,” says Burton.  Needing to find a new job and always really wanting to end up in the Park Cities, Burton moved home to work for his dad in residential real estate. “I told my dad that I would only be able to work for him for 6 months until I found a ‘real job’ in technology. Needless to say, I’m still at it after 21 years and have never been happier.” Getting Lesley back to Dallas, though, wasn’t as easy. “I knew the only way to get her back to Dallas was to propose,” says Burton.

Knowing what he had to do, Burton bought a ring, flew out to San Francisco, and went to ask the love his life to spend the rest of their days in Dallas. “When we were apart, we wrote letters to each other – and I’m not sure how it started, but we would end each one with a question for the other to answer. So before I proposed, I had one last letter to deliver with one very important question.”

After marrying in 2003, Burton and Lesley have since grown their family to five with 3 beautiful girls – Emory, Ellis, and Clary. Emory is 16 and currently a junior at HP where she runs track. Ellis, 15, is a freshman and is a member of the Highland Belles. The youngest, Clary, is 11 and in 5th grade, and she enjoys dance, gymnastics, and track.

In talking with Burton & Lesley, it’s apparent that they love the Park Cities community. Whether it’s volunteering at one of the kids’ schools, attending one of their daughters’ many sporting events, playing tennis at the club, organizing a game of Mah Jongg with friends, or going out to Mi Cocina for a family dinner in Highland Park Village, the Rhodes are always happiest when community is involved.

And when Burton isn’t selling homes, he donates much of his time to Preservation Park Cities. PPC is a local organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote the preservation of Park Cities architecture, history, and cultural traditions.  “Both of our parents instilled in us the importance of giving back,” says Lesley. Her mother, Joan Clark, encouraged Burton to get involved several years ago, and he is currently serving as this year’s President. “As President, there is an enormous responsibility to make sure the momentum of the organization continues. It’s painful to see some people destroying the very thing that made them want to live here in the first place.” Lesley continued, “Burton and I don’t want the Park Cities to lose its character. You don’t have to save every old home, but the rate at which many are being torn down is alarming. Some homes are simply worth saving.”

Locked into Highland Park with no plans to leave, they say this community is different. “It’s hard to leave something like this,” they shared. “When we were in California, we rarely met locals. They were all transplants of some kind, and there was no real sense of community. The Park Cities is different. It’s a special place, and our family is here. It’s nearly impossible to reproduce something like this anywhere else.”

Geoff and Kelly Schorr are grateful to be part of the Highland Park community. Kelly, originally from Dallas, went to St. Thomas Aquinas before attending high school at Bishop Lynch. Geoff grew up in Rockwall. After becoming a little bit of a troublemaker in middle-school, his parents decided to enroll him in a high-school where he would receive more structure and discipline, and so he was enrolled at Bishop Lynch. On September 30, 1983, his first week of high-school, Geoff was introduced to Kelly by a mutual friend in the Bishop Lynch cafeteria. Geoff and Kelly formed a strong relationship and became best friends. Geoff says he always knew he wanted to be more than just friends and recalls how they became a couple:
“On May 6, 1984, for her sweet sixteenth birthday, I took her on our very first date. We went to Houlihan’s Restaurant and then to see the movie Romancing the Stone at North Park. During the movie, we sat close and held hands for the first time. The lights were dim and there were not many people around. Near the end of the movie, after building up enough courage, I gently squeezed her hand, leaned closer to her, and with butterflies in my stomach, I kissed her for the very first time, and we became high-school sweethearts.
After graduation from Bishop Lynch, Kelly attended the University of Texas at Austin where she obtained her degree in education. She returned to Dallas in the early 1990s and began her career teaching kindergarten and first grade. By the time Kelly returned to Dallas, she and Geoff had parted ways. Geoff owned and operated a restaurant in Rockwall. Not having seen Kelly in almost five years, Geoff sent a gift certificate for his restaurant to Kelly’s parents’ home on her birthday in the hopes it would reach her. Several weeks later as he was walking through the restaurant, he spotted Kelly with a group of her friends. Geoff and Kelly had found their way back to each other and Geoff didn’t wait long to slap a ring on her finger. They started dating again and were engaged nine months later and married a year after that.

After marrying in Dallas at St. Thomas Aquinas, the couple traveled to Orlando where they visited Disney World before spending time at Ana Marie Island. It was on the way home that Geoff decided he wanted to attend law school, and he pursued studies at Texas A&M University School of Law, formerly Texas Wesleyan University. During law school, Geoff and Kelly started their family and were the proud parents of their first-born child, Porter. The young family lived in a small one-bathroom home in Lakewood. Geoff graduated from law school in December of 2000 and took the February bar which he passed and was licensed in May of 2001. After the experience of owning his own restaurant, Geoff knew he didn’t want to work for anyone. As soon as he received his bar results, he opened Schorr Law Firm in the living room of their Lakewood home.
Porter was born with special needs and a heart defect. He had open heart surgery while Geoff was in law school. As Porter approached school age, Geoff and Kelly began trying to find a school that would be a good fit for Porter’s needs. After researching and visiting numerous schools without finding a good match, the couple decided to move to Highland Park and give HPISD a try. They purchased their first of three Highland Park homes on Mockingbird near the Village. Porter attended Hyer Elementary School. Being so close to the Village, the Schorrs frequented Mi Cocina. On one occasion, while waiting for their table, Geoff went to the bar and ordered a couple margaritas. Geoff remembers when he got the tab for the drinks thinking how expensive the margaritas were, but quickly realized the cost was reasonable because the margaritas were extremely tasty and highly potent. After consuming a few, Geoff and Kelly think they walked or crawled home that night but they’re not sure. In any event, about nine-months later Geoff and Kelly welcomed their second son, Emerson, in September of 2005.
In February 2006, Porter had to undergo a day procedure for his heart. During the procedure, his heart stopped, and he was placed on life support. After several setbacks Kelly and Geoff agreed with the doctors to remove Porter from life-support and he passed at the age of seven on February 24, 2006. Thankfully for Geoff and Kelly, God had given them Emerson and the two were able to focus their attention on raising and taking care of him which seemed to help them cope with the loss of Porter. Shortly after Porter’s passing, the Schorrs moved to their second home on Belcaire. Eventually Emerson was enrolled at Bradfield and finished his elementary school at Armstrong.
When Kelly retired in 2008, she joined Geoff at the law firm. “She takes care of the financial side,” explained Geoff. “It works out perfect.” Kelly laughed, “He’s only fired me two times!” Geoff replied, “Yeah but I’ve hired you three times, more than I’ve hired anyone else.”
In addition to helping out in the office, Kelly is also involved in several local organizations such as Park Cities Learning Disability Association (PCLDA), Special Ed Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC). Kelly recently began work for the American Heart Association after being nominated for Women of Impact. “In August 2021, I had a heart attack,” shared Kelly. “I didn’t know that’s what was happening and didn’t seek treatment right away. My hope is to raise awareness so that other people will get appropriate care.”
Geoff Kelly, and Emerson live on St. John’s. Today they honor Porter’s memory by celebrating him on his birthday. “We offer to the 18+ class to do whatever they want, usually a field trip, to celebrate Porter,” shared Kelly. Emerson attends Highland Park High School where he participates in the Spirited Scots cheer team. “The high school is great,” shared Geoff. “They really take care of the kids.”
Almost 23 years later, Schorr Law Firm continues to grow. Today the firm averages representing 700-900 active clients and has represented thousands of Texas families through the years. Geoff represents those who have been injured or who have lost loved ones because of the wrong acts of other individuals or companies. Geoff is on the board of the Texas Trial Lawyer’s Association and believes that being a Texas trial lawyer has been his professional calling. Geoff believes that using our civil justice system to hold accountable those who take quality of life from his clients by securing proper and just compensation is righteous. Schorr Law Firm also provides legal representation for matters involving family law, guardianship, probate and estate planning.
Though work and family life keep them busy, the Schorrs love to take trips when they can. Vacations to Galveston happen yearly, and Emerson loves the beach and heated pools there. They also enjoy traveling to San Antonio to La Cantera. “After Porter passed away, we decided we needed to get away for a bit,” said Geoff. “We checked in to the resort and a few moments later, there was a knock on the door. Someone that knew a friend of mine was aware that our son had just passed away and said, ‘We’re going to put you all up in a special, private casita’. We have been going there since. We also travel to Morgan’s Wonderland, an amusement park created by a father for his special needs daughter. After realizing that she couldn’t interact well with other kids, he built a park that is ultra-accessible to children with all disabilities. It’s a very special place.” In addition to family trips, Kelly and Geoff plan a night away as a couple. “Last year, we went to the Ritz,” shared Kelly. “They took really good care of us, and we had an amazing suite. This year, I think we are going to the Adolphus.”
After moving to Highland Park for the phenomenal school district, the Schorrs have no plans to leave. “Highland Park is an amazing place to live,” they said. “It feels like home, and we are happy to be here!”
They truly are each other’s person, and reminiscing about their first date on her sixteenth birthday and their first kiss Geoff explains, “Today, nearly 40 years later, we celebrate her birthday as husband and wife. I love taking her on dates and holding her hand, and I still get butterflies every time we kiss.”

The Honorary Chairs for the Ball were Lisa and Clay Cooley, longtime supporters of the DSO and the Dallas community. The Presentation Ball Chair was Karen Cox and DSOL President is Cynthia Beaird. All knew well what to expect during the debutante season. The Cooley’s daughter Ciara made her debut in 2016 and Karen’s daughter Isabella was presented in 2020. Cynthia was the Presentation Ball Chair in 2011 and her daughter Jane made her debut in 2008.

“Serving as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball Chairman has been a distinct honor and a true joy,” said Karen. “Our 2023 debutantes are bright, accomplished and driven to make a positive difference in their communities. Our Debutante families and our generous donors are making a lasting impact on our beneficiaries, the extraordinary education and outreach programs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.”

The incomparable Jan Strimple was given recognition on the stage as this was her final year as Choreographer of the ball. She is turning the reins over the Densil Adams who cofounded Preston Center Dance in 1990. Assisting Densil will be Mia Davis, who has had two Debutante daughters. Jan brought grace and sophistication to each of the presentations for the past 24 years and has taught close to a thousand girls how to do the Texas Dip with poise and confidence. 

There were several legacy families who have been involved with the Presentation Ball since its founding.

Vaughn Miller’s mother Tincy Miller founded the event in 1987 and he was among the first Honor Guard group in the inaugural year. This year, daughter Gigi made her debut and brothers Vaughn and Vance served as Honor Guards.

Members of the Averitt/Duvall families were present for the debut of Natalie Duvall. Her mom Susan Averitt Duvall made her debut in the inaugural presentation ball and sister Madelyn Duvall was presented in 2020. Susan’s brother Mark Averitt was a member of the first group of Honor Guards, and brother Don Averitt worked behind the scenes and graciously greeted the guests. Their work and support has continued since that time. Susan’s sister-in-law Barbara Averitt has assisted the debutantes since the first ball and sister-in-law Kendra Averitt has worked with the honor guard for many years. The Averitt family has continued their support of the Dallas Symphony for over 30 years.  

There were numerous parents who have had debutante daughters in prior years including Heather and Bill Esping, Megan and John Pigott, and Dawne and Patrick Tribolet, along with Michelle and Erik Ward.

Among those in attendance included Sarah and Mark Hardin, Linda Burk and John Gilmore, Kim Noltemy, Marena Gault, and Kristi and Ron Hoyl.

The 2023 Debutantes are: Britton Barcus, Margaret Bracken, Stephanie Ciarochi, Kate Clark, Sarah Crow, Elena Dewar, Gracie Dix, Natalie Duvall, Arden Eiland, Charlotte Esping, Kaitlin Ann Kelly, Celeste Lay, Ella Marks, Ellie Michaelson, Gigi Miller, Lydia Pigott, Morgan Potter, Sasha Schwimmer, Ellie Steindorf, Catherine Stiles, Elizabeth Thompson, Lucy Tilden, CeCe Tribolet, Danielle Ward, Paige Williams, and Nicole Zimmer.

The Presentation Ball was created with the vision of long-time League member Tincy Miller, who also chaired the first ball.

The Presentation Ball, which was first held in 1987, is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Over $13 million has been raised for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the annual event. 

Founded in 1946, the DSOL’s mission is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising activities. Since 1998 the League has contributed over $21 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, which help bring the wonder of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to thousands of youths and adults in the Dallas Metroplex.

Though Scott and Beth Susens are not Park Cities natives, they love being able to call the area home. Scott, born in California, grew up in Chicago and Fort Wayne, Indiana. After attending college at Indiana University where he studied finance, he moved to Dallas to become an investment banker. “Though I came for investment banking, I ended up getting into the IT business early,” shared Scott. “I worked for broadcast.com and Yahoo! where I began to work in software development and management.” Scott now builds software for ConnectWise.

Beth’s parents are from northwest Indiana, and due to her father’s job with Campbell Soup, the family moved frequently. She lived in Illinois, New Jersey, and Nebraska, before moving to Paris, Texas, where she attended elementary school. She attended high school in Pennsylvania and later moved to Dallas to go to college at Northwood University. She worked for several law firms in Dallas and then Procter & Gamble before staying at home with her children.

The couple met while Scott was installing a computer system for a law firm that Beth was working for. They were both seeing other people, but an insistent coworker eventually set them up on a date. “Initially, neither one of us were interested in the other,” said Beth. “We were both dating other people, and Scott is a hunter and fisherman and very outdoorsy, something I am not.” Their first date occurred at Dodie’s for crawfish, which Beth was not prepared for. “I really just pushed it around on my plate, not wanting to touch it,” she laughed. After dating for a bit, the two ended up going their separate ways until two years later when Beth called Scott to ask him out on a date. “After dating again, I knew that he was the one,” said Beth. Scott continued, “Apparently, I was moving too slow, so Beth actually proposed to me. It was more of ‘Here are some choices for dates. Pick one.’ One was in the middle of hunting season, so that was not going to work,” laughed Scott.

Scott and Beth have two children, Miller and Michael. Miller, age 27, has a degree in Music Education from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She was a part of the orchestra at HPHS as well as the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and New Conservatory of Dallas. “With a degree in music education, she had to learn how to teach music and how to play every instrument,” explained Beth. “She started playing cello at age 10 but needed to learn all instruments for her degree and teaching license. She now teaches 4^th-6^th grade elementary strings in Fairfax County, Virginia and loves it.” She is currently preparing to audition for her Master’s degree in cello performance.

Michael, age 25, works at Chance’s Coffee Shop at the Tolleson Building through Highland Park United Methodist Church and To Be Like Me, a disability awareness program that breaks down barriers and fosters compassion. “Highland Park has been a blessing to us,” said Beth. “We moved to the Park Cities from East Dallas in 2004. The Highland Park school’s special education programs emphasize inclusion and giving everyone a chance regardless of ability. The teachers and resources make the programs a success. Their transition program after high school was an amazing boost to Michael’s confidence and job skills. The skills acquired during the transition program with job coaches allowed Michael to be employable in different areas after graduation. We also have wonderful local businesses in our community that have stepped up and given our population with disabilities a chance at employment.”

With a passion for advocacy, Beth stays active as a board member of the Autism Treatment Center and is involved with the Belong Disability Ministry at HPUMC. She spent a good amount of time while her children were in HP schools also volunteering in various roles. Hobbies for her and Scott include cooking and traveling. “I love to cook,” said Beth. “Scott is a great cook as well, and he does all the grilling. He even bottles his own barbeque sauce. For Valentine’s Day, instead of going out to eat, Scott cooks a special dinner, and we enjoy dinner just the two of us.” The Susens also grow herbs and vegetables and love experimenting with new cuisines. “We cook at home more than we eat out, but when we do dine out, we love to try new places,” Scott shared. Beth says she models her cooking style from Food Network host Ina Garten saying, “Not everything has to be hard to serve a great meal!” Scott, on the other hand, says his approach is more Michael Symon from Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que. “He has a practical attitude about grilling and food, and I like his style.”

Beth and Scott describe their favorite vacation memory as a cruise taken for Beth’s dad’s 80^th birthday. Beth comes from a large family of five brothers and sisters. “It’s difficult for us to all be together as we live in different parts of the country,” she said. “We went between Christmas and New Year’s, and we all had a great time. Everyone was old enough to manage on their own, so we planned our own schedules with the exception of having dinner as a family every night.” Current travel plans include an upcoming cruise for their 30th anniversary.

Their son, Michael, is a huge rail fan.  He has been interested in trains since age two and has advanced from wooden Thomas the Tank Engine to model trains. This has resulted in many train vacations for the Susens family. Over the years, the family has traveled all over the country to ride tourist steam trains in Colorado, California, Texas, and Nevada. He belongs to a train club called The Texas Outlaws and is able to participate with others in local train shows. Last year, Michael and Scott did a week long “train camp” in Ely, Nevada where they worked on the railroad and got to actually drive a steam engine.

 

Scott also has some bucket list trips. “I got to participate in a big marlin tournament in Destin, and I would like to do more of that,” he explained. “My largest and most memorable catch was a 450lb black marlin that was actually attacked by a shark while I was reeling it in. I have also been to Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica and many areas in the US but would like to go back to do more fishing in Alaska. In the late spring, I head to Connecticut to fly fish at the Walton Fishing Club on the Housatonic River and that’s always a great time!”

Boyd and Wendy Messmann have been Highland Park residents for 20 years and have been married for 26 years. Boyd, originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, attended Indiana University (IU), The University of Kentucky (MBA) and worked for Lincoln National Life, a real estate investment banking group, covering the southeast United States. Wendy is from Houston but after attending SMU, she declared Dallas better than Houston and decided to stay. The two met through a blind date that they both describe as awkward. “Our blind date was on a Monday in January, and it was freezing cold that day,” explained Wendy. “We were the only ones in the restaurant, and it was just very awkward. I also determined that Boyd was about as geographically undesirable as possible being from Indiana. I thought “What are we even doing here?’ But, God clearly had a different plan.” Boyd described Wendy as beautiful, smart, and easy to talk to. The couple made it through that awkward first date, Boyd later relocated to Dallas, and they married a couple of years later.   

Boyd and Wendy have two daughters, Blaire and Devan. Blaire, 20, is currently attending The University of Oklahoma (OU) in Norman, Oklahoma, where she is an aspiring med student. “Blaire is very driven and focused,” shared Wendy. “She is an academic star and has yet to have a B in any class. She attends honors college, received an academic scholarship, and will likely graduate in three years.” Blaire held the national title of United States of America’s Teen in 2019 and despite the frills and glamour of that title, Wendy describes Blaire as very down-to-earth. 15-year-old Devan is a cheerleader at Highland Park High School and competes on a varsity level 4 all-star competitive cheer team. “She stays very busy with cheer,” explained Boyd. “She is very dedicated and starts at 6am with cheer in the morning, then school, then competitive cheer practice after school. Devan is an old soul with the biggest heart. She loves baking and is always up for a good beach.”

The Messmann family is completed by three dogs, one cat and a hedgehog. “The girls received two teacup Maltese puppies for Christmas when Blaire was 7 and Devan was 3, and they named them Ginger Sparkles and Holly Noel,” said Wendy.  “We then found our sweet Leo, and against better judgement, we now have a cat and a hedgehog. Devan loves every animal and is always looking to add more. If she’s not a vet later in life, she has missed her calling!”

Anyone who knows the Messmanns would tell you that they are all about the holidays with Christmas being the super bowl of all holidays. Decorating is a well-orchestrated collaboration with Wendy and Boyd. Family events consist of costume contests (even at Christmas), white elephant parties, candy house decorating contests – that may or may not involve a trophy that the winning family gets to proudly display at their home for the coming year.

 

Sports are also important to the Messmanns. Boyd grew up as both a Bears fan and a Packers fan and was named after Boyd Dowler, tight end for Green Bay. “My mom loved the Packers, and my dad loved the Bears,” said Boyd. “Since being in Texas, my loyalties have switched, and we definitely support the Cowboys.” Wendy is an avid football fan, and football season is her favorite time of year. “Boyd also loves basketball, but I just find it so painful to watch,” laughed Wendy. For Halloween, the Messmanns celebrated their love of football by representing the four teams in their lives with pumpkins made for their porch. “We had SMU, IU, OU, and Highland Park,” said Wendy. They also Boulevard as often as they can. “SMU fans can make the best of every situation,” said Wendy. The fans really participate and people from the opposing teams always comment about the great tradition of Boulevard. It’s a fun event and people take pride in it.”

In addition to sports, the Messmann family also have a love for travel. “We always wanted the kids to see the world and have an appreciation for different cultures,” said Boyd. “They have traveled from a young age and have been to Italy, Hong Kong, Thailand, all throughout Europe, and have been on mission trips to Guatemala and Nicaragua.” Perhaps their favorite trip, though, is a family trip to St. Thomas. They are currently planning a trip to Greece, and Blaire is considering a semester in Italy, so a new reason to visit Italy may be on the horizon!

Locally, Wendy and Boyd enjoy dining out, and some of their favorite places are Café Pacific and Al Biernat’s. “Not only is the food consistently wonderful, but we have also so many great memories from when the kids were young,” shared Wendy. When Blaire was an infant, we would take her in her carrier, and Al Biernat’s had a windowsill where she would sleep peacefully during dinner. Another memory is when, at around age 9, Devan wrote a blog where she reviewed the escargot at Café Pacific!”

There are many reasons to love Highland Park, but the strong, cohesive community and great schools are what brought Boyd and Wendy here. After living in Arizona for three years for Boyd’s career and while Wendy obtained an MBA at Arizona State University, they built a house in Plano. “After moving to Plano, we would always find ourselves driving back to the Park Cities on the weekends,” explained Wendy. “I was pregnant with Blaire, and we had only been in our new home for four months before we decided to start the whole process over again and built a house in Highland Park.”

Boyd and Wendy are very active in the community while juggling a busy family and demanding careers. Wendy has managed money for over 25 years and is currently Market Leader, Managing Director for Bank of America Private Bank and Boyd, with a background in real estate, financing, and lending, launched a national acquisition platform for Vertical Ventures. Giving back to the community is a core tenet of their family and a value that is important they instill in their children. Currently they are very involved with the Crystal Charity Ball and Wendy is board chair at CitySquare. They are also passionate about New Friends New Life, The Cattle Barons Ball supporting the American Cancer Society, The Junior League of Dallas, and the CFA Society of Dallas.

With a busy schedule and a passion for non-profit work, Wendy is working on bringing more margin into her life for 2023. “I’ve been reading a great book about margin,” she said. “I heard about the book at a recent National Charity League meeting that my daughters and I are a part of, and I’m working to apply that to my life. Things are going to come up in your life that you can’t predict, and you have to be able to adjust for those things.” Likewise, Boyd said that de-stressing and taking time for yourself is something that the family is focused on this year. “We would love to do some more traveling and just spend more quality time together as a family.”