By Sarah Mitchell

When Emily first got the call from her company in Raleigh, NC, offering her a position in Dallas, she had no idea just how much her life was about to change. “They asked if I wanted to move, and 19 days later, I was in Dallas,” she said. That was back in 2012, and what started as a quick decision has led to a full life in the Park Cities.

Emily is originally from North Carolina and attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh. She had never been to Dallas and only knew one friend that she’d grown up with in North Carolina that now lived in Dallas – whom she quickly called. “She and her husband offered me their spare bedroom until I found a place to live, becoming the first of many families in the Park Cities that folded me into their lives and their community. From making their backhouses available to me to including me in Holidays, this has been the most generous and kind neighborhood, especially when I first moved here with no family,” Emily shared.

After the move, she continued in Software Sales and worked for Securus Technologies, selling software into prison systems and later shifted to Property Management Software when she joined AppFolio. While her family remained in North Carolina, she found community in Dallas. A couple of years ago, she met her now-husband Preston, a commercial lender at Texas Security Bank. Preston’s own story had taken him from Southern Louisiana to Texas after Hurricane Katrina. His family relocated to Celina Salina, where he finished high school before attending the University of North Texas. He loves to play golf and spends most of his time supporting the Touchdown Club of Dallas. 

Together, Emily and Preston are raising two young kids – their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son. Emily’s journey into motherhood started before she met Preston. As a single woman, she felt called to become a foster parent and had the privilege of parenting two newborn baby girls, and when Emily and Preston met, she had a 6-month-old baby in her home. Emily adopted her daughter while they were dating, and they quickly got married and Preston adopted her too!

Earlier this year, Emily decided to take a step back from corporate life and stay home with the kids. In 2024, she launched Etiquette by Emily, a business focused on teaching manners, kindness, and etiquette to children in the Park Cities. “My mom was a schoolteacher, and I’ve always had a heart for kids, education, and social politeness,” she said. “Preston and I always wanted to own a business, and this business has been such an obvious fit and blessing to our entire family.”

Emily purchased the curriculum from Amy Ranier in Mountainbrook, Alabama, who developed the etiquette program over 28 years of teaching in her community. Now, she teaches kids how to introduce themselves, table manners, how to interact respectfully with adults, classmates, and teachers, and how to be helpful at home, and several other social topics. She’s also been invited to speak to parenting groups at several local churches. 

The Smith’s children attend the Ashford RISE School of Dallas, a place that’s played a significant role in their family’s story. “The brilliant therapists and administration at The Rise School have taught us so much about social, emotional, and cognitive development and given us all the tools we need to support the education of both of our children that come from different backgrounds,” Emily explained. “They are both thriving and we feel empowered in our abilities in these early formative years because of the tools that their school has made available to us.”

Preston supports the school in his own unique way through his membership in The Touchdown Club of Dallas. This organization is composed of men that fundraise a significant amount of funds each year to support The Ashford Rise School of Dallas.  They host events around Dallas in the Fall and Spring, inviting everyone to attend and learn about the amazing things that The Rise School through a group called the Touchdown Club, a men’s fundraising organization that supports RISE. “It’s like a fraternity,” Emily said. “They only let in 18 new members each year, and last year, Preston’s group raised over $2 million. It’s amazing how quickly and effectively they fundraise.”

The family recently took a trip to Kanakuk’s Family Kamp in Branson, Missouri, where Preston checked off a bucket list dream by golfing at Payne’s Valley Golf Course. They also caught a performance of David at The Sights and Sounds Theater, which Emily described as “an absolutely incredible performance that made the Bible come alive in new ways.” Trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to see Emily’s parents are also a regular part of their lives, and they look forward to spending the holidays on the East Coast. When they aren’t on their beloved flight from Love Field to Raleigh, they will splurge, like they did in 2023 on a special trip to Paris. “Preston could’ve stayed in the Louvre all day,” Emily said. “He loves history, and the museums were definitely a highlight – aside from the food, of course!” Their next stop? New York City, where they plan to visit Ellis Island and the 9/11 Memorial.

Outside of her etiquette business and parenting, Emily continues to dedicate time to the foster care community. “I volunteer with some post-adoption advocates and speak on panels through Watermark Church,” she said. “Before I became a foster parent myself, I was a CASA volunteer. It’s something I really care about.” We always want to have an open home that welcomes not only foster children, but our friends, neighbors, and family. Our dinner table fills up every Monday night with friends that we share dinner with week after week, and that is definitely a habit of our household that we want to continue for decades to come!  

When they’re home, the family enjoys simple pleasures around town—weekly visits to the Saint Michael’s farmers market, coffee runs to LDU, Germany Park regulars, and dinner at their favorite restaurant, Bobbies Airway Grill. “In addition to The Touchdown Club of Dallas, we also love supporting the UP Library, One Hundred Shares, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League,” Emily added. “It’s just a special community to be part of.”  

From a spare bedroom in Highland Park to a growing family and a business of her own, Emily’s life in the Park Cities has been filled with growth and purpose. “This neighborhood welcomed me when it was just me,” she said. “And now, it’s home for not just me, but my whole family.”

By Sarah Mitchell

 Mary C. Lawson Corrigan grew up in Houston, but it’s Dallas that truly feels like home. After moving to University Park in seventh grade, she quickly became part of the fabric of the Park Cities. A graduate of Highland Park High School, she still laughs about being voted “Most Likely to Live at Home.” As it turns out, she now lives just blocks away from her parents.

The oldest of three sisters, Mary C. headed to Baylor for college where she spent four years studying child and family studies. “I always knew I wanted to work with families in some way,” she explained. “I just didn’t know exactly how that would look.” After college, she returned to the Park Cities, got married at 24, and spent nearly two decades as a full-time mom. “I loved doing that, but unfortunately, we split up last year,” she said, referring to her recent divorce.

With her daughters growing up fast, Mary C. found herself standing at a crossroads. “I realized I had this opportunity to reinvent myself for this next chapter of my life,” she said. That turning point led to what she describes as an “aha moment.” After hearing from so many friends juggling careers, raising their own kids, and suddenly helping aging parents, she recognized a major gap in support and resources. That’s when she decided to become a Certified Senior Advisor and launched Journey for HOPE (Helping Older Parents Evolve). “Helping families prepare for aging isn’t just my business, it’s personal. I know what it’s like to feel unprepared, and I never want anyone else to feel that lost.” Mary C. says her goal is simple: to help families plan ahead and make sure their parents live well and leave a meaningful legacy. “Most people wait until there’s a crisis. My goal is to work with families before that, helping them create a clear, customized roadmap for aging well, based on their parents’ needs, values, and spiritual beliefs. It’s a concierge style service that provides individual planning, care, and maintenance.” With the launch of her website (www.journeyforhope.net), she is ready to help families with customized care planning. ““Some clients come to me for overall care planning, while others need help figuring out when it’s time to move a parent into assisted living or how to support early cognitive decline. I help families navigate doctors, create personalized binders, and prepare for legacy conversations. I act as a bridge between what’s happening now and what needs to happen next, providing clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. While I do support families in crisis, my real goal is to get ahead of it. It’s so much easier to make thoughtful, confident decisions when there’s a plan in place before things get chaotic.”

By Sarah Mitchell

 John Ellerman grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, a town known more for Mark Twain and the Mississippi River. After he graduated high school, he headed south to Florida for college at Stetson University where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After Stetson, John gained a research appointment at MIT where he worked and studied in a computer science laboratory. “The only way I could go to grad school was to sign a ROTC contract, which I did,” John said. That led him to Washington, D.C. where he worked as a systems analyst. “I was fortunate and spent two years as a systems analyst working for all three military services as a young second lieutenant.”

That early chapter kicked off what became a five-decade-long career in management consulting, mostly focusing on executive compensation and corporate governance. John started out with what’s now KPMG, doing general strategy work, but in 1978, he joined Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby. His role took him to Atlanta, then Tampa for 13 years, and finally to Dallas in 1993. He stayed with the firm until 2010 when it merged with another consulting firm and went public as Towers Watson. The new public firm was facing criticism over a perceived conflict of interest with respect to its executive compensation practice and decided to divest itself of that practice following the merger. John and several of his partners purchased the executive compensation practice from Towers Watson and formed a new, free-standing firm known as Pay Governance. “We took about 40 people with us from our former firm and ended up being very successful,” he said. “I stayed there until 2022 when I retired.” These days, he enjoys a slower pace, starting his morning with the Wall Street Journal and spending time with his grandkids.

John moved to Dallas with family in mind. When he arrived in 1993, his son Robert was just two years old. “I chose the Park Cities because of the reputation for great schools,” John said. They started in University Park before settling in Highland Park. By 2014, John had built his current home, teaming up with his nephew, a Yale-educated architect based in Seattle.

Robert, now grown with a family of his own, reflects on that move. “My dad was top-tier in getting me where I wanted to be,” Robert said. A dedicated hockey player in his youth, Robert played for Highland Park but mostly focused on travel teams. “When I was about seven or eight years old, the Stars won the Stanley Cup, and I was hooked after that.”

Today, Robert works in the high-tech space as an enterprise account executive at a software company that specializes in automated testing. His focus now is on raising his own kids – three of them, including one from his wife Kim’s previous relationship.

Robert and Kim’s five-year old daughter, Remington (aka “Remi”), is full of curiosity and loves reading and painting. “She is very smart and quite gifted, and I just find her fascinating and enjoy speaking with her,” John shared. Two-year old son Brooks is car-obsessed – especially Porsches. Oldest daughter Paisley is busy with basketball, swimming, and cheerleading. “I never expected to get this kind of joy from being a grandfather,” John said.  “It has been the greatest joy of my life, and I spend every minute that I can with them.”

Outside of family time, John stays involved with his alma mater, serving on the business school’s board and attending events each year. He is also active at Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, particularly with the men’s groups, and says faith has always been an anchor in his life.

Cars are another passion. “I bought my first Porsche 911 in 1987 and have had one most of the time since,” he said. His interest in cars goes way back with early memories of riding in trucks his father used for his dairy business. “That gave me the engineering to play around with cars and trucks when I was two to three years old, just as Brooks does now,” he said. He currently drives a 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4S and has another on the way – a Boxster with a 911 engine and 395 horsepower. “It’s probably not the most practical thing to do, but I’m looking forward to it.”

John enjoys travel and has visited several countries in Europe including England, Germany, Belgium, and France multiple times. But his most meaningful trip was to Jerusalem about six years ago. “Being able to walk in the same footsteps as Jesus was a significant experience,” he said. “It was just incredible.” Locally, he enjoys watching tennis and plans to attend the U.S. Open in New York this year. 

Robert speaks highly of his father and the values he’s passed down. “My father is an exceptional man. Everything that I’ve learned and thought to be morally right has come from him. He has been a great example in my life and his faith in God reflects on me.”

Whether he’s reading the paper, heading to New York for the U.S. Open, or simply hanging out with his grandkids, John seems content right where he is in the Park Cities!

    The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s40thPresentation Ball Casino Royale Party unfolded in dazzling fashion at the elegant Arlington Hall on a hot July 25th night. Guests arrived in stylish cocktail attire and sweeping evening gowns, setting the tone for an unforgettable formal affair. Bright Casino Royale colors in all tones of pinks, purples, and greens were seen on the Debs and the Honor Guard were dapper in their summer white tie.The night began with an array of cocktails and drinks that set the festive tone for the festivities. The Debs, Honor Guard, and their families were treated to a fun evening of dinner, lively casino games and non–stop dancing. True to theme, a sleek green Aston Martin greeted partygoers at the entrance, a nod to the legendary Agent 007. With gracious smiles and heartfelt welcomes, Presentation Ball co–chairs Maggie Kipp and Kristin Hallam along with DSOL President Claire Catrino, greeted each arriving guest. “We were elated to dance, dine, gamble, and laugh with our incredible 40th Debs, HonorGuard and families,” said co–chair Maggie. “All completed the Casino Royale’s 007 mission of colorful fabulous fashion and elegant fun!” The highly acclaimed musical ensemble Manhattan, a full live band under the Jordan Kahn Music Company, kept the dance floor packed. Their repertoire presenteda wide range of genres and eras—from vintage soul to contemporary pop—perfect for keeping the energy alive. The group played through the evening on the stage which has witnessed the band’s unforgettable performances time and again. Macaroons in the Casino Royale colors along with other delicious deserts were great pick me up allowing guests to dance and play casino games late into the night. Lighted Hawaiian leis and funky neon sunshades were distributed for wild fun and the dance floor was aglow with the blinking lights. At the appointed time, the Debutantes gathered outside for a group photo alongside an elegant Aston Martin provided by event sponsor Avondale Dealerships. Distinguished guests in attendance were Kerri Cleghorn Lai, the newly appointed VicePresident of Development for the DSO, and Denton Bricker, the Director of DSO Events and Volunteers. Spotted at roulette wheel and on the dance floor included 40th year Debutantes Claire Bradshaw, Stella Grabham, Livia Lange, Olivia Zambrano, Ryan Brown, Marlo Rivas, Cate Cox, Claire Andrews, Madeleine Jenkins, Madeline Mayer, Sofia Reyes, Rachel Rader, Lindy Smith, Campbell Schultz, Jane Hochman, Elena Zeballos, Ashley Goldman, Charlotte Lauten, Sealy McGowin, Tessa Stephenson, and Georgia Williamson. Some of theHonor Guard members in attendance included Key Coker, Knox Waggoner, Alan Hunt, John Bullard, Ryan McCord, Matthew Melcher, Burke Arthur, Daniel Waggoner, Jack Schlafer, Joseph Copeland, Knox Waggoner, Calder Sinak, Carter Weigand, Mark Hardaway, Will Collet, and George Touris. Sponsors for the evening included Avondale Dealerships, Barbara Sturm, MisterTuxedo, Love Shack Fancy Cortez Resources, and Anchor Capital. Ben E. Keith is the Presenting Sponsor of the Presentation Ball Special thanks for the committee who made the evening possible: Mari Epperson, Niki Turner, Nancy Gopez, Deborah Brown, Christine Winn, and Stephanie Hunt, and Sharon Ballew. The Casino Royale Party marked the culmination of a whirlwind summer for the Debutantes—weeks filled with bow boot camps, luncheons, and elegant social mixers. Now, the countdown begins for their formal debut at the 40th Annual Presentation Ball, set for February 21, 2026, at the renowned Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Proceeds from the Presentation Ball support the Dallas Symphony’s education and community outreach initiatives. Among the most beloved is the Young Strings program, which provides free private lessons, instrument loans, and ensemble experiences for talented students—primarily Black, Latino, and low–income youth. With a 100% high school graduation rate and nearly all students continuing to college—many in music—this program is shaping the next generation of musicians and arts supporters. This year marks a trio of important milestones: the 80th anniversary of the DSOL, the 40th Presentation Ball, and the 125th anniversary of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The DSOL continues to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through dedicated service, education, and fundraising activities. Since 1998, the League has contributed over $26million to the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, bringing the magic of the symphony to thousands of young people and adults across the Dallas Metroplex.  

Mark your calendars for a night of music and dancing on Saturday, January 31, 2026, as the Junior Symphony Ball takes over the iconic Gilley’s Dallas for an evening of fun and entertainment.

Steering Committee tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 9 am. and will be available online at www.dallassymphonyleague.com.

Two price levels will be available:

Steering Committee – $395.00 – One Steering Committee Membership with required parent/guardian DSOL 6/1/25-5/31/26 membership (includes 1 JSB ticket)

Steering Committee with VIP entrance – $495.00 – One Steering Committee Membership with dedicated VIP entrance at JSB

General admission tickets will be available in January, 2026 for $175.

 The JSB is the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s longest running fundraiser now in its 68^th year. It is a student-led event that unites high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors for a night filled with live music, dance, gaming tables, exciting raffle prizes, and refreshments. Funds raised benefit education and community engagement programs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  

 The lineup of the 2026 Co-Chairs represents schools across Dallas: Clara Erwin (Highland Park High School), Lucy Galbraith (Ursuline Academy), Meghan Jackson (Parish Episcopal School), Teige Mitchell (Jesuit College Preparatory of Dallas), Peter Rubi (St. Mark’s School of Texas),  Brooks Strey (Bishop Lynch High School),  Jack Sumner (Highland Park High School), Mary Bradley Sutherland (The Hockaday School),  Michael Woram (Jesuit College Preparatory of Dallas), and Stella Wynne (The Episcopal School of Dallas).

 Their supportive and proud moms are: Dansby Erwin, Lauren Sutherland, Michelene Galbraith, Alyson Jackson, Kristin Mitchell, Tiffany Rubi, Courtenay Strey, Kelsie Sumner, Dana Woram, and Tia Wynne.

 For further information: www.dallassymphonyleague/com.

By Sarah Mitchell

Bonnie Wheeler, originally from Boston, has had a long and distinguished career at SMU, where she’s taught for 50 years. She was recruited to SMU in 1975 after teaching at Columbia University in New York City. This fall, she’ll celebrate her remarkable 50-year SMU milestone, with no sign of slowing down. She came to Dallas with her husband, Jeremy duQuesnay Adams, another scholar of the Middle Ages. Now widowed, she’s lived on the same street all these years in a house that is celebrating its one-hundredth birthday.

Bonnie‘s journey in Dallas was fulfilling on many levels. “Our daughter had a wonderful education at the Highland Park schools,” she said, as did her nieces who also grew up in the Park Cities. Bonnie believes the Park Cities school system provides an unusually solid foundation for students. “Whatever students do in the future will be due in large measure to their background with passionate teachers who have expertise in their subjects. I’ve always thought that the greatest boon for the Park Cities is that we have a school system that has the solid support of the community and insists upon retaining the highest quality of teachers.”

Bonnie’s step-daughter Constance Adams, after graduating with a degree in architecture from Yale and her undergraduate degree from Harvard, went on to work in Japan and Berlin before eventually working for NASA. She always claimed that HPHS provided her best education. Sadly, Constance passed away from cancer, but Bonnie now has two adored granddaughters in Houston.

After fifty years in Dallas, Bonnie feels fortunate. For fun, she authored a book about the 3400-block of University Boulevard that began as a simple scanning experiment but turned into a two-year oral history study, the first known study of a single block in the USA. “It started out as a project that I thought would take me a weekend,” she explained. She wanted to learn how to scan documents early in the days of computer technology, specifically to create a collection of photos from the original families of her block. This project evolved into a massive effort, where Bonnie and friends (including architectural historian Virginia McAlester) managed to contact all living original homeowners from her block in order to collect stories and histories about their lives and the architecture of their homes.

Bonnie’s interest in medieval studies began in graduate school, where she initially planned to work in contemporary drama. “I took the one class offered in contemporary drama but then decided to get ahead of requirements by getting rid of medieval courses. “I expected these to be boring, but they were riveting. By the end of that semester, I realized that the thousand years of global medieval literature hadn’t been adequately studied with the tools of contemporary scholarship,” she recalled. In addition to her own scholarship (11 academic books), she is also editor of a very successful book series, The New Middle Ages, which now has more that 250 books in print, many dedicated to studies of medieval women. Wheeler has been gifted with two festschrifts, which are collections of essays in her honor offered by colleagues around the world. Just this spring, Bonnie was cited in the hundredth-anniversary issue of the primary international journal in medieval studies as “indefatigable in cultivating and fiercely defending the thought and work of so many early career folk, many of whom were doing risky and theoretically daring work; she modeled a feminism in action that is rare in the field.”

She has herself published 11 academic books on medieval subjects. One of her most significant scholarly contributions is her work on Joan of Arc. “Because of her terrible trials, all her life records are still available,” Bonnie explained. “When you start reading those amazing records, you understand why Mark Twain said that his favorite work was his study of Joan of Arc.”

Bonnie’s time at SMU has revolved around her passion for medieval literature and history. Her special expertise lies in Arthurian literature–the chivalric legendary of King Arthur and the Round Table, with its political and social reverberations. Dante and Chaucer are also never far from her mind. “I learn something new every time I teach this literature.” she said, “My students always bring fresh insights.” Bonnie’s teaching has not been limited to the classroom: Her life overflows with university connections. Over the years, she’s developed academic and international programs and taken students and fellow faculty on trips to medieval sites across the world, including Jerusalem, Paris, Rome and Florence. This year, her students dedicated their spring break to studying medieval Barcelona. Mostly, however, her home close to campus is a welcoming site of frequent student conversations and events.

Bonnie is the founder of Arthuriana, the first peer-reviewed journal dedicated to Arthurian studies, which she edited from 1994 to 2009. In addition to her numerous articles on medieval literature in Latin, English, French, and Japanese, she has edited or co-authored eleven peer-reviewed books of essays. She has also received SMU’s Outstanding Teacher Award six times and was honored with the Phi Beta Kappa Perrine Prize for excellence in scholarship and teaching. This spring, SMU gave her its “Literati Award.”

Bonnie also fondly remembers working alongside her husband, who specialized in early medieval studies. “It was such a pleasure that Jeremy and I taught in the same general field,” she said. “He did the early Middle Ages, I did the later Middle Ages, but we taught classes together.” For them, teaching wasn’t just about imparting knowledge; it was about introducing students to important issues and encouraging them to think critically and be deeply engaged in their worlds.

When not immersed in teaching or research, Bonnie enjoys spending time with friends and family. “I have an extended family, and I love spending time with them,” she said. Bonnie finds joy in watching her granddaughters grow into independent young women and is also impressed by the cultural offerings of Dallas. “I love city life. I love things like the Undermain Theater here in Dallas. They do vital work.”

Bonnie also emphasized the importance of staying connected with younger people. “I learn so much from younger people. I don’t feel as if I’m always teaching them. I feel much of the time that they’re teaching me,” she said. “But I also worry about their lives and futures. And I’m \concerned about doing what I can do to help improve their lives.” For Bonnie, listening is one of the most important ways she can offer support. “The biggest learning challenge for all of us is to how to be a better listener.”

Looking back on her own life, Bonnie feels fortunate to still be in touch with her teachers from the past. “I’m so lucky that I have teachers who are still alive. At the end of this spring term, I get to go work with my most important teacher, a Quaker scholar who retired to Asheville, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Bonnie has deep affection for the Park Cities neighborhood where she has lived for many years. “All houses, especially old houses, require constant care. We should all participate in the Park Cities Historical Society I’ve been lucky to work with great architects like Craig Melde, and contractors like Dan McKeithen, to update my home while maintaining its historic character. I’ve delighted in working with Amy Bartell of Studio One to reinvent my landscaping.” She cares about maintaining our sense of community and making sure that everyone, including those in need, is supported. “I care a lot about making sure that our neighborhood remains committed to certain values—how well we treat each other, how well we memorialize our past, and how committed we are to the public good,” she shared. “It’s a great place to live!”