Reprinted from the April 2019 issue of The Good Life Park Cities.

Chris and Diana Blackman started off running–literally. The couple met in the Park Cities morning running group. They are both avid runners and Texans, through and through. Married six years ago at an outdoor chapel in Dripping Springs, Texas, their wedding cake was a large state of Texas with two runners atop the cake. Chris grew up in East Texas—Longview—where he lived until he went to the University of Texas. Diana grew up in Highland Park and attended Christ the King School and stayed local to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU). Chris received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas (UT) and has worked in a variety of fields, such as oil and gas, the music industry, and residential and commercial real estate. He is currently with Compass Real Estate and  thrilled to be part of their team. Diana received multiple degrees from SMU bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English, as well as a Master’s of Science in Counseling. Diana has dedicated much of her life to SMU and has been there since she was 18. She has been a professor in the English department for 24 years, serving as director of the writing program for the last 12 years. However, it seems to be time for a change. She obtained her real estate license last year and has been working part-time with Chris. Though it’s hard for her to wrap her mind around, she is “retiring” from SMU later this year to pursue real estate full-time with her husband. “It will be hard to leave The Hilltop after this many years, but the time feels right,” said Diana. They are looking forward to working and having fun selling real estate together.

Diana and Chris have a beautiful blended family. Diana has a son, Danny, and Chris has identical twin daughters, Jen and Candace, who are both married with children. All of their kids live within a mile of them and attended Highland Park High School. The girls both swam competitively, and Danny played basketball. Diana and Chris enjoy four grandchildren – Brock and Cory Hines, who are six and four; and Jack and Laura Marie Lavelle who are two-years-old and three-months-old. They were so excited to finally get a girl in the mix! Diana and Chris already enjoy the kids’ activities and hope to do even more of that in the coming years.

Texas roots mean a lot to Diana and Chris. Chris’ family holds the oldest family reunion in the state of Texas every August– the Cunningham family reunion. The old homestead is still standing, and hundreds of people attend. Chris and Diana’s family is very active, athletic and involved. You can find them running in the neighborhood several times a week. The couple competed in and finished, the 2013 Boston Marathon (the year of the bombings). Come fall, they will be running in the Berlin Marathon. They are also regulars at the Moody Park Cities YMCA, where Diana teaches a spin class on Monday and Friday mornings and claims to have the best 70s and 80s music playlist around. Chris likes to race cars and takes his car to the track in Cresson, TX, a few times a year. They also love to travel together. Even though Chris went to UT, the rest of the family has turned him into an SMU fan. Not only did Diana attend SMU and serve as faculty there for the past 24 years, but all of their kids also graduated from SMU as well as many other family members. They are huge fans of SMU sports and frequently attend football and basketball games.

The Blackmans also spend lots of time with their very talkative Shetland Sheepdogs – Kai and Doak. Doak is named after Doak Walker, legendary SMU sports star. Other activities include Park Cities Rotary, with Chris marching in the Park Cities 4th of July Pa-rade this past summer. And the couple is proud to attend St. Michael and All Angels church, a faith community that does so much good in the Dallas area and beyond. You might catch Diana and Chris at one of their favorite hang-outs, like the bar at the Cafe Pacific and Ojeda’s on Maple, which they swear has the best Tex-Mex in the world. And each morning you’ll find the couple at the Highland Park Village Starbucks. They meet their same two friends every morning for coffee. Diana insists there is much to catch up on, even after just 24 hours! Diana grew up on Lorraine Avenue in Highland Park. Things seem to have come full circle, as she and Chris now live on Livingston Ave., just a few blocks from where Diana grew up. They have been in this home for two years and claim they will never move. Living in the neighborhood where Diana grew up, she says made it seem like home immediately. It is a wonderful 1928 Tudor-style home. They love the original features of the home including the dramatically pitched roof and original the stained-glass windows. Diana loves being in her “home neighborhood,” as it brings back thoughts of her childhood and in particular of her mom, who also grew up in the Park Cities. Having a great, friendly, safe neighborhood is important to the couple and a big part of why they love it so much. They often walk the neighborhood with Kai and Doak, whether to nearby parks or to their Starbucks. Living in Highland Park is also ideal for them because of the central location. Many evenings they get together with their neighbors for a glass of wine. Many of the neighbors also attend Diana’s spin class. She laughingly admits that many of the neighbors know them because of their crazy, barky dogs. “It’s just such a pleasure to be part of this community, to have our children and grandchildren nearby, and to have the good fortune to run into lifelong friends and neighbors as we go about our busy days,” Diana said.

The HPHS Science and Technology Festival was originally founded by a small group of volunteers 14 years ago.  Parents with a passion for Science and Technology were motivated to bring that enthusiasm to our students.  With help from other volunteers, faculty, and an amazing group of professionals willing to share their expertise with HPHS students, the first Science and Technology Festival was born.

Today, that Festival has grown to host over 50 professionals in STEM fields that include Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, VR, AR, AI and more.  For the first time in the Festival’s history, the 2020 Sci-Tech Fest will bring the addition of Keynote Speakers.  Highly accomplished professionals in the top of their field will share their knowledge and vision with students, faculty and community.

http://hpscifest.com/home

Our Mission Statement is simple.  Inspire Tomorrow’s Future Today!

The Annual Park Cities Home Tour event offers a glimpse into some of the most beautiful homes in the Park Cities. This event celebrates homes in the Park Cities that have been preserved or remodeled to keep the beautiful aesthetic of our neighborhoods. From small cottages to larger estates, our annual home tour is small window into our past, a celebration of those who share our values, and a wonderful treat for those who appreciate historic architecture.  https://preservationparkcities.org/page-1761320

Joe Brannon, originally from Jonesboro, Arkansas, moved to Texas to attend Baylor University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He then obtained his MBA in finance from Baylor. His first job out of Baylor was at Dallas Semiconductor where he worked in the finance department. He spent most of his career working for high-tech, start-up companies specializing in initial public offerings. He has previously worked for Mark Cuban at Broadcast.com and also Yahoo! He is currently VP of Finance at Multiview. Kim was born in Chicago but moved to Plano, Texas, and attended the University of Texas in Austin where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History. During a summer writing internship at Dallas Semiconductor, she met Joe and the rest, as they say, is history. “We got to know each other from across the office using a very rudimentary, pre-internet, computer messaging system,” explained Kim. “We used it to quiz each other on trivia from the show M.A.S.H. Our first date was me going to watch Joe coach a Little League baseball game and then going to Gators in the West End where we ended up seeing the new Cowboys quarterback, Troy Aikman!” Joe and Kim married three years later at University Park United Methodist Church. Kim worked in corporate communications for 10 years before staying home with their children, Andrew and Abigail. Andrew is 23 years old and graduated from Highland Park High School in 2016. With a love for science, he worked as a self employed tutor during high school. His hobbies included golf and going on adventures with friends. Andrew graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a biology/pre-vet degree and was the president of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He is currently working with a veterinary practice and lives in Austin, Texas, but he is still a Georgia football fan. Abigail, 20 years old, also graduated from Highland Park High School, class of 2019, where she enjoyed playing JV volleyball. She was also active in church youth leadership and National Charity League as well as medical missions and internships. She is a junior at Auburn University and is majoring in Health Services Administration with a minor in Spanish. Abigail will be a 2022 Dallas Symphony Debutante in February 2022. The Brannon family has always enjoyed traveling. “We have wonderful memories of our travel – both with the kids and without the kids,” shared Kim. “Pre-kids, we honeymooned in Maine and backpacked through Europe. Some of our regular trips during our marriage have been to New York City, San Francisco, Jackson Hole, Orange Beach, London, Munich Oktoberfest, the Masters in Augusta, and Maui”. When at home, they enjoy cooking and dining out at Sachet, Shinsei, Homewood, and Desperados and golfing at Royal Oaks Country Club. Joe is a Baylor Bears football season ticket holder and enjoys golf and college football and basketball. In addition, the Brannons attend University Park United Methodist Church. Both Joe and Kim have a heart for volunteer work and have served with many organizations. Joe has been the Finance and Trustees Chair at University Park United Meth-odist Church, as well as the Board Finance Chair at Dallas Bethlehem Center. He has also served as Gallery Guard at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, since 2010. Kim is currently the Lay Leader of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. She served as President of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, Chair of the Highland Park High School Science Festival, and Board Chair of Project Transformation, a summer camp and after-school program for at-risk children. She is a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Dallas and is the President and Founder of Beulah Voigt Memorial Scholarship, Inc. The Brannons have lived in Caruth Hills for the last 20 years and enjoy the neighborhood. “We moved right after September 11, 2001, and it seemed like such a scary time to make a big move, especially with two babies,” explained Kim. “We had decided to stay put across town when we went to church one Sunday and our minister preached, ‘Live boldly – as if all of your trust is in God’. We ended up buying our home and raised our children in the best neighborhood ever! It was nice to be in a neighborhood where the kids could walk to see friends, ride bikes, and play on playgrounds.” During the pandemic, Joe and Kim spent many mornings and evenings walking through the neighborhood. “We would ‘get our steps in’ and meet neighbors,” Kim said. “It has allowed us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and community of the Park Cities. We love to walk everywhere and see new streets and houses on our route each time. We walk for exercise, walk to the grocery store, and walk to get coffee.” Joe and Kim are currently in the process of renovating their house and plan to stay for a very long time, continuing to enjoy their University Park community.