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Dallas Historical Society
Special State Fair Exhibit
September 24 - October 17
Landry
 
While Tom Landry is remembered for being one of the great coaches in American football history, he is equally known for his character and class.  The Dallas Historical Society is pleased to present "Remembering Tom Landry: The Personal Collection."  Many items from the private collection of Tom and Alicia Landry will be exhibited at the Hall of State during the State Fair of Texas, from September 23 through October 17, 2010.  Oncor is sponsoring the exhibition, which is free of charge with a purchase of a ticket to the State Fair.

"I am delighted to provide all of the items for this exhibition," said Alicia Landry.  "Not only does it honor my husband in a wonderful way, it also gives people an opportunity to learn more about the man as well as the coach." 

The trademark fedora hat he wore during Cowboy games, various championship game balls and trophies and rarely seen family photographs will be among the many items presented in the exhibition, which will document his early years, his time as an undergraduate and star of the gridiron at the University of Texas, his years as a player and coach at the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboy years, his life following the Cowboys, and his legacy.

"Oncor is proud to be the sponsor of the Dallas Historical Society's Remembering Tom Landry- The Personal Collection at the 2010 State Fair of Texas", said Brenda Jackson, Chief Customer Officer for Oncor. "Whether it's rallying thousands of employees to meet peak demand during a hot summer day or during a severe storm outage, Oncor understands the meaning of teamwork and the dedication that it takes to pull everyone together to achieve your goals. That is the spirit that Tom Landry always exhibited and it is an honor to be a part of his legacy."
 
Tom Landry was asked by Clint Murchison, Jr., to be the first coach of the Dallas Cowboys, a position he held from 1960 to 1988.  During that time, he coached 20 consecutive winning seasons and achieved two Super Bowl titles.  Few may know that he was a B-17 co-pilot during World War II, or that he held a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Houston as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas.  Throughout his life, he was a committed family man and a man of deep faith. 
"This exhibition should be of interest to Cowboy fans - young and old alike. But mainly, it should be of interest to all people who want to learn more about a truly great man," said Max Wells, chairman of the Dallas Historical Society.  
 
For more information, log onto dallashistory.org or call 214-421-4500. The Hall of State is located in Fair Park 3939 Grand Ave at the end of the Esplanade.
 
 
Thomas Wade Landry  September 11, 1924 - February 12, 2000
 
Tom Landry was born in Mission, Texas, and attended the University of Texas in Austin.  During WWII, he was a B-17 bomber co-pilot and completed 30 missions.  After the war, he returned to the University of Texas, where he
Photo courtesy of  Ron St. Angelo
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played fullback and defensive back. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from UT and a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Houston.
Landry played for the New York Yankees, then the New York Giants. In 1956, he became the defensive coordinator for the Giants.  In 1960, he became the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and stayed for 29 seasons.  Landry's innovative approach to defense redefined the game.  He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1966 and the NFC Coach of the Year in 1965.  His 20 consecutive winning seasons is to this day an NFL record.  
A committed family man, he lived with his wife, Alicia, in Dallas, where they reared  their children.  Tom Landry was active in the Highland Park United Methodist Church and was also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  
 
The Dallas Historical Society and the Hall of State at Fair Park 
 
The Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire present and future generations.The stories of Dallas are shared each day at the Dallas Historical Society through the three million items that comprise the archives and artifact collections.  Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society has preserved and exhibited such treasures as Sam Houston's hand written account of the Battle of San Jacinto, the original Juneteenth document, James Fannin's watch, and Santa Anna's spurs.

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The Hall of State is the premier artifact of the Dallas Historical Society.  Completed during the 1930s Depression, it served as the focal point of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition.  The building's towering achievement is its incorporation of art to express the history, culture and geography of Texas.  A team of international, national and regional artists was assembled to augment the Art Deco architecture, a collaborative effort that produced some of the most splendid and inspiring interior spaces in the United States.
            
Oncor 
 
OncorOncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") is a regulated electric distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to approximately 3 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 117,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by a limited number of investors (including majority owner, Energy Future Holdings Corp.), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors.