Willis retired from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department in 2019, following a 27-year career in public service. He was appointed Director of the department in 2013 and managed the fifth-largest park system in America, overseeing 1,250 employees and an annual operating budget of $99 million. Willis graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Architecture. He had a passionate interest in the historic buildings and sites throughout the Dallas park system and was directly involved in the preservation or restoration of numerous historic structures, including the department’s WPA-era buildings and landscapes and the Art Deco structures at Fair Park constructed for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. During his tenure with Dallas Parks, the department was recognized with approximately 50 local, state and national preservation awards. In 2008 he was elevated to the College of Fellows in the American Institute of Architects. Willis lives in Mineral Wells, where he has established a consulting practice focused on preservation architecture; park planning, operations and management; and interpretive planning. He also devotes much of his time to research and writing. He is the author or co-author of seven books on Texas architecture and history. He currently serves on the board of the Museum of Texas Art and is a member of the Steering Committee overseeing a master plan for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas. He also serves as the Chair of the David Dillon Center for Texas Architecture at UT Arlington.

David is the third of six generations of native Texans. His grandfather, Mike was a pioneer in Tex Mex cuisine and opened the first El Fenix Restaurant in 1918. El Fenix is the oldest chain of Mexican Restaurants in the United States.

David has over 50 years’ experience in the service industry in business development and operations management. In addition to his previous involvement with the family business, he has held executive positions with several prominent restaurant firms and service management companies.

David holds a BBA from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, an MBA from Chadwick University and a J.D. from LaSalle University. He served as Director, President and Chairman of the Board of the Texas Historical Foundation for over 15 years. He is also Chairman of the DFW Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy and serves as a Board Director of St. Paul Medical Clinic, Bishop Dunne Catholic School, Catholic Charities of Dallas Archangels, and Diocese of Dallas Advisory Board.

Derrick is the Director of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, a beautiful 15-acre park located in Huntsville. Previously, he served as the Curator of Education at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and the Superintendent of the Farmers Branch Historical Park. A lifelong educator, Derrick has a BS in Elementary Education and an MA in History, both from Sam Houston State University. He has always been an advocate for hands-on and interactive programming and believes that being able to touch, taste, listen to and even smell things from the past helps people to connect with our ancestors, learn from the past and apply those lessons to today. An accomplished photographer, Derrick’s work has been featured in The Texas Forts Trail – a photobook done in collaboration with the Texas Forts Trail region. As such, you will frequently find Derrick out photographing his favorite subjects – historic landscapes and structures.

Zachary is the Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at UBS Financial Services, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a financial advisor with a focus on asset allocation and portfolio construction.

A native of Tyler, Zachary is deeply committed to historic preservation and Texas history. He has previously served on the boards of Historic Tyler and the Smith County Historical Society, and chaired the City of Tyler Historic Preservation Board for eight years. He is also a current member of the newly re-established Smith County Historical Commission.

Kate lives near Kyle (Hays County) on a ranch along the Blanco River. She is the chairman of the Ascension Seton Hays Foundation board and served as chairman of the Hays County Historical Commission from 1999 to 2022. As chairman, the commission listed numerous properties to the National Register of Historic Places, erected many Historical Markers, and produced over a dozen historical documentaries on the county’s history. She played an instrumental role in the restoration of the Katherine Anne Porter Childhood Home in Kyle, the Old Hays County Jail in San Marcos, the Winters-Wimberley House in Wimberley, and the Kyle Depot. She has served on the boards of the Wimberley Institute of Cultures, the Kyle Train Depot Committee, Old Town Kyle Advocates, and Preservation Associates, Inc. – a county-wide nonprofit association devoted to the preservation of historic and cultural resources. She also founded the Historic Bridge Foundation, a national nonprofit devoted to the preservation of historic bridges across the United States. She is the 2010 and 2020 recipient of the John Ben Shepperd Leadership Award.

Frank is an accomplished attorney, originally from El Paso. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army's Berlin Brigade from 1968-1970. Frank is licensed to practice law in all courts in the State of Texas, as well as numerous other courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He has dedicated much of his career to commercial real estate and construction law, with a focus on litigation and regulatory issues. His practice also includes subspecialty in the law of religious organizations. Frank’s legal achievements include leading the recent efforts to protect historic buildings in El Paso’s Duranguito neighborhood from demolition. Currently residing in Austin, Frank has a keen interest in promoting the value of historic preservation in Texas.

Ralph was born in McAllen, and grew up in El Paso, where he graduated from Ysleta High School. He went on to serve four years in the United States Navy, working primarily with aircraft and completing an eight-month tour on the USS John F. Kennedy.

Following his honorable discharge, Ralph began a nearly 40-year career with Southwest Airlines, starting as a baggage handler and advancing to operations agent, where he was responsible for ensuring accurate weight and balance for departing aircraft. He retired from Southwest Airlines in May 2022.

In retirement, Ralph enjoys traveling with his wife, Anna, and dedicates time to volunteer work with local homeless shelters.

Roy is the fourth generation of his family born in Henderson County and fifth to live there. His appreciation for historic structures began with childhood trips to Jefferson, Texas, and became a passion while living and traveling in western Europe. After college and working abroad, he and his wife settled in Athens, where they raised their family for over 25 years.

After training as an airborne infantryman and being recruited to serve in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) in Washington, D.C., Roy studied Classical Archaeology at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned a degree in History from Texas A&M University in 1994.

Roy satisfies his passion for historic building techniques whenever he can find the time. He has trained with the Dry Stone Conservancy in Kentucky, building dry-stack stone walls, and continues to study traditional timber framing at the Heartwood School in New Hampshire, using only hand tools. He is a member of the Timber Framers Guild and regularly donates his time and labor to stone and timber framing projects. He also salvages old structures when opportunities arise.

With more than 30 years of experience in modern construction and project management, Roy has tackled complex projects across the country, but historic structures and traditional construction methods have always been his first love.

Daniel is a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major and a Temple, Texas-based business executive. He concluded a 26-year Army career and transitioned into the private sector as founder and Chief Executive Officer of a defense consulting firm. An International Coaching Federation Level II executive coach, his undergrad was in Business Administration at Touro University. He holds a Master's in Corporate and Organizational Communication with Northeastern University, and completed post graduate studies in Organizational Behavioral and Executive Coaching with the University of Texas-Dallas. 

Daniel is a behavioral science researcher, citizen historian, and author with a body of published work on leadership, military and organizational history, and the development of enlisted force. He has authored, edited, or compiled numerous books and reference volumes, along with his contributions to professional and historical journals. 

Daniel is active in civic and volunteer leadership. He serves as Chair of the Bell County Historical Commission and as a board member of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, contributing to historic preservation, economic development, and community engagement efforts in Central Texas.

Nancy is a seasoned preservation architect with national experience and recognition gained over 35 years of practice. Her experience in adapting historic buildings for continued and long-term use includes many National Historic Landmarks such as the U.S. Custom House in New York, the Department of the Interior Building in Washington, D.C., Kansas City Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, and Fair Park and the Dallas County Administration Building (School Book Depository) in Dallas, Texas.

Nancy seeks to sensitively and creatively manage change in historic buildings, making them flexible and viable for the future while protecting their character and materials for future generations. Driven by a desire to avoid waste and to reuse what exists, she combines a love of history with a belief that people benefit from the context and scale provided by historic buildings. A connection with and appreciation of our past serves to propel us to build equally well or better in the future.

Her work has been recognized with National Trust Honor Awards and many state and local awards. The American Institute of Architects and the Association for Preservation Technology International have recognized her work by inducting her into each organization’s College of Fellows. She also serves in the U.S. General Services Administration’s Design Excellence program as a peer reviewer for historic preservation.

Nancy is highly regarded as a preservation architect who has co-authored Architecture That Speaks—a book focused on buildings at Texas A&M University, is active in national and local professional organizations. She has received community service awards, including Preservation Dallas’ Dorothy Savage Award and Dallas Historical Society’s Award for Excellence history.

A Preservationist and Architectural Historian, Charles has been with the Texas Historical Commission for many years, and has devoted his professional career and personal life to saving and maintaining the historic and cultural resources of Austin and the state of Texas. He serves on several Austin boards and committees, including Austin History Center Association, President Board of Directors; Preservation Austin; Old Austin Neighborhood Association and Mid Tex Mod, Central Chapter, DOCOMOMO US.

Charles is an active advocate in preserving Austin's RICH and DIVERSE histories that give Austin that "Sense of Place". He is also a major collector of Texas Art, with a focus on Texas Modernism and is an active member of "CASETA", The Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art.

Danelle is a longtime preservation advocate whose career began with the Texas Main Street program in Lampasas. She has served in leadership roles with Preservation Texas,  Preservation Dallas, and the Texas Historical Foundation contributing to major statewide initiatives such as the Texas Courthouse Preservation program, and the Texas Most Endangered List. 

Her career includes 25 years in commercial real estate marketing and management, including notable properties like North Star Mall and The Parks at Arlington. She also served as VP of Marketing and Chief of Staff for Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.

Danelle is a graduate of the University of Texas, Austin. She is a multi-generational Texan from the northern plains to the Texas panhandle. She resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Stephen and standard poodle, Adelaide.

Evan is the executive director of Preservation Texas. Prior to joining PT in 2014, he served for four years as executive director of the Preservation Society of Charleston (2010-2014) and served for six years as executive director of Historic Beaufort Foundation (2004-2010), both in South Carolina. He is a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (2000) and the University of Richmond (1997). In 2011, he was the inaugural recipient of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s American Express Aspire Award, recognizing an emerging national leader in the preservation field. He was selected to participate in the 2013 Attingham Summer School for the study of English country houses.

Jesús is Preservation Texas’s Director of Architectural Programs, overseeing all aspects of the rehabilitation and restoration of Preservation Texas properties statewide. Jesús has over fifteen years of local, national and international experience managing preservation programs in the private, government, and non-profit sectors. He has previously served as South Texas Field Officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Project Manager for the Texas Historical Commission’s Historic Sites Division, and most recently, as Project Manager at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Conor is Preservation Texas’s Director of Heritage Trades Programs. He is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) and worked as a high school social studies teacher for five years before earning a master’s degree in public history from SFASU. In 2017, he spent the summer in southeastern Alaska with HistoriCorps restoring an Adirondack-style cabin built by the CCC in the Tongass National Forest. Here he developed a passion for hands-on preservation and learning about vernacular buildings and construction methods. From 2018-2021, he worked for the city of Bloomington, Indiana as the Historic Preservation Program Manager where he facilitated local preservation ordinances and applied design review to hundreds of projects impacting historic buildings throughout twelve local historic districts. He worked in cultural resource management from 2021-2022 as an architectural historian, where he made numerous NRHP eligibility assessments and participated in drafting and implementing Programmatic and Memorandum Agreements for projects involving adverse effects to culturally-significant properties.

Sam is Preservation Texas’s Development Programs Manager. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in Preservation Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. With a background in graphic design and marketing, she leads the organization’s print and digital communications, manages Preservation Texas’s website and social media platforms, and oversees membership programs. Sam also coordinates events, develops exhibits, manages retail operations, and provides administrative support, helping advance Preservation Texas’s mission.

Paulina is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso with a double major in Graphic Design and Art History. Her experience includes graphic design work for UTEP Student Affairs and a summer internship at the Smithsonian Institution, where she contributed to an educational Learning Lab on social justice. Paulina has presented her research and artwork at events such as Historia Expone, the UTEP Focus Talks, and the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium. She is fluent in Spanish and English and brings a strong background in visual communication and arts education.

1986 – Jim Bratton (Dallas)

1987 – Rick Meyer (Austin)

1988 – Rick Meyer (Austin)

1989 – Mike Davis

1990 – Jill Souter (San Antonio)

1991 – Jill Souter (San Antonio)

1992 – Margie Elliott (Houston)

1993 – Margie Elliott (Houston)

1994 – Margie Elliott (Houston)

1995 – Betty Massey (Galveston)

1996 – Betty Massey (Galveston)

1997 – Janet Francis (San Antonio)

1998 – Patrick Heath (Boerne)

1999 – Patrick Heath (Boerne)

2000 – Patrick Heath (Boerne)

2001 – Lynn Vogt (Dallas)

2002 – Lynn Vogt (Dallas)

2003 – Ron Emrich

2003 - Sandy Pickett (Liberty)

2004 – Elizabeth Miller Grindstaff

2005 – Elizabeth Miller Grindstaff

2006 – Elizabeth Miller Grindstaff

2007 – Libby Buuck

2008 – Libby Buuck

2009 – Libby Buuck

2010 – Susan Lassell

2011 – Jim Ray (Austin)

2012 – Jim Ray (Austin)

2013 – Charlene Orr (Mesquite)

2014 – Charlene Orr (Mesquite)

2015 – Courtney Read Hoffman (Austin)

2016 – Dwayne Jones (Galveston)

2017 – Dwayne Jones (Galveston)

2018 – Ann Benson McGlone (San Antonio)

2019 – Ann Benson McGlone (San Antonio)

2020 – Roman McAllen (Houston)

2021 - Roman McAllen (Houston)

2022 - Charles John (San Antonio)

2023 - Charles John (San Antonio)

2024 - Willis Winters (Mineral Wells)

2025 - Willis Winters (Mineral Wells)