Perry & Kyle (Pat) Tong

There’s no smokescreen when it comes to Perry and Kyle (Pat) Tong. Perry grew up in Fort Worth, attended Handley High School and graduated from Arlington State College (UTA) in 1962. Pat graduated from Paschal High School and attended Texas Woman’s University and TCU. They currently reside in the Ridglea area.
After leaving a management position in the financial world, Perry founded a film and talent company in 1969 to produce live music events and furnish talent for live television programs. From 1982 until 2000 the couple produced “Scuba World,” an underwater travel adventure series filmed worldwide and airing on the Travel Channel. In 1999, they established Pop’s Safari Cigars & Fine Wines, a popular local cigar bar and bistro. Pat spends much of her time in feline rescue projects as well as managing the couple’s three companies. Perry has been a member of the Cigar Smoker Board for the Fort Worth Library Foundation for six years. Additionally, Pop’s Safari raised money through special events for the 911 survivors and victims of Hurricane Katrina. Pop’s sends cigars monthly to our troops overseas and frequently accepts food donations for the SPCA Shelter and Tarrant Food Bank.

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dewey

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Dewey of Southlake, soon to be residents of Fort Worth, have been searching for some time for a retirement community that provided all of the amenities, four levels of health care, proximity to a lively cultural district and a proven non-profit management team. They are delighted to be moving into the Stayton on Museum Way this November. Mr. Dewey is a retired Senior Partner of Baker Law Firm in Houston. He has been married to his wife, Marion for 54 Years.

Frances & Tommy Cox

Frances and Tommy Cox are both retired and looking forward to a move in the fall to The Stayton at Museum Way, the new senior living complex in So7. Tommy retired as a Claim Superintendent with State Farm Insurance and Frances was formerly an educator and personnel administrator with the Fort Worth schools. Since retirement, Frances has volunteered at Baylor All Saints Medical Center in the Chaplain's office and at Trinity Episcopal Church and is an active member of Bosom Buddies, a cancer support group. Tommy serves as an usher at Trinity, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and enjoys a weekly poker game. Their West Highland Terrier, named Winston, rules the roost!

Trey & Jennifer Loftin

The Loftin family: Trey, Jennifer, Jurrien (6), Meagan (4), Patricia Janae (3), and Darren (19 mo.) are pictured here outside their Aledo home. Trey Loftin, a 5th generation Texan, was recently appointed judge of the 43rd Judicial District Court in Parker County. Prior to his appointment, Trey worked as an attorney doing primarily criminal and family law. Trey is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Trey is on the board of New Day Services helping promote chaplain care and free classes and services for children and families in the court systems. He and Jennifer serve together teaching children's church and enjoy a busy life with the children, which includes cheering on the kids favorite team -- Gary Patterson's TCU Horned Frogs! The family raises hunting-bred English Cocker Spaniels. Three of their dogs are shown in the photo: "Trigger", "Pato", and "Spot." The children love caring for puppies and Trey is proud to show off their amazing hunting skills

Randy & Sara Taylor

It just doesn’t get any better than spending time with their Four Children. Randy and Sara have spent 30 years together after meeting at the United States Air Force Academy (‘80) & (‘81). They spent 20 years traveling the world for the Air Force. Their four children Briana, Cameron, Colin, and Liam were born in the Philippines, Florida, Canada, and Texas. The whole family is kept busy in various activities at their church, St Michael the Archangel of Garland as well as with their other individual interests. Briana will finish her Nursing degree this June and acts and sings with the local C.O.R.P theatre, in Rowlett, Texas. Her most recent role was Glinda the good witch in "The Wizard of Oz". Cameron is a senior at the US Air Force Academy where he can’t wait to start his Air Force Career. He will be assigned in the field of Maintenance, after he graduates in May. His extra curricular activities include weight lifting and snowboarding. Colin is a junior at Jesuit College Preparatory High School - Dallas, where he is a Varsity swimmer and a member of the Men’s Chorus. He enjoys playing guitar and he also performs in the local theater with his brother and sister. Liam is a 4th grader at Hillside Academy - Garland. He plays piano, is a Webelos Cub Scout, is enrolled in Enriched Art classes at his school and also has acted in many a play/musical at the local theatre. One of the roles that was most fun was, JoJo, in "Seussical, the Musical" with his brother, Colin, as the Cat in the Hat! Randy has spent the last 30years flying various fighter aircraft to include the F-15C and F-5E. He flew the Boeing 737 with Delta airlines and currently flies the Gulfstream and Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) in corporate aviation. While not flying he is the General Manager of Peregrine Point LLC. The person that holds this all together is Sara. She is the quintessential organizer. She holds B.A degrees in French and Japanese. She volunteers at both boys’ schools and CoRP theater and she sings in the church choir with her daughter, Briana. Occasionally she even acts in the local theater group with her kids. There is never a dull moment in the Taylor household. As I said in the beginning, “Life just doesn’t get any better”.

Bill & Linda Bleibdrey

Bill and Linda Bleibdrey arrived in Fort Worth nearly 10 years ago, finding a home here after stops in various states. Bill is Chief Financial Officer for Texas Wesleyan University, and has been involved in the past 10 years of significant growth and prosperity for the University. Linda has made a career in technology support, working with clients worldwide. Bill has recently completed a term as chairman of the board of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, and both he and Linda donate their time to the hospital through volunteer work. Bill also serves on the Texas Health Harris Foundation Board, and the Texas Health Resources Investment sub-committee. Bill and Linda are active in Arborlawn United Methodist Church, where both serve as Stephen Ministers.

Scott Lambert and Amy Branch-Lambert with their son Travis and daughters Abby and Lindsey with her husband Jason. Also pictured is family friend Sulam Pena. Scott, Amy, Travis and Harley the dog live in Grapevine. Scott is the Chief Financial Officer of Direct Fuels and a graduate of Texas Wesleyan University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and enjoys coaching T-ball, spending time with family and boating. Scott is a native Texan. Amy, originally from Tennessee, has lived in Texas since 1991. She holds a Masters of Divinity Degree and works as a Chaplain for Texas Health Resources in Bedford She is an artist who has had her work featured in local venues. Travis is in Kindergarten and enjoys T-ball, anything with wheels and being 100% boy. Lindsey and Jason live in Keller. Lindsey is a graduate of Colleyville Heritage High School and the University of North Texas. She is employed as an account manager for Brightroom, Inc. in Fort Worth. Her hobbies include photography, running, and music. Jason works for Verizon Wireless as a NOC technician. He collects comic books, vintage video games, and vinyl records as hobbies. Abby lives in Lewisville and is a graduate of Colleyville Heritage High School and Duvall’s School of Cosmetology. She works for Jovie Salon as a mid-level stylist. Her hobbies include roller derby. Sulam is a native of Peru and came to be part of our family through an international host program in 2006. She is completing a degree in Biology at East Texas Baptist University.

Marvin & Shirley Applewhite

Marvin Applewhite is a native of Fort Worth, growing up the Birdville school district. He graduated from UT Arlington and Oklahoma State University (OSU) and holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering. Marvin met Shirley at OSU where she was pursuing a BA and Masters in Speech Communications. Following graduation, Marvin began a career in computers and software engineering with Texas Instruments (TI) and Shirley pursued a career in teaching and administration at several local universities including the University of Texas at Dallas. In 1994, the Applewhites moved to London, England where Marvin managed TI’s international software business and Shirley traveled and “collected everything that she could find”. Marvin and Shirley retired to East Texas in 1999 and last year purchased a home in Fort Worth. The Applewhites have partnered with Wes Clark of Dallas to form the Applewhite-Clark Collection which features artifacts from historical figures such as Sam Houston, Santa Anna and Ripley Arnold. Part of their collection is currently on exhibit at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Stockyards in Fort Worth. When not working with their collections, Marvin and Shirley are both active on several boards and advisory committees at The University of Texas at Arlington. Marvin is also on the Board of Trustees of the Alliance for Higher Education and the North Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization.

Randle & Isolina Howard

Randle Howard, president of R.D Howard Construction and wife Isolina, who is a Spanish teacher with the Fort Worth ISD, with son Randito, daughter Camila and Friesian stallion, Hielke.

Lisa Vaughn

Lisa K. Vaughn, a Fort Worth trial attorney, is seen here with her two rescued Dobermans, Dusty and Vegas. Dusty (seen on the left), the smaller of Lisa’s two Dobermans, is a relatively rare blue Doberman whose ears have not been cropped. Lisa’s passion for Dobermans started back in 1995 when she rescued and trained the first of the four Dobermans she would eventually own. She’s been known to tell her clients “only your lawyer should be a junk yard dog.” Lisa has since become an ardent ambassador for Doberman Rescue North Texas, an organization that places unwanted or abandoned Doberman Pinschers in loving homes. For more information and guidance in rescuing your own new best friend, contact dobermanrescue.org.
Lisa’s other passion lies in keeping her clients out of the courtroom. She is a partner in one of Fort Worth’s oldest and most respected law firms, Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP. Lisa is known for her dogged determination in obtaining the best possible resolution of her clients’ disputes. She has extensive litigation experience, a thorough knowledge of court procedures/rules of evidence and skill in preparing and trying lawsuits when other resolutions cannot be reached. Lisa concentrates her practice on matters in the energy and real estate industries. However her experience encompasses a broad range of business-related issues including intellectual property claims, personal injury cases, partnership and business ownership disputes, business torts and all manner of contracts.

Beneski Family

The Beneski Family of Colleyville, TX. Ted Beneski is the CEO & Managing Partner of Insight Equity - a private equity firm based in Southlake. Insight has $800M of capital under management. The firm currently owns and manages 10 portfolio companies with approximately $1.6B in revenue. Ted is a 1978 graduate of Amherst College and a 1985 graduate of Harvard Business School. Laurie Beneski (seated) and Ted have been married for 30 years. Laurie has primarily been a full-time Mom for Kristin (24), Jeff (21) and David (19). She also works part time assisting with Insight’s human resource functions including managing all benefit programs. Laurie is also active in broadly supporting the cause of education and has served for many years as the Treasurer of her church. Kristin (standing) is a second year student at Georgetown Law School. She will be interning this summer with Lane and Powell in Seattle, WA. Jeff (center) is a senior at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. Jeff is majoring in geo-science, plans to attend graduate school, and has career interests in meteorology and planetary geology. David (kneeling) is a freshman at Trinity University. David plans to major in economics, mathematics and/or business, and plans to attend graduate school. Kristin, Jeff and David are all graduates of Grapevine High School.

Robert & Vicki Probes

Robert and Vicki Probes are featured here with their grandchildren, Breelan 19, Garrett 9 and Kara 4. A true Fort Worth Family. Robert is the fourth generation serving the Fort Worth area since 1927 in the business of excavation. Robert is the owner of Robert Probes Concrete, Inc., a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show Committee and Cattle Raisers Association. Vicki retired in 2008 as a Texas Health Resources Executive and now spends her time volunteering with the Zonta Club of Fort Worth who is dedicated to helping advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.