My relationship with Ebby started when I was a small child. Ebby’s brother, Paul Hanson, married my Dad’s sister, Fran Crews Hanson. Paul served as President of Ebby Halliday Realtors for a period of time and was instrumental in building the Company to what it is today, fyi.
Back in the1960s Ebby would come visit my family in Karnes City, the small town in South Texas where I was raised. I recall vividly her talk of how wonderful the City of Dallas was – vivid descriptions of the people and places and homes in Dallas . I also recall deciding way back then that someday that I, too, would live in Dallas!.
After graduating from Texas A&M in 1978 with a Liberal Arts degree , Ebby and Paul suggested I join DBG&H, the marketing/public relations/advertising firm that represented Ebby Halliday REALTORS as well other brokers/developers . At DBG&H I was fortunate to be assigned to the Ebby account as well as a “new” brokerage firm called Ellen Terry Realtors . We also worked for a number of real estate developers in commercial and residential multi-family development, which is how I came to work on new exciting highrise residential projects like The Claremont, ( now Bonaventure) and La Tour and many others.
In 1982 Ebby and her husband Maurice Acers called me to say they knew a very special ( and beautiful!) young lady named Anne Crichton that had worked for Governor Clements in his first administration. Anne was looking to return to her hometown of Dallas and would I please interview her for a position at DBG&H? I did, and we offered her a job. Anne turned down our offer to accept a position at Mary Kay Inc to help establish a Public Affairs office for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When Anne declined our offer I said something along the goofy line of “ if you won’t work for us will you at least have dinner with me?” and that led to the blessing of Anne marrying me in 1984. And of course Ebby and Maurice were front and center at the wedding!
In the mid 1990s I finally realized that if I was going to continue working for developers of high-rise condominiums like The Mayfair and others I represented for marketing/PR/advertising, I should get my real estate license and in addition to the marketing handle the onsite sales. Ebby sponsored by license and was my first broker. The knowledge gained from Ebby School and other resources of that Company were instrumental in my success in this business.
I want to also share a story about my first sale at Ebby after becoming licensed. This was in 2002 and the real estate market was sluggish, to say the least. I was apprehensive about getting out and making a deal happen. A great guy named Jim Leslie who I had worked for at The Staubach Company and Columbus Realty during my PR days called me to say “it might be a good idea” to go call on Bob Breunig, a friend of Jim’s, as Bob had mentioned to him that this “down market” might be a good time to purchase some condominiums and resale them for profit.
Bob took my call and we were off and running trying to find “some deals”. I knew that there were 18 condominiums still available at The Crestpark, still owned by the developer and not selling . Although Allie Beth Alllman had originally had the exclusive listing on The Crestpark and sold the vast majority of the units, the developer had moved ( another interesting story! ) the remaining units to an Ebby Agent. Bob is a very smart, no-nonsense business man. He wanted specific numbers on units sold and when the current agent couldn’t answer specific questions about past sales, current market conditions, etc, he said “ I think I will pass on buying these units as I want specifics”.
Although I did not know Allie Beth well, I did know Pierce Allman, who was instrumental in helping renovate Lee Park and Arlington Hall with us during development of The Mayfair. So I called Pierce to inquire, “ Do you think Allie Beth would meet with us and share some of her proprietary data on the building and market conditions?”
Two days later Bob and I were seated at the breakfast table in the Allman’s penthouse home at The Crestpark .( Allie Beth served us home made tuna fish sandwiches , cookies and milk, I remember it like yesterday). Not only did she share her detailed notebook of all details on her past sales as well as current market comps, she encouraged Bob to buy the units and offered insight as to what we might want to offer, with me as buyer’s agent and the Ebby agent representing the seller. In other words Allie Beth was not included in the transaction but she made the deal come together!
He bought all 18 condominiums. My first sale as a licensed agent!
Bob then said “ Kyle I need to flip these at a profit, and I want you to tell me how best to proceed. Who do I hire to handle resales?” I went to Ebby and explained my dilemma, as I certainly wanted to be loyal to her as my broker.
Ebby looked at me in the eye and said “ Kyle you always need to put your client first. Let’s ask ourselves who is best equipped to service Bob in accomplishing his resale goal?.
I said “ Ebby I think it is Allie Beth – to which she said “ I agree completely and you go tell Bob I want him to hire Allie Beth with my blessings”.
Suffice to say Allie Beth resold the units at a significant profit for the client, and ironically this is how my working relationship with Allie Beth began:
Through my friend Ebby. Who was not also looking out for Bob, but was also looking out for me!
What a privilege to have known Ebby. Her concern for her clients and her associates and especially her family was always put ahead of her own needs.
And now look at the rewards bestowed upon her in return for this generosity of spirit!
May you rest in peace, Ebby.
And Thank You.
Kyle
