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Despite Stormy Weather, Wyly World Opens Its Door For “Hearts of Texas” VIP’s

Thursday night’s sweeping downpours of rain and just plain cold temperatures were reason enough to stay at home. However, 75 of Dallas’s finest ventured out for the patrons’ dinner honoring “Hearts of Texas” recipient Dr. Bobby Lyle (pictured with Lottye Brodsky) at the Dee and Charles Wyly home. Hosted by Charles, Jack Furst, Lynn McBee, and Gerald Turner, the evening was a warm-up for the fourth annual Hearts of Texas Awards lunch (February 16) benefiting the Volunteer Center of North Texas.

SIDE NOTE: Dee and Charles (pictured) may be the perfect hosts. Their home is a divine party venue blending elegance and comfort while still managing to be a home. (The mini-glass palace atrium just off the entry is the centerpiece of the partying that can handle any type of weather. Dee admits that their original tent years ago caused them to take a long stick to prevent sagging during downpours.) Their menus are masterpieces that have guests lining up for seconds and thirds. The serving staff seamlessly provides for every need. The pianist’s selection is perfectly suited for this occasion and never upstages the conversations taking place during the reception and dinner.

But what truly is the piece de resistance of the Wylys’ entertaining talents is their own graciousness. As you enter the door, there is Charles immediately greeting you with a smile and handshake. He can recall little moments of past meetings that would challenge the greatest memory banks. There is a true sense of fellowship in his eyes.

Then there is Dee to greet you like an old, dear friend. No guest is secondary in her book. With twinkling eyes, an adorable Dutch-boy haircut, and a homecoming queen smile, she has never met a stranger.

But back to the party.

Black-tied guest wrangler Frank Keenan smoothly herded guests from the reception to the buffet stations at just the appropriate time. There was no clanging of bells or whispers in ears. Just Frank calmly suggesting that guests might like to visit one of the buffets set up in the dining and sitting rooms. In the meantime, Wyly chef Darren “The Royal Chef” McGrady (pictured) was in the spotless kitchen smiling and surrounded by staff. He was having so much fun, it was a pity that he couldn’t have joined the guests. When told that there were a couple of guests who wanted to kidnap him, he smiled with a twinkle in his eye. Why does one suspect he’s heard those rumors before?

But what a feast he had prepared. Allan McBee‘s plate looked like it was a geological layering of beef, vegetables, and breads; Bobby Leach (pictured), when asked how he would like his meat by the server, said, “Rare as rare can be” and he got his wish; and, alas, Carol Seay‘s plate was only lightly filled, but she had a very good excuse — “we have another stop.”

While the torrential rain continued, the guests adjourned to tables in the atrium hardly noticing the rumblings of thunder and water cascading down the sides of the building. At one table were Ruth and Ken Altshuler with Lyda Hunt Hill, Mary McDermott Cooke, Cindy and Chuck Gummer, and Linda Gibbons. At the only reserved table were the Wylys with honoree Bobby, Lottye, co-hosts Jack, Lynn (with husband Allan), and Gerald (with wife Gail).

After dinner was finished, the music stopped and Charles was handed a microphone.

Charles officially welcomed the group to the Wyly home and then turned his attention to the honoree. “I’ve known Bobby Lyle for decades, mostly with the Salvation Army. We both come from Louisiana, and we’re both graduates of Louisiana Tech University. He’s an unsung hero, so honoring him is appropriate and wise.”

He then handed the mic to luncheon chair Lynn, who told the group that when first approached about chairing this year’s Hearts of Texas luncheon, she said no way. Then she learned it was honoring Bobby and she was hooked. “Bobby quietly goes about and does the most amazing things.”

It was then time for Jack (pictured) to give Bobby some gentle ribbing: “I’ve known Bobby since the mid-’80s. He’s a man of wisdom and persistence, and does a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Bobby didn’t go the Nancy Reagan School. He does not know how to say ‘no.’ He’s got me involved with Boy Scouts of America.” (Jack is the team leader of Project Arrow and a member of the BSA’s National Executive Board and an officer of the National Council. And you did know that that Boy Scouts of America, based in Irving, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, didn’t you? It was incorporated on February 8, 1910.)

Jack handed the mic to Gerald, who really should have his own late-night show. The man knows how to entertain. “If everybody who came from Louisiana were like Bobby Lyle and the Wylys, we’d take ‘em all!”

Telling the group that Bobby had recently drafted him on to a committee, Gerald (pictured) admitted, “I’ll stay on this committee as long as people vote for me–and as long as Ruth (Altshuler) tells me to!”

He went on to remind the group of Bobby’s involvement with the Bobby Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, the Cary Maguire Center, and numerous other SMU success stories. “The person who goes in and makes your organization better is Bobby. He’ll turn it inside out, look at it strategically … It was a good day for Dallas when Bobby Lyle decided to move to Dallas.”

Finally it was time for the man of the evening to speak. In typical Bobby fashion, he proved once again why so many follow his lead, “I have no illusion about who I am. I appreciate the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to you. I remember when Lyda Hill (pictured) was honored … She said, ‘My goodness, I didn’t know it was the end! I thought I was revisiting my own funeral!’ But, it is a milestone, a crescendo event. But tomorrow we get up and go back to work to make this a better city.”

With that last comment, the table of Volunteer Center staffers all nodded in agreement.

Following Bobby’s words the mic was returned to Charles, who invited all to have coffee and desserts, which filled a large round table. At the top of the tray with petit fours (complete with the Volunteer Centers symbol) was a gold frame with honoree Bobby’s picture (pictured). How touching. How surprising when you discovered the frame was made of chocolate and the picture was a cookie.  One guest was heard to say, “I normally don’t do desserts, but I’m definitely not going to miss these.”

As guests departed in their cars from Wyly World to the real world, they took home the memory of a excellent night for Bobby and were looking forward to the luncheon that once again will honor him.