Flight Fetes

Southwest Airlines racks up another award thanks to CEO Gary Kelly

Frontiers of Flight Museum proved an apropos setting for the presentation ceremony of the second annual Advertising Innovation and Marketing Excellence Award (AIME) award, as this year’s recipient was Southwest Airlines president and CEO Gary Kelly.

The AIME award honors a corporate leader whose company’s advertising and marketing initiatives have furthered his or her organization’s success and have positively impacted the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the professional arena. Don Clampitt, CEO of Clampitt Paper, received the first AIME award last year and presented Kelly with his.

Kelly began his career at Southwest 28 years ago as controller. He then served as executive vice president and CFO before his promotion to CEO in 2004. Under Kelly’s supervision, Southwest has expanded to become the United States’ largest airline in originating domestic passengers carried.

In 2014, Southwest ranked ninth on Fortune magazine’s list of most admired companies in the world, and Kelly is currently leading the airline through several key initiatives, including its first international destinations launch. Southwest Airlines has 45,000 employees and serves more than 100 million customers annually.

“In addition to increasing the company’s earnings, the creativity and innovation exuded by Southwest under Kelly’s leadership has greatly improved and added to the local community’s professional image, making Kelly the perfect recipient of this award,” said event chair Roger Tremblay.

Among those who gathered to honor Kelly were Anne Murray, Kevin Krone, William Tierney, Ryan Green and Ginger Hardage.

The money raised at the awards ceremony benefits the Dream Fund, a nonprofit that supports marketing and communications professionals who undergo life-threatening experiences, as well as the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and the American Marketing Association (AMA).

Gayle Boone, Becky Powell-Schwartz

Photo by Kenny Smith

Gayle Boone, Becky Powell-Schwartz

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Alfresco evening

Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park patrons party under the stars to raise $1.1M

Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Kelly Alexander

Trevor and Kellen Smith, Jess Bass Bolander and Tyler Bolander.

WHAT: Party in the Park

WHERE: Klyde Warren Park

THE 411: Dallas’ favorite green space sparkled under the city lights as the nonprofit Klyde Warren Park celebrated its 13th anniversary on October 9. Presented by Republic National Distributing Company, the open-air bash drew 960 guests and raised an impressive $1.1 million to keep the beloved urban oasis thriving.

Party in the Park 2025 Myrna and Bob Schlegel, Margot Perot.Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Kelly Alexander

The evening kicked off with a lively cocktail reception beside the Nancy Best Fountain, hosted by First United Bank, where guests mingled amid the sound of splashing water and the glow of downtown’s skyline. A starlit supper sponsored by SMU followed, with HALL wines flowing freely and the scene set by lush florals and sleek décor from Todd Events.

Entertainment was as dazzling as the setting. Texas-born singer-songwriter Erin Duvall opened the show with a soulful performance before the crowd hit the dance floor for Stayin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees, the world’s top Bee Gees tribute band. Sequins, shimmer, and a whole lot of disco fever kept guests grooving late into the night.

Guided by honorary co-chairs Debbie and John Tolleson and their children Amy and Peter Baldwin and Kacy and Carter Tolleson, who served as event co-chairs, the celebration underscored Klyde Warren Park’s vital role as Dallas’ town square.

Party in the Park 2025 Peter and Amy Baldwin, John and Debbie Tolleson, Kacy and Carter Tolleson.Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Kelly Alexander

Since opening in 2012, the park has welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors annually and hosted over 1,300 free community programs each year.

WHO: Jason and Porschla Kidd, Klyde Warren Park president and CEO Kit Sawers, Myrna and Bob Schlegel, Margot Perot, Paul von Wupperfeld and Andy Smith, Lynn McBee, Jennifer Staubach Gates, Jody and Sheila Grant, Lyda Hill, Randy and Nancy Best, James and Kristen Hallam, Brent and Monica Christopher, Gillian Breidenbach, Aleta Stampley, Michelle Fojtasek, Brendan and Helen McGuire, Calvert Collins-Bratton and Vince Bratton, Gavin and Caroline Loehr, George and Lindsay Billingsley, Lloyd Pierson and Laura Ginsburg Pierson, Heather and Barrett Linburg, Mary Jalonick, Monica and Brent Christopher, Ray and Heather Washburne, Tori and Ross Mulford, Trevor and Kellen Smith, Jess Bass Bolander and Tyler Bolander, Penny Reid and Tom Nolan, Chantel and Robb Boudreaux, Muffin Lemak, Julie Butler, Lee Cullum, Caren Kline, Theo Ross, Troy and Kari Kloewer.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron and Kelly Alexander

Trevor and Kellen Smith, Jess Bass Bolander and Tyler Bolander.

fundraisers galas klyde warren park