First Lady

Dallas makes list of 10 cities for Michelle Obama fall book tour

Michelle Obama has a new book coming out.

Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian/The White House

Dallas is one of only 10 cities to welcome former First Lady Michelle Obama on a fall 2018 book tour in support of her highly anticipated memoir, Becoming.

Produced by Live Nation, the 10-city US tour will kick off in Obama's home town of Chicago on November 13, and will end in Dallas on December 17. According to a release, it will feature intimate and honest conversations between Obama and a selection of to-be-announced moderators, reflective of the extraordinary stories shared in the wide-ranging chapters of her book.

She has also released a fun video which you can see on Facebook.

Attendees will hear her reflections on the experiences and events, both public and private, that have shaped her, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her years in the White House.

As First Lady of the United States of America – the first African-American to serve in that role – she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as an advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world.

In candidly recounting moments from her own extraordinary journey, Mrs. Obama will also share life lessons learned and inspire people to become the very best version of themselves.

The tour will donate 10 percent of every show's tickets to various organizations such as local charities, schools, and community groups in each city the tour visits. Those fans will get free admission to the tour stop in their city.

Tickets go on sale to the general public starting September 21 at 10 am at BecomingMichelleObama.com. They'll be using Ticketmaster's Verified FanÒ platform to ensure tickets get in the hands of fans, not scalpers or bots.

Fans can register now through September 18 at 10 pm for free access to the Ticketmaster Verified FanÒ presale, which will allow registered fans to purchase tickets before the general public on September 20 from 10 am-10 pm. A limited number of VIP meet and greet packages with former First Lady Michelle Obama will be available at Ticketmaster.com.

Obama says in a release that she's spent the last year and a half reflecting on her story and is thrilled to travel the country and do the same with readers.

"I hope that this tour will inspire others to reflect upon and share their own stories — all the joys and sorrows, all the scars and renewals — so that together, we can better recognize that each of us, in our own way, is in a constant process of becoming," she says.

Becoming will be released on November 13 in the U.S. and Canada by the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, as well as in 28 languages around the world. An audio edition of the book, read by Mrs. Obama, will be simultaneously issued in digital and physical formats by Penguin Random House Audio.

Tour dates are as follows:

November 13 - Chicago, United Center
November 15 - Los Angeles, The Forum
November 17 - Washington, DC, Capital One Arena
November 24 - Boston, TD Garden
November 29 - Philadelphia, Wells Fargo Center
December 1 - Brooklyn, Barclays Center
December 11 - Detroit, Little Caesars Arena
December 13 - Denver, Pepsi Center Arena
December 14 - San Jose, SAP Center
December 17 - Dallas, American Airlines Center

December 17 is a Monday.

politics celebrities

RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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First Lady

Dallas makes list of 10 cities for Michelle Obama fall book tour

RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

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