RIP Mort
Dallas philanthropist and business leader Morton Meyerson dies at 87
Morton Meyerson
Business leader and philanthropist Morton Meyerson, for whom the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas' Arts District was named, died on Tuesday. He was 87.
A native of Fort Worth, Meyerson joined the business world working with H. Ross Perot at Electronic Data Systems, where he became President and Vice Chair. He was also a big supporter of the arts including helping open the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in September 1989 — a venue that became internationally known for its exceptional sound quality.
In a 2021 interview with the University of North Texas, Meyerson said he was "slightly embarrassed that my name's on the hall because introverts don't like publicity."
Dallas Symphony Orchestra president and CEO Michelle Miller Burns said that "today is a very sad day for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra family and this community. [Meyerson] was brilliant, and he had such a big heart and a big heart here for music. … Dallas would not be the city it is today without Mort Meyerson."
Morton attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Philosophy.
He was also known for his historical home, a 1920s electrical substation known as "The Power House" a stunning 3-story 6,400-square-foot structure which was renovated into a residence with industrial appointments such as a 20-ton crane hanging in the living room.
Meyerson was preceded in death by his son David Nathan Meyerson, and his wife, Marlene Nathan Meyerson, and is survived by daughters Marti Meyerson of New York and Leslie Gordon of Arizona, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Time to make those Thanksgiving reservations. Photo courtesy of III Forks