All you Texans who think this place is becoming too dad-gum liberal can now breathe easier. Dallas investor Dick Collins (nephew of Rep. Jim Collins and husband of Park Board member Susan Collins) and a group of kindred spirits have developed The Texas Foundation for Conservative Studies. The organization was formed after the state elections last year in an effort to curb liberal growth. The 1983 budget for the privately funded organization is $240,000; the program’s first project was a study on state spending and “bureaucratic overburden.” Collins says that the group will organize a board of directors soon. The board, he says, will be filled with “most of the prominent conservatives in the state” (that should constitute quite a large board). When asked if his involvement in the group is a prelude to running for office, Collins replied, “God, I hope not.”
It’s not often that a movie star makes the jump to television (it’s usually the other way around), but that’s exactly what Christopher Atkins, the 22-year-old teen-dream of Blue Lagoon fame, is doing this fall when he joins the cast of Dallas. The TV show will begin its sixth season in September, and Atkins will portray Peter Richards, an SMU psychology major and love interest of . . . who knows? Atkins swears that even he isn’t privy to all the plots and schemes of the nation’s favorite soap opera. Asked how he handles the Texas heat while on location in Dallas, he said: “It’s tough. Of course, I get to splash around in a pool with Linda Gray.” Sounds rough.
Electronic Data Systems (EDS) recently pulled off a rather large coup: Felix G. Rohatyn has become the latest addition to the board of directors. The general partner in Lazard, Freres & Co., an investment banking firm, is probably best known for his brainchild, The Municipal Assistance Corp. (MAC), which he designed to help New York City out of its financial disaster eight years ago. He is still the acting chairman of that corporation and is also on the boards of some large, powerful companies such as American Motors, Pfizer and a few foreign corporations. Jerry Dalton, director of communications for EDS, says he knew Roha-tyn was a heavy-hitter, but didn’t realize how heavy until he keyed the man’s name into his NEXIS computer system. A directory of articles compiled from the wire services and other news-gathering sources appeared. In all, 423 entries were listed.
Harlan Crow is practicing being a good neighbor. The developer whose company is building on the LTV Tower – located on the outskirts of the Arts District – has lent the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts a piece of art that will eventually be placed inside the LTV building when it’s completed. In the meantime, Crow is allowing the DMFA to display a life-size Auguste Rodin sculpture, Meditation, in its Fair Park location. The museum will display the sculpture for 18 months (until the LTV Tower is completed); the sculpture will then be moved to the rotunda of the new building.
The Crow clan is adding more than just guest rooms to the Loews Anatole. As part of the hotel’s expansion, a health club will open in April 1984. The facility will include six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a complete gym, squash courts, a fine-dining area and a sportier (a casual dining area). Memberships have already been offered to employees of the World Trade Center and the Market Center. The membership fee: about $1,000.
Related Articles
Local News
In a Friday Shakeup, 97.1 The Freak Changes Formats and Fires Radio Legend Mike Rhyner
Two reports indicate the demise of The Freak and it's free-flow talk format, and one of its most legendary voices confirmed he had been fired Friday.
Local News
Habitat For Humanity’s New CEO Is a Big Reason Why the Bond Included Housing Dollars
Ashley Brundage is leaving her longtime post at United Way to try and build more houses in more places. Let's hear how she's thinking about her new job.