It began with a deceptively simple question: who’s the greatest Dallasite of all time? “Greatest” is obviously a subjective term. For our purposes, we considered a person qualified to make the list for either: 1) having made some significant impact on the Dallas area specifically, or 2) having lived in the Dallas area and then made a notable impact on the greater world.
But “greatest” is not a value judgment. We weren’t aiming to weigh which of these people is the best human being, and yet we decided early on to disqualify anyone best known for acts of violence. (No Jack Ruby, and neither Bonnie nor Clyde.) That’s not to say that all of the competitors were saints, by any stretch of the imagination. Even the founder of Dallas, John Neely Bryan, is known to have killed at least one man.
We began this absurd task by compiling a list of hundreds upon hundreds of nominees. We sought the assistance of experts, including the Dallas Historical Society, to cull and curate. Of particular help in our efforts was city archivist John Slate. An online randomizer used a final pool of 302 competitors to generate ever-changing, sometimes bizarre faceoffs. Dirk Nowitzki vs. Benjamin Bluitt (the first black surgeon in Texas). Ebby Halliday vs. Larry Hagman. The ranking you see here is based on win percentages resulting from 754,997 such faceoffs. Tom Landry, who took the top spot, won 80.18 percent of his battles; Roger Staubach, No. 2, won 77.79 percent. As you’ll see, sports figures dominate the top 100.
Back to 100 Greatest Dallasites
Rank | Name | Occupation | Birth-Death |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tom Landry | Football Coach | 1924 – 2000 |
2 | Roger Staubach | Football Player/Real Estate Broker | 1942 – present |
3 | Byron Nelson | Golfer | 1912 – 2006 |
4 | Dirk Nowitzki | Basketball Player | 1978 – present |
5 | Ebby Halliday | Real Estate Agent/Entrepreneur | 1911 – 2015 |
6 | Nolan Ryan | Baseball Player | 1947 – present |
7 | Stevie Ray Vaughan | Musician | 1954 – 1990 |
8 | Troy Aikman | Football Player/Broadcaster | 1966 – present |
9 | George W. Bush | Former Texas Rangers Owner/Governor/POTUS | 1946 – present |
10 | Mariano Martinez | Restaurateur | 1944 – present |
11 | John Neely Bryan | Founder of Dallas | 1810 – 1877 |
12 | Tex Schramm | Dallas Cowboys GM | 1920 – 2003 |
13 | Laura Bush | Former First Lady | 1946 – present |
14 | Mickey Mantle | Baseball Player | 1931 – 1995 |
15 | Mike Rhyner | Radio Personality | 1950 – present |
16 | Herb Kelleher | Entrepreneur | 1931 – present |
17 | Mary Kay Ash | Entrepreneur | 1918 – 2001 |
18 | H. Ross Perot | Entrepreneur/Politician | 1930 – present |
19 | Don Meredith | Football Player/Broadcaster | 1938 – 2010 |
20 | Stanley Marcus | Retailer | 1905 – 2002 |
21 | Doak Walker | Football Player | 1927 – 1998 |
22 | Mark Cuban | Investor/TV Personality | 1958 – present |
23 | Jack Kilby | Engineer | 1923 – 2005 |
24 | Emmitt Smith | Football Player | 1969 – present |
25 | Lamar Hunt | Sports Franchise Owner | 1932 – 2006 |
26 | Don Henley | Musician | 1947 – present |
27 | James Woodall Rodgers | Civic Leader | 1890 – 1961 |
28 | Mike Modano | Hockey Player | 1970 – present |
29 | T. Boone Pickens | Investor/Philanthropist | 1928 – present |
30 | R.L. Thornton | Civic Leader | 1880 – 1964 |
31 | Charley Pride | Musician | 1938 – present |
32 | Raymond Nasher | Real Estate Developer/Arts Patron | 1921 – 2007 |
33 | Miguel Martinez | Restaurateur | 1890 – 1956 |
34 | Lee Trevino | Golfer | 1939 – present |
35 | Pat Summerall | Sportscaster | 1930 – 2013 |
36 | Trammell Crow | Real Estate Developer | 1914 – 2009 |
37 | H.L. Hunt | Oil Tycoon | 1889 – 1974 |
38 | George E. Kessler | City Planner/Landscape Architect | 1862 – 1923 |
39 | Carl Fletcher & Neil Fletcher | Business/Inventor | 1894 – 1984 / 1904 – 1988 |
40 | Larry Hagman | Actor | 1931 – 2012 |
41 | Clint Murchison Jr. | Dallas Cowboys Owner | 1923 – 1987 |
42 | Kidd Kraddick | Radio Personality | 1959 – 2013 |
43 | Margaret Hunt Hill | Heiress/Philanthropist | 1915 – 2007 |
44 | Bob Lilly | Football Player | 1939 – present |
45 | John M. Stemmons Sr. | Real Estate Developer | 1909 – 2001 |
46 | Carroll Shelby | Automotive Designer | 1923 – 2012 |
47 | Ed “Too Tall” Jones | Football Player | 1951 – present |
48 | Norman Brinker | Restaurateur | 1931 – 2009 |
49 | Tony Dorsett | Football Player | 1954 – present |
50 | Ernie Banks | Baseball Player | 1931 – 2015 |
51 | Randy White | Football Player | 1953 – present |
52 | Tex Avery | Cartoonist | 1908 – 1980 |
53 | Jordan Spieth | Golfer | 1993 – present |
54 | Don Carter | Sports Owner | 1933 – present |
55 | Herbert Marcus | Businessman | 1878-1950 |
56 | Thomas Marsalis | Oak Cliff Founder | 1852 – 1919 |
57 | George Dahl | Architect | 1894 – 1987 |
58 | Annette Strauss | Philanthropist/Civic Leader | 1924 – 1998 |
59 | Steve Miller | Musician | 1943 – present |
60 | Angus G. Wynne Jr. | Developer | 1914 – 1979 |
61 | John Carpenter | Business | 1881 – 1959 |
62 | Blackie Sherrod | Sportswriter | 1919 – 2016 |
63 | Carrie Marcus Neiman | Business | 1883 – 1953 |
64 | Ray Hunt | Businessman | 1943 – present |
65 | Kay Bailey Hutchison | Politician | 1943 – present |
66 | Michael Johnson | Sprinter | 1967 – present |
67 | Leslie Stemmons | Real Estate Developer | 1876 – 1939 |
68 | Norah Jones | Musician | 1979 – present |
69 | George Bannerman Dealey | Newspaper Publisher | 1859 – 1946 |
70 | Caroline Rose Hunt | Philanthropist | 1923 – present |
71 | Eugene McDermott | Engineer/Businessman | 1899-1973 |
72 | Chuck Norris | Actor | 1940 – present |
73 | Owen Wilson | Actor/Screenwriter | 1968 – present |
74 | Joseph Haggar | Business/Civic Leader | 1925 – 2012 |
75 | Dusty Hill | Musician | 1949 – present |
76 | J. Erik Jonsson | Business/Civic Leader | 1901-1995 |
77 | Justin F. Kimball | Educator | 1872 – 1956 |
78 | Adelaida “Mama” Cuellar | Restaurateur | 1871 – 1969 |
79 | Nancy Nasher | Businesswoman/Arts Patron | 1954 – present |
80 | William Caruth | Real Estate Developer | 1827 – 1885 |
81 | Lyda Hill | Philanthropist | 1942 – present |
82 | Davey O’Brien | Football Player | 1917 – 1977 |
83 | Dale Hansen | TV Journalist | 1948 – present |
84 | Charles Sammons | Entrepreneur/Philanthropist | 1898 – 1988 |
85 | Ray Wylie Hubbard | Musician | 1946 – present |
86 | Angie Harmon | Actress | 1972 – present |
87 | Henry S. Miller Jr. | Real Estate Broker | 1914 – 2009 |
88 | Nancy Brinker | Business/Government | 1946 – present |
89 | Melinda Gates | Philanthropist | 1964 – present |
90 | Bette Nesmith Graham | Inventor/Entrepreneur | 1924 – 1980 |
91 | Jack Wilson Evans | Businessman/Civic Leader | 1922 – 1997 |
92 | Harlan Crow | Real Estate Developer/ Arts Advocate | 1949 – present |
93 | Donald Seldin | Doctor | 1920 – present |
94 | William Worthington Samuell | Surgeon | 1878 – 1937 |
95 | Michael Irvin | Football Player | 1966 – present |
96 | Jim Lehrer | Journalist/Writer | 1934 – present |
97 | Juanita Craft | Civil Rights Pioneer | 1902 – 1985 |
98 | Ron Kirk | Government | 1954 – present |
99 | Aaron Spelling | Film, Television Producer | 1923 – 2006 |
100 | Jayne Mansfield | Actress | 1933 – 1967 |
101 | Jimmie Vaughan | Musician | 1951 – present |
102 | Luke Wilson | Actor | 1971 – present |
103 | Jerry Haynes | Actor | 1927 – 2011 |
104 | Bill Winspear | Businessman/Philanthropist | 1933 – 2007 |
105 | Phil Cobb | Restaurateur | 1943 – present |
106 | T-Bone Walker | Musician | 1910 – 1975 |
107 | Ron Chapman | Radio Personality | 1936 – present |
108 | Sarah T. Hughes | Judge/Politician | 1896 – 1985 |
109 | Alfred Horatio Belo | Newspaper Publisher | 1839 – 1901 |
110 | Boz Scaggs | Musician | 1944 – present |
111 | Phil Romano | Restaurateur | 1939 – present |
112 | Joe C. Thompson Jr. | Businessman | 1901 – 1961 |
113 | William H. Gaston | Banker | 1840 – 1927 |
114 | C.R. Smith | Airline Executive | 1899 – 1990 |
115 | Edward Cary | Doctor/Civic Leader | 1872 – 1953 |
116 | C.C. Slaughter | Cattle Baron/Philanthropist | 1837 – 1919 |
117 | Sarah Horton Cockrell | Businesswoman | 1819 – 1892 |
118 | Stephan Pyles | Chef/Restaurateur | 1952 – present |
119 | Gerald Ford | Investor | 1944- present |
120 | Harold Barefoot Sanders | Judge | 1925 – 2008 |
121 | Benjamin Bluitt | Doctor | 1864 – 1946 |
122 | Nancy Lieberman | Basketball Player/Coach | 1958 – present |
123 | Nancy Hamon | Philanthropist | 1918 – 2011 |
124 | Juliette Fowler | Philanthropist | 1837 – 1889 |
125 | Frank X. Tolbert | Journalist/Writer | 1912 – 1984 |
126 | J.S. Armstrong | Real Estate Developer | 1850 – 1908 |
127 | Otis Boykin | Inventor | 1920 – 1982 |
128 | Bill Clements | Politician | 1917 – 2011 |
129 | Jerry Jones | Owner of the Dallas Cowboys | 1942 – present |
130 | Junius “June” Peak | Law Enforcer | 1845 – 1934 |
131 | Dean Fearing | Chef/Restaurateur | 1955 – present |
132 | Alexander Sanger | Business | 1847-1925 |
133 | Clayton Kershaw | Baseball Player | 1988 – present |
134 | Carly Patterson | Olympic Gymnast | 1988 – present |
135 | Mico Rodriguez | Restaurateur | 1957 – present |
136 | Philip Sanger | Business | 1840-1902 |
137 | Mary Crowley | Entrepreneur | 1915 – 1986 |
138 | Henry Exall | Real Estate Developer | 1848 – 1913 |
139 | Samuel B. Pryor | Civic Leader | 1816 – 1866 |
140 | Ruth Collins Altshuler | Philanthropist | 1924 – present |
141 | Ross Perot Jr. | Real Estate Developer | 1958 – present |
142 | Hank Haney | Golf Coach | 1955 – present |
143 | Alexander Cockrell | Businessman | 1820 – 1858 |
144 | Nastia Liukin | Olympic Gymnast | 1989 – present |
145 | Ray Hutchison | Attorney | 1932 – 2014 |
146 | Caren Prothro | Philanthropist | 1942 – present |
147 | George Schrader | City Manager | 1931 – present |
148 | Sam Tasby | Activist | 1922 – 2015 |
149 | Bob Strauss | Lawyer/Ambassador | 1918 – 2014 |
150 | James L. Holloway Jr. | Military Officer | 1898 – 1984 |
151 | Alfred C. Haynes | Airline Pilot | 1931 – present |
152 | Kent Rathbun | Chef/Restaurateur | 1961 – present |
153 | Rhett Miller | Musician | 1970 – present |
154 | Henry Wade | District Attorney | 1914 – 2001 |
155 | Hugh E. Prather Jr. | Real Estate Developer | 1911 – 2010 |
156 | Antonio Maceo Smith | Civic Leader | 1903 – 1977 |
157 | Dorothy Malone | Actress | 1925 – present |
158 | Arch West | Business | 1914 – 2011 |
159 | Sheryl Leach | Children’s TV Producer | 1952 – present |
160 | Kim Dawson | Fashion Model/Entrepreneur | 1924 – 2010 |
161 | Norm Green | Sports Owner | 1934 – present |
162 | Morgan Fairchild | Actress | 1950 – present |
163 | Lisa Loeb | Singer/Actress/Author | 1968 – present |
164 | Gene Street | Restaurateur | 1941 – present |
165 | Anita Martinez | Politician/Arts Patron | 1925 – present |
166 | Robert Rowling | Businessman | 1953 – present |
167 | Edie Brickell | Musician | 1966 – present |
168 | Walter Caruth | Business | 1826 – 1897 |
169 | Burton Gilliam | Actor | 1938 – present |
170 | Terry Dorsey | Radio Personality | 1948 – 2015 |
171 | Adelfa Callejo | Civil Rights Activist/Lawyer | 1923 – 2014 |
172 | Virginia McAlester | Writer/Preservationist | 1943 – present |
173 | Tim Brown | Football Player | 1966 – present |
174 | Walt Humann | Corporate Executive/Civic Leader | 1937 – present |
175 | A.C. Greene | Writer | 1923 – 2002 |
176 | Tom C. Clark | Government | 1899 – 1977 |
177 | James Ling | Entrepreneur | 1922 – 2004 |
178 | Burl Osborne | Newspaper Publisher | 1937 – 2012 |
179 | Sam Johnson | Politician | 1930 – present |
180 | Robert Shaw | Real Estate Developer | 1956 – present |
181 | Frank Reaugh | Artist | 1860-1945 |
182 | Thomas Field | Real Estate Developer | 1847 – 1909 |
183 | Meat Loaf | Musician | 1947 – present |
184 | Ira P. DeLoache | Real Estate Developer | 1879 – 1965 |
185 | Michael Martin Murphey | Musician | 1945 – present |
186 | Kelcy Warren | Entrepreneur | 1955- present |
187 | Arthur L. Kramer | Business | 1921 – 2007 |
188 | Trevor Rees-Jones | Entrepreneur/Philanthropist | 1951 – present |
189 | Janine Turner | Actress | 1962 – present |
190 | J. Lindsay Embrey | Real Estate Developer | 1925 – 2005 |
191 | Victor Considérant | Settler | 1808 – 1893 |
192 | Gen. Edwin Walker | Soldier | 1909 – 1993 |
193 | Wes Wise | Politician/Journalist | 1929 – present |
194 | Erykah Badu | Musician | 1971 – present |
195 | Maxime Guillot | Settler/Carriage Builder | 1824 – 1889 |
196 | Michael Nesmith | Musician/Actor | 1942 – present |
197 | Dimebag Darrell | Musician | 1966 – 2004 |
198 | LeAnn Rimes | Singer | 1982 – present |
199 | Spud Webb | Basketball Player | 1963 – present |
200 | David “Fathead” Newman | Musician | 1933 – 2009 |
201 | Henry \Buster\” Smith” | Musician | 1904 – 1991 |
202 | Johnnie Taylor | Singer | 1934 – 2000 |
203 | Margo Jones | Theater Director | 1911 – 1955 |
204 | M. Tom Lardner | Real Estate Developer | 1943 – 2010 |
205 | Francisco “Pancho” Medrano | Civil Rights Activist | 1920 – 2002 |
206 | Yvonne Craig | Dancer/Actress | 1937 – 2015 |
207 | Harriet Miers | Lawyer/White House Counsel | 1945 – present |
208 | Royal Ferris | Banker | 1851 – 1929 |
209 | Benny Binion | Gambler/Mob Boss | 1904 – 1989 |
210 | Robert Munger | Business/Real Estate | 1854 – 1923 |
211 | Adlene Harrison | Politician | 1923 – present |
212 | Deion Sanders | Football/Baseball Player | 1967 – present |
213 | Hudson Stuck | Episcopal Priest | 1865 – 1920 |
214 | Alex Moore | Musician | 1899 – 1989 |
215 | Lawrence Wright | Author/Journalist/Screenwriter | 1947 – present |
216 | Selena Gomez | Actress/Singer | 1992 – present |
217 | Marvin Runyon | Business Executive/Postmaster General | 1924 – 2004 |
218 | Albert Black | Businessman | 1959 – present |
219 | Tom Joyner | Radio Personality | 1949 – present |
220 | Trini Lopez | Musician/Actor | 1937 – present |
221 | Edward Eisenlohr | Artist | 1872 – 1961 |
222 | Jerry Bywaters | Artist | 1906 – 1989 |
223 | Peri Gilpin | Actress | 1961 – present |
224 | Rev. S.M. Wright | Pastor | 1927 – 1994 |
225 | Jody Grant | Banker | 1938 – present |
226 | Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer | Father of Modern Cheerleading | 1925 – 2015 |
227 | Lynn McBee | Fundraiser/Philanthropist | 1968-present |
228 | George Aldredge | Judge and Attorney | 1846 – 1908 |
229 | Robert B. Haas | Investor/Photographer | 1947 – present |
230 | Jeremy Halbreich | Newspaper Executive | 1952 – present |
231 | Georgia Carroll | Model/Actress | 1919 -2011 |
232 | Laura Miller | Journalist/Politician | 1958 – present |
233 | Lucky Peterson | Blues Musician | 1964 – present |
234 | Arthello Beck | Artist | 1941 – 2004 |
235 | Eddie Bernice Johnson | Congresswoman | 1935 – present |
236 | Linda Darnell | Actress | 1923 – 1965 |
237 | Martie Maguire | Musician | 1969 – present |
238 | Peter MacNicol | Actor | 1954 – present |
239 | William O’Neil | Stock Broker/Author | 1933 – present |
240 | Lisa Blue Baron | Lawyer/Philanthropist | 1952 – present |
241 | Steve Bartlett | Politician | 1947 – present |
242 | Andy Beal | Banker/Investor | 1952 – present |
243 | Henry Ervay | Government | 1834 – 1911 |
244 | T.D. Jakes | Pastor | 1957 – present |
245 | Jessica Simpson | Actress/Singer/Fashion Designer | 1980 – present |
246 | Fred Baron | Lawyer | 1947 – 2008 |
247 | Elda Vokel | Actress/Filmmaker | 1911 – 2001 |
248 | Stanley Hauerwas | Theologian | 1940 – present |
249 | Jenna Bush Hager | TV Personality | 1981 – present |
250 | Emily Robison Strayer | Musician | 1972 – present |
251 | Jerry Hall | Model/Actress | 1956 – present |
252 | Tom Hicks | Investor | 1946 – present |
253 | Frances Mossiker | Writer | 1906 – 1985 |
254 | Kelli McGonagill Finglass | Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Director | 1964 – present |
255 | Roger Boykin | Musician | 1940 – present |
256 | Levi Olan | Rabbi | 1903 – 1984 |
257 | Rev. C.A.W. Clark | Pastor | 1914 – 2008 |
258 | Sylvia Stanfield | Government | 1943 – present |
259 | Swanee Hunt | Ambassador | 1950 – present |
260 | Jeff Dunham | Comedian/Ventriloquist | 1962 – present |
261 | St. Vincent | Musician | 1982 – present |
262 | George W. Truett | Pastor | 1867 – 1944 |
263 | Demi Lovato | Singer/Songwriter/Actress | 1992 – present |
264 | Charles Wyly | Entrepreneur/Investor | 1933 – 2011 |
265 | Lewis Sperry Chafer | Theologian | 1871 – 1952 |
266 | W.A. Criswell | Pastor | 1909 – 2002 |
267 | Karen Brooks | Singer | 1954 – present |
268 | Willie Hutch | Musician | 1944 – 2005 |
269 | Todd Oldham | Fashion Designer | 1961 – present |
270 | Vanilla Ice | Rapper/TV Host | 1967 – present |
271 | Megan Mylan | Documentary Filmmaker | 1969 – present |
272 | Richard Rawlings | Reality TV Star | 1969 – present |
273 | Henry D. Lindsley | Banker/Civic Leader | 1872 – 1938 |
274 | Regina Taylor | Actress/Playwright | 1960 – present |
275 | Sam Wyly | Business | 1934 – present |
276 | Sarah Shahi | Actress/Model/NFL Cheerleader | 1980 – present |
277 | Chris Harrison | TV Personality | 1971 – present |
278 | Ralph Guldahl | Golfer | 1911 – 1987 |
279 | Bobbi Humphrey | Musician | 1950 – present |
280 | Al Lipscomb | Activist/Politician | 1925 – 2011 |
281 | Jack Graham | Pastor | 1950 – present |
282 | Kyle Gann | Composer/Music Critic | 1955 – present |
283 | Lance Armstrong | Cyclist | 1971 – present |
284 | Chris Bosh | Basketball Player | 1984 – present |
285 | Domingo Garcia | Lawyer/Politician | 1958 – present |
286 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Race Car Driver | 1980 – present |
287 | Katherine Owens | Theater Director | 1957 – present |
288 | Shelly Musselman | Fashion Retailer | 1951-2011 |
289 | Dennis Rodman | Basketball Player | 1961 – present |
290 | Terry Fator | Comedian/Ventriloquist | 1965 – present |
291 | Tracy Lynn Curry (The D.O.C.) | Rapper | 1968 – present |
292 | Steve Holy | Singer | 1972 – present |
293 | Glenn Beck | Radio Personality/Political Commentator | 1964 – present |
294 | Melissa Rycroft | Reality TV Star | 1983 – present |
295 | Cowboy Troy | Country Rapper | 1970 – present |
296 | Robert Jeffress | Pastor | 1955 – present |
297 | Ashlee Simpson | Actress/Singer | 1984 – present |
298 | Big Tuck | Rapper | 1979 – present |
299 | Ryan Cabrera | Singer/Songwriter | 1982 – present |
300 | Skip Bayless | Sports Writer/TV Personality | 1951 – present |
301 | John Wiley Price | Politician | 1950 – present |
302 | Kenneth Copeland | Televangelist | 1936 – present |