The Trinity Trust Held a Celebration and Toast

In Honor of Margaret Hunt Hill Family

Celebration Marked a Milestone as the Top Arch Piece Was Placed

On June 28, The Trinity Trust Foundation hosted a celebration to honor the Margaret Hunt Hill family for making possible the lead gift that helped to fund the bridge that will connect West Dallas to downtown Dallas. Al Hill, Jr., Lyda Hill and Alinda Hill Wikert, children of the late Margaret Hunt Hill, were honored for their dedication and support for their mother’s bridge. Several grandchildren, additional family members and another 100 people also watched a touching video of the bridge and arch construction, including the Dallas City Council and other elected officials.

The celebratory event and champagne toast were hosted by Haynes and Boone, LLP  and held in their offices overlooking the Trinity River Corridor and the gleaming white 400-foot Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge arch. On June 26, construction workers placed the final keystone piece, weighing 150 tons, on top of the bridge. Scheduled to open in 2011, the Santiago Calatrava-designed bridge will change the skyline of Dallas.

Dr. Gail Thomas, president of The Trinity Trust, thanked everyone for coming. “How do you like our new skyline? A special thanks to the Margaret Hunt Hill family including Al Hill, Jr., Lyda Hill and Alinda Wikert. We thank our architect, engineer and poet Santiago Calatrava, who couldn’t be here, but he sends his congratulations and best wishes. We’re grateful for Cimolai, the steel fabricator. Thanks to Doug Pitcock and Bill Doreen with Williams Construction who are doing so much for our city.”

“Now I want to introduce Mayor Tom Leppert who inherited the vision of the Trinity River Corridor Project from Mayors Ron Kirk and Laura Miller, and who has carried the vision forward with great passion.”

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert said, “This bridge, this arch, will be symbolic of all things in Dallas and North Texas, and it will show that we moved forward. The bridge will be the foreground and background of every image.” 

Mayor Leppert then introduced U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.  “We have two giants in Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson couldn’t be here today. In the Senate, we have this woman who is willing to stand, be it funding or regulatory work. We wouldn’t be here without you. Please welcome Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.”

Senator Hutchison said, “This bridge is something no other city has, and it will define the Dallas skyline. The arch and the bridge were the beginning steps that will spur the next steps of the Trinity project. I also want to say a special thank you to the Hill family who contributes in so many ways and in honor of their mother, Margaret Hunt Hill.”

Finally, Mary McDermott Cook, chair of The Trinity Trust, said, “Thank you, Al, to you, your sisters and your family, for the gift you’ve given Dallas. Mayor Leppert, thank you for carrying out the vision started by two previous mayors. Kay [Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison], without you, this Trinity project wouldn’t be happening. Now, let’s raise our glasses and toast the Margaret Hunt Hill family and this bridge!”

Margretta Wikert, Reagan Jensen, Cody Wikert

George Bramblett, Cissy and Plack Carr, Peggy Carr

Jeff Morris and Mary McDermott Cook

 

Mayor Tom Leppert; Al Hill, Jr., U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Mary McDermott Cook

 

Above and below: George Bramblett, Haynes and Boone, LLC; Dr. Gail Thomas, president & CEO of The Trinity Trust; Lyda Hill, LH Holdings, Inc.; Mary McDermott Cook, chair of The Trinity Trust; Brett Ringle, attorney.  

 

Champagne toast!

 

Dr. Gail Thomas with members of the Azteca construction group: Bobby Baze, Gail, Luis Spinola, Joel Morris

 

Al Hill, Jr. Mayor Tom Leppert and members of the Dallas City Council

Photos courtesy of Jeremy Dickie