Dallas-area developer Billingsley to be honored with leadership award

Feb. 21, 2023 — DENTON — Lucy Billingsley set the bar high as a commercial real estate developer, business owner and model of civic engagement, making her an outstanding example for others to emulate. To recognize that, she’ll receive the 2023 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award at the Texas Woman’s University Dallas Leadership Luncheon on March 22.

For 21 years, Texas Woman’s has recognized Dallas leaders who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving quality of life and advancing education. The award recognizes the life work of Dykes, an outstanding healthcare provider whose professional and civic achievements reflect a lifetime passion for helping others.

Billingsley devoted her career to developing and managing commercial real estate. She and husband, Henry, launched Billingsley Company in 1978. The Billingsleys have been involved in the design, construction, leasing and management of a myriad of properties, including undeveloped land, master-planned corporate parks and multifamily neighborhoods. Among the company’s major projects are the International Business Park, Austin Ranch, Cypress Waters and the Arts Plaza campus in the Dallas Arts District.

Prior to founding the Billingsley Company, Lucy Billingsley served as chief executive officer of the Dallas Market Center and the Crow Design Centers in Dallas, Houston and Boston. During that period, she founded and grew Wyndham Jade into the largest privately-owned travel agency in the Southwest.

She has served as a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and the boards or advisory committees of the Southwestern Medical Foundation, Southern Methodist University’s Tower Center for Political Studies, the Folsom Institute for Real Estate, KERA and the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation.

Previously, Billingsley founded Chiapas International, which provides funding for loans to people in impoverished Latin American communities. She was board chair of Women for Women International and the Tate Board at Southern Methodist University, and served on the Grameen Foundation Board. She also served on the National Geographic Society’s International Council of Advisors, The Real Estate Council, DFW World Affairs Council and the board of Global Governing Trustees for the Urban Land Institute.

Billingsley has been inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame, the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame, the North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS Hall of Fame and was awarded the 2013 H. Neil Mallon Award presented by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. She has been recognized by Commercial Real Estate Women as a distinguished leader in commercial real estate.

Born and raised in Dallas, Billingsley graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.B.A. in finance. She and her husband live in Dallas, and have four children and eight grandchildren.

This year’s awards luncheon will be at noon at the Arts District Mansion, 2101 Ross Ave., in Dallas. The event will be preceded by a VIP reception beginning at 11 a.m. Register for the luncheon here.