On September 8, Preston Hollow lost one of its most iconic figures – Ebby Halliday Acers. She was 104 years old.
For more than a century, Halliday lived a robust and extraordinary life. She learned the importance of marketing and customer service at age 8, by selling Colverine salve to her neighbors in Abilene, Kansas. Later, to support her family during the great depression, Halliday worked in a Kansas City department store. The company was impressed with her salesmanship. In 1938 she was promoted to hat department manager and subsequently transferred to the W.A. Greene Store in Dallas.
That experience led to the opening of her own boutique. One of her regular customers was the wife of Texas oilman Clint Murchison. Murchison had just built 50 single-family spec houses made of insulated concrete. The residences were progressive and he needed someone to convince the people of Dallas that “progressive” was a good thing. He called Halliday.
“If you can sell those crazy hats to my wife,” he said, “maybe you can sell my crazy houses.”
She accepted the challenge and became one of the most successful realtors in history.
Ebby Halliday, REALTORS opened in 1945. Last year alone, the company participated in roughly 19,200 property transactions with a sales volume of $6.64 billion. For being such a massive enterprise, the company’s offices are rather quaint. You’ve of course seen the adorable white cottage in our neighborhood. If not, it’s on Northwest Highway and worth a car ride – especially if you’re a history buff. The building was once Preston Hollow City Hall.
Perhaps more than anything, Halliday will be remembered for her commitment to empowering other women. Because of this, the Ebby Halliday company asks that mourners send donations to organizations like YW Dallas, The Ebby House at Juliette Fowler Communities and others in lieu of flowers.
To learn more about Halliday’s impact on Preston Hollow, click here.