Tom Landis, owner of Howdy Homemade. (Photo by Kathy Tran)
Howdy Homemade is a place you want to visit, because it’s clear the employees love what they do. Most have Down Syndrome and will enthusiastically tell you their favorite flavors and offer you samples. We profiled the happy Howdy in this month’s edition of the Advocate.
Just recently, Howdy Homemade proprietor Tom Landis was honored for his work supporting those with disabilities when he earned the innaugural Ryan Albers Lifetime Achievement Award. Presented by neighboring organization Connecting Point of Park Cities, which aids adults with disabilities by providing day programs to help expand horizons, the third annual Emerald Cities Connect fundraiser featured football legend Gene Stallings, whose only son was born with Down Syndrome.
It is not Landis’ first time to be noticed for his community-building work. He also earned the award of Social Entrepreneur of the Year from the Center for Nonprofit Management in 2004. He has opened 13 restaurants in 19 years but plans to keep focused on his sweet ice cream spot in Preston Hollow Village, which may soon be franchised.
