Dallas, TX

Dallas real estate icon Virginia Cook dies at 84

Published

1 year ago

July 15, 2024

Dallas real estate icon Virginia Cook dies at 84

Virginia Cook, co-founder of Virginia Cook Realtors, died Saturday afternoon, her former business partner confirmed. She was 84.

Cook worked in Dallas real estate for over 50 years, starting her own firm in 1999 with business partner Sheila Rice. They grew to six offices across the region — in North Dallas, Uptown, the Park Cities, Sherman, Fort Worth and Plano — before closing their doors in 2019. Virginia Cook Realtors was one of the largest independent North Texas real estate sales firms at the time of its closing.

Described in this 2018 Dallas Morning News article as a “5-foot-2-inch powerhouse,” Cook was known for her determination, wit and energy; even in the face of immense challenges. The News wrote in 2019 that Cook was “as well known in local real estate circles as other industry icons including Allie Beth Allman and the late Ebby Halliday.”

Sherri Baer Wilson, left, vice president and manager of the Park Cities office of Virginia Cook Realtors, says she’s optimistic that Cook may make enough progress to move from a wheelchair to a walker.(Rex C. Curry / Special Contributor)

Cook had a stroke in 2015, resulting in paralysis of her right side and difficulty speaking. She had to take time off from the company and spent two years in rehab at Presbyterian Village North, but was determined to get involved again.

Cook went to one of the company’s six offices every day in her motorized wheelchair once she recovered, hiring a driver to get her there and back. Her Highland Park home, which she had for more than three decades, was retrofitted for her accommodations.

Rice said at the time that Cook could always understand what others were saying, she just couldn’t always fully respond. Her employees and colleagues called the loss of her voice a great injustice.

“If I’d ever met a leader who was just superb with words and the way she could motivate people with a great sense of humor, it’s Virginia,” David Griffin, a colleague of Cook’s, told The News in 2018.

It was a different world in 1960 when Cook decided to get her real estate license.

Cook, then a 20-year-old student at Southern Methodist University, needed legal permission from her husband to pursue the license, per Texas law. She’d work for Judge Fite, Paula Stringer Realtors and Henry S. Miller Co., where she built Miller’s residential real estate arm into a national player before launching her firm near the turn of the century.

Virginia Cook (left) and Sheila Rice, co-founders of Virginia Cook Realtors, and David... — Virginia Cook (left) and Sheila Rice, co-founders of Virginia Cook Realtors, and David Griffin of David Griffin & Co. joined forces in 2010..(Virginia Cook Realtors)

In her later years, she enjoyed reading cookbooks and eating at Al Biernat’s Steakhouse or Pacific Cafe. She practiced speech and physical therapy. Her willpower pushed her to try to learn to write with her left hand and use an iPad at almost 80 years old.

“Virginia’s not like anybody I’ve ever known,” Rice said in 2018, as her longtime partner battled through physical troubles. “She so smart. She’s so clever. She’s so witty. And she is so absolutely going to do it her way on things like this. That bullheadedness has helped her begin to rebuild her life.

“I do know this: Her spirit is very strong. You saw her, so you know. The girl is still there.”

Funeral services for Cook have not yet been announced.

Breaking news editor Tyler J. Davis contributed to this article.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Dallas Open announces exhibition match with John McEnroe, Andy Roddick and more

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Dallas Open announces exhibition match with John McEnroe, Andy Roddick and more

Former American tennis professionals John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, John Isner, and Sam Querrey will play in the 2026 Dallas Open All-American Classic, the tournament announced Monday.

The exhibition event will take place at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2026 ahead of the tournament’s main draw beginning on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.

“We’re thrilled to bring together four beloved American tennis stars for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of entertainment,” said Dallas Open tournament director Peter Lebedevs in a news release.

McEnroe, 66, is a former world No. 1 in both doubles and singles and the only men’s player to ever hold both simultaneously. He has won multiple major titles in both with 7 singles majors, 9 doubles majors and one mixed doubles major.

Roddick, 43, is a former world No. 1 who won his only career major at the 2003 U.S. Open. He played in four other major finals (one at the U.S. Open and three at Wimbledon) losing them all to his rival Roger Federer.

“The Dallas Open has quickly become one of the premier events on the ATP Calendar,” Roddick said. ”I’m honored to play alongside these guys and be part of the night. We all know how to compete and have fun on the court, which is what this night is all about.”

Isner, 40, is a Dallas resident and former top-10 singles player with 16 career ATP titles. He was known for his powerful serve, which averaged about 140 mph, but which went over 155 mph on occasion. He’s also played in the longest tennis match of all time, winning over five sets and 183 games against Nicolas Mahut that took 11 hours and five minutes across three days at Wimbledon in 2010.

Querrey, 38, peaked at No. 11 in the men’s singles rankings, winning 10 career titles and having a career-best majors finish at the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2017.

Tennis fans will also recognize the quartet from their contributions in the media after retirement. McEnroe is a prominent tennis commentator for ESPN at major tournaments. Roddick hosts the “Served” podcast while Isner and Querrey are part of the “Nothing Major Show.”

Tickets for the exhibition are available with prices around $100.

The ATP-500 level Dallas Open tournament is set to feature top-ranked Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton as well as top-level Europeans in Casper Ruud and Grigor Dimitrov. It will take place from Feb. 7 to Feb. 15, 2026 in Frisco.

For more sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News, click here.

To view subscription options for The News and SportsDay, click here.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Dallas Wings bring up Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers for trade talk about first pick

Published

19 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Dallas Wings bring up Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers for trade talk about first pick

The Dallas Wings once again have the first overall pick after winning the 2026 Draft Lottery on Sunday evening. The 2026 WNBA Draft isn’t scheduled until Monday, April 13th, so there is a lot of time for the Wings to evaluate the draft class, but also explore other options for the pick.

Could the Dallas Wings explore trading the first overall pick? It’s certainly not out of the question, and Wings GM Curt Miller is at least open to the idea.

Drake Keeler of IX Sports reported that Wings GM Curt Miller said he he “already received more calls about potential trades for the #1 pick in the upcoming draft than he did in the lead-up to the 2025 draft.” But a lot of that is due to the talent available at the top of the draft.

“The Cailtin Clark draft, there was not going to be a trade, Paige [Bueckers] was not going to be traded, but it will be interesting, and it makes our job fun to listen to those phone calls that come in for the #1 pick. And we’ll do what’s best for our franchise.” Miller said.

Miller is saying that every team knew that they wouldn’t have traded the Paige Bueckers pick last year, and the Indiana Fever wouldn’t have traded the Caitlin Clark pick. Those were generational superstars from the moment they entered college, and the star power and popularity alone would’ve made it hard to trade those picks. The Indiana Fever are the most popular team in the WNBA because of Clark, and no team saw more social media growth this year than the Wings because of Bueckers.

Curt Miller said he’s already received more calls about potential trades for the #1 pick in the upcoming draft than he did in the leadup to the 2025 draft.
— Drake (@DrakeKeeler) November 24, 2025

READ MORE: Dallas Wings win WNBA Draft lottery, will pick No. 1 for second straight year

As of now, there is no player that is a lock to go first overall, but there are plenty of players who could be considered, including Lauren Betts, Awa Fam, Azzi Fudd, Ta’Niya Latson, and Olivia Miles. If it stays like that all year, and unless the Wings fall in love with a particular player, trading down a few spots may be a great opportunity to gain future draft capital.

If they enter the draft saying “We’d be happy with any of these three players,” they should trade back to the third pick, if the opportunity presents itself and the capital makes sense.

They could also use the pick to trade for a readymade star. A lot of players around the WNBA are entering free agency this offseason, which Miller says having Bueckers and the first pick will be a huge draw in free agency, but the Wings can also be aggressive in trades because of the pick.

READ MORE: Paige Bueckers praised by Cooper Flagg after support at recent Mavericks games

Stick with WingsGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Wings throughout the offseason.

Source link

Dallas, TX

Eagles vs. Cowboys Live Updates, Score: Can Dallas Get a Big Win?

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Eagles vs. Cowboys Live Updates, Score: Can Dallas Get a Big Win?

We’ve got a good old-fashioned NFC East rivalry matchup in store for “America’s Game of the Week” on Sunday.

The Eagles (8-2) and the Cowboys (4-5-1) meet up in Texas for the latest installment of one of the NFL’s top rivalries. Philadelphia won the first game between these two teams to open the season back in September, taking down Dallas in a game that was much closer than many expected.

However, the Eagles have largely looked the part of a defending Super Bowl champion since that game. They enter Sunday’s tilt as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Cowboys, however, have had a bumpy year. They have a tough hill to climb to make the postseason, but it seems possible with newcomer Quinnen Williams leading an improved defensive unit.

Will Philly maintain control of the NFC, or can Dallas start a winning streak and make a playoff push?

Follow along for Sunday’s highlights!

4:58p ET