Robert H. Dedman, Jr. ’80, ’84

A legal and financial powerhouse, Robert H. Dedman, Jr. ’80, ’84 has a keen understanding of legacy and a commitment to advancing it.

Dedman received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1979, where he served as the president of Pi Kappa Alpha – Beta Mu chapter. He then went on to complete his Master of Business Administration at SMU, graduating with highest honors in 1980, followed by his Juris Doctor at SMU, graduating cum laude and receiving the Order of the Coif in 1984.

Today, he is the president and CEO of the Dedman family office, DFI Management, Ltd., which manages the family’s financial and philanthropic activities. In addition to their commitment to SMU, the Dedman family has a rich history with ClubCorp and Pinehurst Resort and Country Club through Putterboy, Ltd.

Dedman first served as the director of corporate planning for ClubCorp from 1980 to 1984 and then as an associate at Salomon Brothers, Inc., specializing in mergers and acquisitions. In 1987, he returned to ClubCorp as chief financial officer and was named president and chief operating officer in January 1989. In July 1998, he was named chief executive officer and, in August 2002, chairman of the board. The Dedman family sold ClubCorp in December 2006 and simultaneously acquired the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club through Putterboy, Ltd. Dedman is currently the general partner of Putterboy, Ltd., which owns Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. Pinehurst has been named by the USGA as the premier “anchor site” to host six future U.S. Opens and U.S. Women’s Opens national championships in the future.

Throughout his professional accomplishments, Dedman has continued to support SMU, serving as chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2018 to 2022. He currently serves on the Dedman School of Law Executive Board, the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences Executive Board, the Academic Affairs committee, the trusteeship committee, and is chair of the compensation committee.

Outside of SMU, Dedman also serves as a board member of Southwestern Medical Foundation, where he is a member of the executive committee and the investment committee. He is vice chairman of the O’Donnell Foundation; UT Southwestern President’s Advisory Board; a member of the O’Donnell Brain Institute; and a member of The University of Texas at Austin Development Board. He is a USGA Foundation Advisory trustee and was honorary chairman of the USGA’s U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open in 2014 at Pinehurst. He is past chairman of the Texas Business Hall of Fame and has served on the Boards of Golf 20/20, the Environmental Institute for Golf, the National Golf Foundation, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Boys & Girls Club – Southwest Region.

In 1998, he wrote and published Our Star Service Journey. He also published two anthologies of quotes: Thoughts on a Purposeful Life and The Journey of Life.

Dedman received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the SMU Dedman School of Law in 2010, as well as the Pro Bene Meritis Award from UT Austin School of Liberal Arts in 2014. He also received the Charles Cameron Sprague Award from Southwestern Medical Foundation in 2009.

He is the son of Nancy McMillan Dedman ’50, ’80, ’81 and the late Robert “Bob” H. Dedman, Sr. ’53, ’80, ’81, who also served on the SMU Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Rachael Redeker Dedman ’96, are the proud parents of two daughters, Nancy and Catherine.