Richard W. Weekley '67

 

Richard W. Weekley is a real estate magnate, U.S. Navy veteran and tireless worker for civil justice reform.

After graduating from SMU with a B.A. in economics in 1967, Mr. Weekley became a naval officer aboard the USS Fletcher, serving in Vietnam. After leaving the service, Mr. Weekley founded the real estate brokerage and development firms Weekley Properties and Weekley Development Company in 1973. Three years later, he co-founded David Weekley Homes, the largest privately owned homebuilder in the United States, two-time National Homebuilder of the Year and listed ten times as Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. Mr. Weekley is the volunteer Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform. He also serves or served on the board of directors for numerous philanthropic organizations, including the Greater Houston Partnership, the Metropolitan YMCA, the Dallas Federal Reserve Board and Texans for Education Reform. Mr. Weekley has been called a “giant in Texas” and, in 2013, the Texas Business Leadership Council named its annual award the Richard W. Weekley Public Policy Leadership Award.