Dallas Chapter Legacy Group Unites Older Alumni

By Rose Cahalan in Chapters, Dallas, TXEX on February 10, 2012 at 10:09 am | No Comments

With about 6,800 members, the Dallas Chapter is one of the Texas Exes’ biggest. But until recently, many older Dallas alumni were feeling left out. So they did something about it.

Whenever David Rodriguez, BAr ’75, walked into a chapter event, he saw lots of fellow Longhorn fans—but none from his generation. For whatever reason, the chapter’s active members were mostly young alumni.

“It was a crowd of young professionals. We were losing out on all these great older alumni, because they didn’t feel comfortable at the events,” Rodriguez says.

So three years ago, Rodriguez hatched an idea that became the Legacy Group—a niche for UT alumni who graduated 20 or more years ago. He and a planning team wrote a mission statement and a five-year business plan.

Today, the Legacy Group has achieved such success that other chapters are even looking to it as a model, Rodriguez says.

“We have 300 people on our email list,” he says. “And we aren’t separatists. We hold joint events with the Young Alumni group, and we’re looking at mentoring opportunities, too.”

The group has attracted more than a few senior business executives, Rodriguez says, and he’s eager to connect their expertise with younger alumni.

From Super Bowl parties to book signings and poker nights, the group holds a wide range of events. Learn more on their website.

From left:Cathy McGough, BA ’72, Life Member; Liz Gagne, BBA ’84; and Janet Nash, BBA ’80, Life Member, at a Legacy Group event. Photo courtesy David Rodriguez.

Tags: chapter, dallas, legacy group, older alumni