THE HOME BUILDER June 2025 Memorial services held for Tommy Ford Memorial services were held Page Three
He contributed $10,000 to the National Housing Endowment for establishment of an educational schol- arship to support green building educa- tion, and contributed to the Press Club of Dallas Foundation as an underwriter of the Boone Pickens Roast, a charity fundraiser. Tommy’s charitable accomplish- ments also included support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He also worked with Dallas Fire-Rescue to do- nate sprinklers for low income homes, a contribution that was then matched by the Dallas BA’s Custom Builders/ Remodelers Council. Tommy was active in the home building industry at all levels. He was elected an Honored Life Director of the Dallas BA in 2000, and was also a state and national life director. He was instrumental in crafting a program for compliance with state legislated energy standards. serves on several regional and national code committees. He served for more than a decade creativity and generosity. Some of the advertising campaigns she created remain in use to this day, and her leg- endary REALTOR ™ events are still remembered with admiration. Phyllis’s accomplishments ex- tended well beyond the professional realm. She and her husband, Ray Ryland, were married for 43 years—a milestone anyone who knew them both recognizes as no small feat. Together, they lived a life full of adventure, from African safaris to cherished summers on the Oregon coast in the treasured home Ray built for her with love. Though Phyllis had dreams of adding the Mediterranean to their travels, Ray remained unconvinced—a light- hearted example of their enduring, dynamic partnership. Family was central to Phyllis’s heart. She was devoted to her sisters, Brenda and Hope, and shared an espe- cially deep bond with Brenda and her children, Paige and Monty. Though she had no children of her own, she embraced Ray’s son Mike, his wife Deborah, and their sons Grant, Blake and Conner, as her own family. In her heart, those boys were her grandsons, and Deborah became the daughter she had always wished for. Their connec- tion remained strong and unwavering
on the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Codes Coordinating Committee. This group of DFW area building officials and in - dustry professionals compose regional amendments to ICC codes that result in codes that reflect local building practices and foster regional continu- ity. Tommy’s advocacy efforts on the RCCC alone saved builders thousand of dollars over the years. Tommy got his start in the indus- try at age 7, cleaning up job sites for his father, a home builder in West Texas. Tommy Ford Construction was founded in 1965 in Vernon, TX. Tom- my spent many years working in the oil field, but wanted to get back to what he loved, which was building homes. He began working out of his truck and took on whatever jobs he could to support his family. After several years working in Vernon and the surround- ing area, he and his family moved to Amarillo in 1969. He served as presi- dent of the Texas Panhandle Builders Association in 1988. Phyllis’s circle of love and loy- alty extended far beyond her family. She was surrounded by close friends whose lives she enriched in countless ways. She was a source of wisdom and guidance, always ready with thought- ful advice—whether for a personal challenge or a professional dilemma. She volunteered at Faith Presbyterian Hospice for many years. “Phyllis lived generously, loved deeply and inspired many. Her two- scoop life was one of purpose, passion and presence—and we are all better for having been part of it,” stated former Dallas BA Director of Special Events Jackie Johnson. Phyllis requested that no service be held. Any donations to Faith Pres- byterian Hospice in her name would be a great tribute.
May 24 in Dallas for Honored Life Director Tommy Ford of Tommy Ford Construction, who passed away May 10. He would have been 87 in June. Tommy had been a member of the Dallas BA since 1989. He was the recipient of both the Association’s highest award, the Hugh Prather Trophy, and the Texas Association of Builders’ Ted Schlossman Lifetime Achievement Award. Known to be private about his successes, Tommy was honored with numerous awards for his excellence and generosity. He was a founding member and director of the Texas Builders Founda- tion, which provides scholarships to students who are pursuing careers as residential construction trades profes- sionals. The Foundation honored him industry icon Phyllis DeWitt Ryland passed away May 6, leaving behind a legacy as rich and vibrant as the life she led. In her own words, Phyllis lived a “two-scoop life”—because when it came to blessings, the Lord never gave her just one scoop of her favorite ice cream, but always two. She had been a member of the Association since 1983, first as a mar - keting professional with volume build- ers Goodman Homes and Newmark Homes, as well as Builders Reliance Mortgage and Blandford-Akins. Phyl- lis started her own company, DeWitt Marketing, in 2001, and maintained her membership in the Dallas BA throughout her retirement. Born in Decatur, TX, Phyllis’s humble beginnings laid the foundation for an extraordinary journey. She rose to remarkable success in the business world, first distinguishing herself as a gifted salesperson and sales manager, then as a visionary marketer, and ul- timately as a media business owner. Phyllis was well-deserving of the “Legend of Marketing” award that she received through the McSAM Awards. She didn’t just build a career—she built opportunities for others, guiding them to success with her wisdom,
Tommy Ford 1938 - 2025 Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Linda Ford; son Corey Ford (Becky); daughter Jana McAllister (Russell); daughter Amy Pennington (Kurt); sister Berta Gentry; seven grandchildren; and four great grand- children. In lieu of flowers, the family
with its Ron Connally Award of Ex- cellence. He also received the Texas Association of Builders’ Philanthropist of the Year award. requests donations to the Texas Build- ers Foundation or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation North Texas Chapter. Dallas BA bids farewell to Phyllis DeWitt Longtime Dallas BA member and until the very end.
Phyllis DeWitt 1948 - 2025
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