Mary Kemp Historical Preservation Award
Richard Bettinger
Morris White, Judy White, Marsha Brown, Richard Bettinger
O
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ur Mary Kemp Historical Preservation Award recipi-
ent is originally from Waco, but moved to Dallas
25 years ago and has maintained a primary residence in
Weatherford the last 20 years. His penchant for restoring
historic homes is well-known.
“We are incredibly honored about this nomination! My
passion for years has been giving lots of TLC to historically
significant homes in Weatherford,” Bettinger said. “A nice
bonus is an amazing family of friends we have created in
Weatherford while loving these old homes. This award is
a nice pat on the back for our efforts to save and enhance
these gorgeous old homes.”
Bettinger graduated from Reicher Catholic High School
in Waco and from Baylor, earning his business degree.
He continued his education at MCC in order to study art/
design. He’s found his niche in design.
“I have worked full-time at David Sutherland Showroom
in Dallas for over 25 years, which is a trade-only interior
design showroom representing some of the finest collec-
tions of furniture, lighting, textiles and art from around
the country and Europe,” he said. “We also own our own
photo art and wallpaper companies — Bettinger Studio
and The Newlon Collection. The main organization in
which we are involved now is the Dallas Architectural
Forum.”
With success has come a desire to give back to the
Weatherford community, to promote it around the area
and the country.
“Our current home is the sixth historic property in
Weatherford I’ve had the honor of owning,” Bettinger
said. “Over the years we have shared these homes with
our friends in the community and as sources of fundraising
through participation in the Heritage Society’s Christmas
Tours. We also have lots of visitors from Dallas and
around the country, to whom we are constantly talking up
Weatherford, all its great people, shops and businesses,
and the nurturing atmosphere to create we find in this
great city. We are spreading the word of Weatherford!”
Bettinger recently returned from a trip to New York
where he met with manufacturers, explored galleries and
encountered “fascinating” artists. He said the Big Apple
might be a perfect spot for a second office, but the long-
term goal is to work out of Weatherford. And as far as
changing anything about his job, he said, “Wow … my
job literally encompasses most all of my creative passions
based in design and art … there is very little I would
change!”
But Bettinger has changed the face of parts of the
city, gussying up beautiful old homes that had suffered
the blight of neglect. His presence here promises more
reclamation of our past, a Parker County past that surely
deserves such attention.