At their annual Christmas holiday luncheon in the El Paso Club, the Daedalians were privileged to have as their honored guest, El Paso’s new Mayor, Dee Margo.  Mr. Margo comes into office with some excellent credentials.  Mr. Margo pointed out that the per capita income level in El Paso in the early 1950’s was much greater than that of Phoenix, Arizona, but that has all changed, and not for the better, in the intervening years.  The new Mayor’s objective is to help El Paso attract enough new industries that his city will once again return to the country’s top ranks in respect to its standard of living.  The Daedalians were clearly impressed with Mr. Margo’s ability to speak at such length without notes and yet have such a quick ability to cite a wide range of vital statistics and appropriate ratios for his city.  Mr. Margo also displayed a solid command of the city’s colorful history.

Here is what the Daedalians and their guests learned about the new Mayor’s outstanding business background:

He moved to El Paso in 1977 from Nashville, where he attended Vanderbilt University on a football scholarship, to join his father-in-law at John D. Williams Company (JDW). In February of 1981, 6 days after Dee’s 29th birthday, his father-in-law suffered a fatal heart attack. Dee purchased JDW from the estate, and expanded the company from 6 employees to 70, in the span of 30 years.

During these years, Dee served as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, participated in the founding of the Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), became the Chairman of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, and gave his time to several non-profits, including Operation Noel. Dee was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2010, in 2013 he was appointed President of the EPISD Board of Managers, and most recently he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Oversight Committee.

El Paso has been Dee’s home for 40 years, and he is committed to the roots he has established in this community. Dee and his wife, Adair, have raised their sons in El Paso, so their granddaughters are fifth-generation El Pasoans.

Remember: All the below photos may be seen in full scale high resolution quality by simply clicking on them!

L to R above: Mayor Margo chatting with Bill Provance (Director of the Dona Ana County International Jetport) and Charlie Overstreet, long time member of the FASF.

Mayor Margo describing his background along with his hopes and plans for El Paso’s future.

Above: Daedalians taking in the new Mayor’s words

The Mayor left the podium to walk around the table taking questions from the Daedalians

L to R above:  Focusing on the Mayor’s presentation are: Gerry Wingsett and his friend Jerianne (a far left); Charlie Overstreet,  his wife, Mayre Sue, Bill Provance, Bronson Callihan and his mentor, Flight Captain Roger Nichols.

Colonel Bob Pitt presents the Mayor with the Daedalian’s token of appreciation for having taken the time to join their luncheon.

L to R above: Roger Nichols, Mayor Margo and Colonel Bob Pitt.

L to R: Mayor Margo, Flight Captain Roger Nichols, and Colonel Bob Pitt. This formal Portrait taken by long time FASF member, former Naval Aviator, Roger Springstead.