Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award
19th Annual
Robert S. Folsom Leadership
Award Dinner
Honoring
Caren Prothro
Friday, September 19, 2025
6:00 p.m. Reception | 7:00 p.m. Dinner & Program
Hilton Anatole, Chantilly Ballroom
Purchase Tickets or Sponsorships
For more information, please email FolsomAward@mhd.com
About the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award
The Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award, founded in 2005, is presented annually by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize individuals whose service, commitment, and excellence in community leadership emulates former Dallas Mayor Robert S. Folsom. The Folsom Leadership Award dinner is the largest single fundraising event for Methodist Health System Foundation. The event has raised more than $22 million over the past 20 years to benefit Methodist Health System’s programs and services including building Charles A. Sammons Tower, establishing the Life Shines Bright pregnancy program, renovation of the Methodist Medical Center Dallas labor and delivery floor, supporting neuro services, funding graduate medical education, and the Linda and Mitch Hart Breast Center at Methodist Dallas Medical Center among many others.
Past Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award Recipients:
- 2024 - James W. Keyes
- 2023 - Mary and Rich Templeton
- 2021 - Linda & Mitch Hart
- 2019 – Mike S. Rawlings
- 2018 – Royce West
- 2017 – David B. Miller
- 2016 – R. Gerald Turner, PhD
- 2015 – Jack Lowe, Jr.
- 2014 – Bobby B. Lyle
- 2013 – Mark Craig
- 2012 – Michael M. Boone
- 2011 – Trevor Rees-Jones
- 2010 – Pat and Emmitt Smith
- 2009 – Norman Brinker
- 2008 – Laura Bush
- 2007 – Troy Aikman
- 2006 – Nancy Ann Hunt
- 2005 – Robert S. Folsom
Tickets and Sponsorships
About Robert S. “Bob” Folsom (1927 – 2017)
A native of Oak Cliff, Robert S. “Bob” Folsom attended Sunset
High School, then went on to play football at Southern Methodist University.
After college, he joined his father’s company as a traveling salesman
before starting his own business with $4,000 in savings. His first real
estate purchase, made with a former SMU teammate, was a downtown Dallas
lot. He turned that investment into a multi-million-dollar real-estate
business before entering public service. Mr. Folsom first served on the
Dallas ISD board of trustees, then as mayor of Dallas from 1976 to 1981.
During his tenure, he helped develop Reunion Arena and created the Dallas
Arts District. Following in his father’s footsteps, Folsom was a
Methodist Hospital board member from 1968 to 1977, and board president
from 1975 to 1976. In 2005, the Methodist Health System Foundation established
the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award to recognize individuals whose demonstrated
commitment and excellence in community leadership emulate Mayor Folsom’s
achievements. Mr. Folsom was married to his childhood sweetheart, Margaret
Dalton Folsom, for 64 years until her death in 2013. He is survived by
his son, Steve Folsom of Dallas; daughters Debbie Frank of Dallas and
Debbie Jarma of Weatherford; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
For more information, please contact Methodist Health System Foundation at (214) 947-4555 or FolsomAward@mhd.com.