Dick Weekley is a native Houstonian, businessman and philanthropist. He founded Weekley Properties,
a commercial real estate brokerage firm, in Houston in 1973. Along with his brother, David, he co-
founded David Weekley Homes in 1976, the largest privately-owned homebuilding company in the
country with 2020 revenues of $2.3 billion. Dick and David Weekley also founded Weekley Development
Co., which develops and operates shopping centers and other real estate investments in Houston. In 2018, The Texas Business Hall of Fame inducted Dick and David Weekley.
Dick has been active in civic and community affairs, including as a member of the Greater Houston
Partnership Board of Directors Executive Committee, and a life board member of the Metropolitan
YMCA, where he formerly served as chairman. He is also a member of the Texas Business Leadership
Council, which recognized him with the inaugural Richard W. Weekley Public Policy Leadership Award in
2014. Dick is also a former board member of the Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Governor's Business Council.
Dick co-founded Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) in 1994, a statewide tort reform advocacy organization
dedicated to bringing fairness and balance back to Texas' civil justice system. In that time, TLR has
helped pass the most comprehensive lawsuit reforms in the country. He is also co-founder and president
of the Quality of Life Coalition of Houston, co-founder of two education reform organizations and
Houstonians for Responsible Growth, as well as several other non-profit organizations.
Dick attended Southern Methodist University, where he graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in
economics, and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2016. He was an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving
a tour of duty in Vietnam and then with the Flag Staff of the Commander of Amphibious Forces, U.S.
Atlantic Fleet. Dick is married to Margaret Neuhaus Weekley, and is the father of three children and a
grandfather of six.
Dick Weekley and David Weekley Inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame
TBLC Honors Dick Weekley
Dick Weekley honored as a Scenic Houston Visionary in 2021
Dick Weekley is the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Awards recipient from the SMU Alumni Board
The Distinguished Alumni Awards recipient Richard W. Weekley '67 presentation. The Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony recognizes extraordinary achievement, outstanding character and good citizenship in an event hosted by President R. Gerald Turner and the SMU Alumni Board. Held on the historic Main Quadrangle in front of Dallas Hall on the SMU campus on November 3, 2016.
Dick Weekley Election Summary Speech to Texas Business Leadership Council
Dick Weekley is Texas Public Policy Foundation's 2017 Honoree
On April 17, 2014, the Texas Business Leadership Council awarded TLR CEO Dick Weekley the Public Policy Leadership Award for his outstanding contributions to Texas.
Dick Weekley, Jim Holcomb and David Weekley donated 10.2 acres of land valued at over $3,000,000. The expansion of YMCA services to the Spring community was the result of this donation. In addition to the land, the Holcomb and Weekley Families donated $3,000,000 toward the construction of Phase 1 of the project. The YMCA must raise additional funds to support future buildings for the project and is in the preliminary stages of a capital campaign.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack said naming the center for the Weekleys was a fitting tribute to their contributions to the Greater Houston area.
"This is a family that is instrumental in doing great things in the Houston-Harris County area," Radack said. "This is a unique family who is always willing to step up and help in many different causes."
Weekley, who serves on the board of directors for the Greater Houston Partnership, founded Weekley Properties in the early 1970s and has been active in other areas of the city and county, such as Hermann Park, the DePelchin Children's Center, Park People and Trees for Houston.
Dick Weekley, at Thursday?s William J. O?Neil Lecture, SMU alum shared
with students how media affects business. Weekley is the brains behind
commercial real estate brokerage firm Weekley Properties and co-founder
of privately owned, single-family home building company Weekley Homes,
which operates out of Houston.
But it was a project closer to his heart that Weekley spoke about at the
lecture...
Dick Weekley looked anguished on the eve of his most important political
moment. Within 24 hours, the Texas House would consider four of the 11 tort
reform proposals the Houston businessman had been promoting, day in and day
out, for five months.
A look of concern, perhaps a tinge of panic, swept his angular face. The
developer had been pulled away from his late, late dinner, learning that a
high-level tort reform meeting was occurring with House leaders. He was not
included; trial lawyers were there. What did that mean?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform Announces PAC Director Departure, Houston Chronicle, April 26, 2006
Richard W. Weekley, Chairman and CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, said, "Matt has been a key to TLR's success. He is conscientious, principled and exceptionally capable. All of us value Matt's contribution to our organization -- he is a person you can count on, no matter how tough the going or how strenuous the effort. We are thankful that Matt has been with us as PAC Director and we look forward to his contributions to the Texas civil justice system as a consultant to Texans for Lawsuit Reform."
The Dallas Morning News, Reformers Still Can Make a Difference
?Dick Weekley looked anguished on the eve of his most important political moment. Within 24 hours, the Texas House would consider four of the 11 tort reform proposals the Houston businessman had been promoting, day in and day out, for five months.?
Fortune Press Release, David Weekley Homes Makes Fortune List, January 9, 2006
?At David Weekley Homes, we have created a culture that enhances people?s lives. We have worked hard to build a world-class company that employees, vendors and customers want to be associated with,? said David Weekley, Chairman of David Weekley Homes.
TexasInsider.org, Want The Facts? Want A Balanced Story? Want Honest Journalism? Too Bad!, November 16, 2005
?In fact, the late Lt. Governor Bullock, a Democrat, was so impressed that Dick Weekley and other TLR supporters personally lobbied the Legislature that he referred to Mr. Weekley as ?Mr. Smith Comes To Austin,? after the legendary idealistic character played by Jimmy Stewart in the film ?Mr. Smith Goes To Washington?. Texas Monthly knows that, but chose not to mention it in the article.?
Townhall.com, Businessman turned Mayor Hailed in Houston, November 5, 2005
"For a leader not to utilize the private sector when the city has a wealth of talented, concerned citizens with the means and experience to help the city and will donate their services _ especially when speed is an issue _ wouldn't be prudent," said developer Dick Weekley, who has helped with beautification projects.
Texans for Texas, Texas Asbestos & Silica Reform Becomes Law, May 24, 2005
?Texas has again crafted and enacted model legislation that can serve as an example to others states and the United States Congress. We have demonstrated that one of the worst abuses of the civil justice system can be solved with compassion, fairness and common sense,? said TLR Chairman Dick Weekley.
The Advocate, TLR Proposes Fair Solution to Asbestos Litigation, January 2005 ?I AM OPTIMISTIC OF SUCCESS,? SAYS DICK WEEKLEY. ?Although we have our work cut out for us,? observes TLR Chairman & CEO Dick Weekley, ?we have excellent prospects of success because of the number of thoughtful and fair-minded legislators that serve Texas today.?
Parkside, Hermann Park Projects Update: Donations, Designs and Dedications, Winter 2004
?Thanks to gifts from the Wortham Foundation, Fondren Foundation, Meg and Dick Weekley and the Houston Area Road Runners Association (HARRA), we are well on our way to completing our $500,000 match to the $2M Statewide Transportation Enhancement Project (STEP) grant awarded for improvements to the multi-use trails in Hermann Park.?
The Advocate, A Decade of Political Action, April 2004
?Both Trabulsi and Linbeck credited Dick Weekley with being the catalyst for creation of TLR. ?He brought so much energy, determination and optimism to the cause, that he attracted people all over the state who had become disgusted with the rampant lawsuit abuse that had corrupted our legal system?, said Trabulsi. ?I had been involved in public policy and politics all of my life,? Trabulsi continued, ?and I saw that Dick Weekley was going to provide the kind of total-immersion leadership that is necessary to achieve signifi cant reform. That?s what caused me to devote so much of my time and energy to TLR.? Linbeck noted that Dick Weekley?s enthusiasm and idealism was contagious, and that even some of Austin?s toughest political leaders admired Dick Weekley?s civic-mindedness.?
The Advocate, High Court Meets Short Deadline with New Rules, December 2003
?In 1994, Hugh Rice Kelly along with Dick Weekley, Leo Linbeck and Dick Trabulsi, founded Texans for Lawsuit Reform. He authored TLR?s fi rst legislative agenda, most of which was enacted in 1995, and has served as general counsel to the group since its inception.?
The Advocate, Historic Tort Reform Bill Passes, June 2003
?TLR has grown to over 11,561 citizens in every nook and cranny of Texas?men and women who are engaged in the whole range of trades, occupations and professions in our society.?
The Houston Chronicle, Epicures looking forward to 220 Main debut, March 24, 2003
?Operated by Benchmark Hospitality of The Woodlands, the new hotel is still without an official name. But the players and the $ 30 million for the project are in place. Developer: Randall Davis. Investors: Dick Weekley, David Weekley and Burt Cabanas, Benchmark CEO. Hotel general manager: Troy Bennett.?
The Advocate, Our Agenda for the 2003 Texas Legislative Session, Spring 2003
?It is time for Texas to become the nation?s leader in ending lawsuit abuse,? said TLR Founder Dick Weekley. ?We can and should become the example to the rest of the nation of what can be accomplished when the will of the people is heard in the Capitol.?
The Advocate, Our Right to Arbitration is Under Nationwide Attack, Fall 2002
?This November, it is critically important that every TLR supporter turn out to vote on every race, particularly the Supreme Court positions. We are pleased to have a candidate like Judge Margaret Mirabal to become a justice on our highest civil court in Texas,? said Dick Weekley, TLR Chairman and CEO.
The Houston Chronicle, 'Green Tie Affair', April 24, 2002
?Chairs Ray and Peggy Bailey, left, join Meg Weekley and honoree Dick Weekley on the terrace during the dinner reception. Dick Weekley received the Park People's highest tribute, the George R. Brown Memorial Award, for his leadership role in the Quality of Life Coalition.?
The Advocate, Report on the 77th Legislature, Fall 2001
?Mr. Jefferson is a legal scholar and long-time appellate practitioner who will reflect great credit on an already distinguished court,? said Dick Weekley, TLR Chairman and CEO.
Houston Business Journal, Home builder Weekley buys tract for headquarters building, April 18,1997
Dick Weekley, who heads up Weekley Properties, confirms that his company and that of his brother, David Weekley Homes, will relocate to the new building within the next 18 months. Officials at David Weekley Homes did not return telephone calls by press time. "We'll be moving too," Dick Weekley says of his company. "But this is mainly about a move for David Weekley Homes. They'll be occupying about 95 percent of the building, and we'll be taking up the rest."
The Advocate, TLR?S Legislative Day - A Great Success!, February 1997
The program began with welcoming remarks from Leo Linbeck, TLR?s Chairman. Dick Weekley, TLR?s President, introduced the staff and consultants who make up the well-rounded team charged with shepherding the 7-point agenda through the legislative process.
The Advocate, Senators Shapiro and Lucio honored, September 1996
Dick Weekley, President of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, presented inscribed awards to the Senators with words of praise and thanks to them for their support and efforts in bringing about these much needed reforms.
The Advocate, Celebrating a victory, preparing for next battle, November 1995
TLR President Dick Weekley acknowledged the other groups which, with TLR, made up the reform-support team. "TLR created the framework for Texans to communicate with their legislators. Our legislators listened, then stood up and voted the wishes of their constituents," Weekley said. "And for that, we are extremely grateful."