42nd H. Neil Mallon Award Dinner

Name: 42nd H. Neil Mallon Award Dinner
Start: 2025-10-30T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-10-30T21:00:00-05:00
Location: Hilton Anatole

Thu Oct 30

42nd H. Neil Mallon Award

Honoring James W. Keyes, Global Business Leader and Bestselling Author, Former President & CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc. & Former Chairman & CEO of Blockbuster, Inc.

Featuring a Keynote conversation with former U.S. Secretaries of Education John B. King and Margaret Spellings.

Time:

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm CT

location:

Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX

Sponsorship

HONOREE

James W. Keyes

Former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, Author, and Advocate for Education

KEYNOTE

John B. King

Former U.S. Secretary of Education ('16-'17)

KEYNOTE

Margaret Spellings

Former U.S. Secretary of Education ('05-'09)

DINNER CHAIRS

Nancy Ann & Ray Hunt, Lottye & Bobby Lyle, and Carolyn & David Miller

Honorary Chairs

The Honorable Ron Kirk, The Honorable Tom Leppert, and The Honorable Mike Rawlings

Host Committee Chairs

Lucy & Henry Billingsley, Hon. Kathryn Hall & Mr. Craig Hall, Jan Miller & Jeff Rich, and Myrna & Bob Schlegel

HONOREE – Jim Keyes

James (Jim) W. Keyes is a global business leader, best selling author, philanthropist, artist, musician, commercial pilot, and modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two internationally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries from retail, consumer products, technology, healthcare, cyber security, new space, energy, and advanced nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies.

Keyes’ philanthropic initiatives have an equally broad focus, including serving on the Board of Governors for the American Red Cross, acting as the former Chairman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and serving on the board of directors for institutions such as UT Southwestern Medical School, Cooper Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dallas Performing Arts Center, SMU Cox School of Business, Columbia Business School, and his alma mater, College of the Holy Cross.

He has had a lifelong commitment to education, serving as a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and is the founder of the Education Is Freedom Foundation. He is the author of Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands which provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. It outlines the importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while reserving our democracy.

Keyes is a personification of the American Dream, as he comes from humble beginnings. He was inducted in 2005 as a Member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 2024, he received the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award presented by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize demonstrated community leadership.

About The H. Neil Mallon Award

Named in honor of the Council’s founder, the H. Neil Mallon Award is presented annually to individuals who have excelled at promoting the international focus of North Texas. Funds raised from this event support the Council’s public and education programming, international exchanges, and diplomatic services.

You are cordially invited to join us on the evening of Thursday, October 30, 2025 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas to honor Jim Keyes.

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