Folsom History
Honoring Strong, Ethical Leadership for More Than 10 Years
Established in 2005, the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award is presented by the Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize individuals whose demonstrated commitment to, and excellence in, community leadership emulate the achievements of former Dallas mayor Robert S. Folsom.
The award is named in Mr. Folsom’s honor for his commitment to the Dallas community and his lifelong example of excellence in community leadership. Recipients of the award are selected for their accomplishments in making a lasting, positive change in the Dallas community and inspiring others to follow in their paths.
The Folsom event has raised more than $15 million over the past 10 years to benefit Methodist Health System’s programs and services. The Dallas Business Journal ranked the Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award #6 of 25 on the North Texas Fundraising Events list in March 2016.
About Robert S. “Bob” Folsom
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.
He first served on the Dallas ISD board of trustees, then as mayor of Dallas from 1976-1981. 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 1968-1977, and board president from 1975-1976.
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.
He 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.
Folsom Fitness and Rehabilitation Center
In August 1983, Margaret and Bob Folsom donated funds to create an outpatient rehabilitation center next to Methodist Dallas Medical Center to help patients recover from injury or illness, train for athletic events, lose weight, and improve their overall health and fitness.
Folsom Leadership Award
The Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated commitment to the Dallas community and who emulate Mayor Folsom’s lifelong example of excellence in community leadership. Recipients of the award are selected for their accomplishments in making a lasting, positive change in the Dallas community and inspiring others to follow in their paths. To date, the event has raised more than $15 million to benefit Methodist Health System programs and services including building Charles A. Sammons Tower, establishing the Life Shines Bright pregnancy program, supporting neuro services, and funding graduate medical education. Past award recipients include: Robert S. Folsom (2005); Nancy Ann Hunt (2006); Troy Aikman (2007); Laura Bush (2008); Norman Brinker (2009); Pat and Emmitt Smith (2010); Trevor Rees-Jones (2011); Michael M. Boone (2012); Mark Craig (2013); Bobby B. Lyle (2014); Jack Lowe, Jr. (2015); R. Gerald Turner, PhD (2016); David B. Miller (2017); Royce West (2018); Michael S. Rawlings (2019).
If you would like to make a gift in memory of Robert S. Folsom, please click the button below.
Current Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award Recipient:
- Michael S. Rawlings
Past Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award Recipients:
- 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
For those interested in supporting the Folsom Award, please contact Methodist Health System Foundation at 214-947-4555 or FolsomAward@mhd.com.