George Bannerman Dealey devoted his professional life, seventy-two continuous years, to the A.H. Belo Corporation, beginning as an office boy at The Galveston News and rising to become publisher of The Dallas Morning News and chairman of the board of the company. During his tenure, A.H. Belo's holdings grew from ownership in one newspaper to a company with interests in several papers and the WFAA radio station. He was considered a pioneer of the idea of cooperative journalism, serving as an officer of the Associated Press. Because of his life-long dedication to and influence among the colleagues in his field, he was called the "dean of American journalism."

He took great pride and interest in his adopted hometown of Dallas, working in the early 1900's on a comprehensive master plan for the city. He was instrumental in founding the Texas Children's Hospital, the Dallas Historical Society, the Family Bureau, Dallas' oldest welfare organization, and the Trinity River flood control works. Although he never attended college, he championed education in Texas and was an important figure in the conception and success of Southern Methodist University. The many honors he received included honorary degrees from the University of Missouri and Austin College. He was an honorary member of Sigma Delta Chi, the professional journalism fraternity, and Phi Beta Kappa. In recognition of his contributions as a journalist, builder of Dallas, civic leader and philanthropist, SMU was honored to confer upon George Bannerman Dealey the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.


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