[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 131 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF EBBY HALLIDAY ACERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2015

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of an 
outstanding citizen and entrepreneur, Ebby Halliday Acers. She passed 
away on the evening of September 8th surrounded by friends and family 
at the age of 104.
  Ebby was learning tools of her trade before she was 10 years old, 
selling skin ointment house to house as a child in Kansas. It wasn't 
long before she had a firm grasp on the importance of customer service. 
During the Great Depression she supported her family by selling 
merchandise and, due to her success, she was transferred to Dallas, 
Texas, as a department manager at the W.A. Green Store in 1938. While 
words can't begin to portray the profound and long lasting positive 
impact she had on North Texas in the business sector and local 
communities, she will be greatly missed.
  In 1945 Ebby Halliday Realtors was founded. Over the years, this 
once-developing business turned into the 10th largest independently 
owned residential real estate services company in the nation, and the 
largest in Texas. The company was involved in approximately 19,200 real 
estate transactions with 1,700 sales associates in 2014. On top of 
Ebby's business accomplishments, she was very involved in the 
community. She was a devoted volunteer, educator, supporter of foster 
children, and wonderful leader.
  In 2014, Ebby's Place, which houses a new women's center, and The 
Ebby House, which is a community for young women to transition out of 
foster care due to age, were announced. While Ebby didn't have any 
children, she cared for and helped educate the children of the 
community. She was involved in many different foundations and 
organizations such as the Thanksgiving Square foundation, St. Paul 
Medical foundation, The Dallas County Community College District 
foundation, Alexis de Tocqueville Society for United Way, State Fair of 
Texas, and many more.
  While her community work spoke for itself, she also received much 
praise and recognition from multiple associations, the city of Dallas, 
and the state of Texas. She received the Distinguished Service Award 
from the National Association of Realtors, was inducted into the Dallas 
Business Hall of Fame, and earned the Regional Entrepreneur of the Year 
Award from Ernst & Young. Business and community work weren't her only 
passions; she always spoke wonders of her husband Maurice Acers. They 
met by chance on a local business trip; Maurice was a lawyer and former 
FBI agent.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to celebrate the life of the incredible 
Ebby Halliday Acers. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join 
me in celebrating her remarkable life and service to North Texas and 
the country.

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