Kelcy Warren emerges as one

of Dallas’ new philanthropists





Staff Writer


At a monthly salon of influential Dallasites, Kelcy Warren’s name came up. No one had heard of him.


Those who didn’t know him included a diplomat of the consular corps, a high-profile political consultant, a community activist and a prominent developer.


That was in February, right after Warren had given a reported $10 million to the Woodall Rodgers deck park and named it for his son, Klyde, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at a local private school.


With the park scheduled to open next weekend, things have changed. Warren, 56, the CEO of the Fortune 500 bellwether Energy Transfer Partners, is now drawing the attention of people all over town. He is, according to Forbes magazine, one of the 400 wealthiest people in the country, with a net worth of $2.3 billion.


But to Dallas, he represents something more. In a city where the so-called greatest generation of philanthropists is losing its longtime stalwarts, such as Ray Nasher, Nancy Hamon and Charles Wyly, Warren represents a new era of givers.


Dallas Cowboys great Cliff Harris, one of Warren’s closest friends, applauds his buddy for “being one of those people who maximizes things to their


Kelcy Warren and his 10-year-old son, Klyde.