For more than 95 years, Salesmanship Club of Dallas and its members have been committed to one thing: transforming children’s lives. Founded in 1920, the Club unites its more than 600 members by four core values: fellowship, commitment, respectfulness and humility. Each year, day in and day out, Club members focus their dedicated efforts to support Momentous Institute, which builds and repairs social emotional health for children and families through education, therapeutic programs, research and training. Uniquely, the Salesmanship Club owns and operates both Momentous Institute and its chief fundraiser, the AT&T Byron Nelson, a PGA TOUR tournament.
Our History
- 1920
- 1921
- 1945
- 1957
- 1965
- 1968
- 1976
- 1983
- 1987
- 1988
- 1990
- 1997
- 2000
- 2003
- 2004
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2011
- 2012
- 2014
- 2015
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1920
Salesmanship Club of Dallas is founded with a mission to transform childrens’ lives. First Club President Woodall Rodgers sets the tone for the Club: “Do good, without being stuffy about it.”
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1921
The Club opens a summer recreational camp for orphan children.
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1945
The Club opens the nation’s first year-round residential therapeutic camp in Woodland Springs.
Known as the Greatest Year in Golf – Byron Nelson wins 18 tournaments, with 11 consecutive victories.
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1957
As the growing city of Dallas encroaches Woodland Springs, the Club moves its camp to Hawkins, Texas.
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1965
The camp’s success (documented in the book, Wilderness Road, written by Camp Director Campbell Loughmiller) inspires the creation of similar camps throughout the country and internationally.
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1968
Byron Nelson lends his name to the golf tournament hosted and operated by Salesmanship Club of Dallas, creating the Byron Nelson Golf Classic at Preston Trail Golf Club. All tournament proceeds benefited the Club’s therapeutic camp and programs.
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1976
The Club opens a new residential treatment camp for girls near Palestine, Texas.
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1983
The Club makes its first venture into education and opens a day treatment school for students, and invests in research and evaluation.
The tournament moves to the TPC Four Seasons Resort Dallas at Las Colinas in Irving.
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1987
In an effort to help more kids and families, the Club begins offering family therapy services and relocated its offices to Oak Cliff.
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1988
With GTE as the first title sponsor, the event becomes the GTE Byron Nelson Classic.
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1990
The Club’s camps for boys and girls consolidate at the Hawkins location.
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1997
As a furthest upstream effort, the Club opens a lab school for kids growing up in poverty that prioritizes social emotional health.
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2000
Following a successful capital campaign, the Club’s Oak Cliff campus, including the Meadows Family Center and J. Erik Jonsson Community School, is dedicated.
With GTE’s merger with Bell Atlantic, the tournament becomes the Verizon Byron Nelson Classic.
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2003
The Club signs EDS as the tournament’s new title sponsor, launching the EDS Byron Nelson Championship.
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2004
In response to the changing needs of kids and families, the Club ends the residential treatment program at the Hawkins’ camp but continues to be used by kids served through Momentous School and our therapeutic service. Their visits — including day trips and overnight, extended stays — are focused on teaching them about science, wildlife and teamwork.
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2006
Tournament namesake and golf legend Byron Nelson passes away.
The Club opens a second campus in northwest Dallas on Harry Hines. The Harry Hines campus provides a range of therapeutic services to kids and families.
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2007
The Club surpasses the $100 million mark in total dollars raised for its programs.
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2008
HP acquires EDS and assumes title sponsorship, yielding the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
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2011
Following a successful capital campaign, the Club purchases its northwest campus and the building was christened the Constantin Center.
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2012
The Club presents its inaugural Changing the Odds Conference aimed at sharing strategies with educators and mental health professionals from across the country.
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2014
In an effort to expand the organization’s model of excellence in social emotional health to reach children and families nationwide, the Club renames its programs Momentous Institute.
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2015
With AT&T as the new title sponsor, the AT&T Byron Nelson brings its total money raised for Momentous Institute to more than $143 million.
