LP 40 for 40 – Larry Delzell
The Plano Chamber of Commerce’s signature program, Leadership Plano, celebrates its 40th anniversary! For the past 40 years, Leadership Plano has been dedicated to educating, developing, and empowering current and future leaders for the community and motivating them to serve civic, charitable, and business organizations.
We are celebrating the impact of the past 40 years by spotlighting 40 Leadership Plano graduates who have paved the way for future generations, created meaningful change for the community, and continue to serve in leadership roles. This celebratory series, Leadership Plano 40 for 40, is Presented by UBS – The Kravitz Group.
Introducing our next spotlight, Leadership Plano Class 1 Graduate, Larry Delzell, Senior Vice President Land Acquisition for Perry Homes/Britton Homes, is a 51-year veteran of land development and homebuilding in the Dallas Fort Worth area, bringing development experience, local knowledge, and valuable relationships with various landowners, brokers, developers, and other DFW homebuilders to the Perry Homes/Britton Homes DFW Executive Leadership Team. Since joining them in April of 2016, Larry has helped grow the DFW home closing totals from only 5 in 2016 to almost 800 projected in 2023, with plans to double that number within the next several years.
Larry graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering as well as being a member of the SMU men’s basketball team from 1968-72. In addition to being a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker, Larry has been and continues to be involved in many professional, civic, and charitable organizations, including serving as a Distinguished Lecturer at the SMU Cox School of Business, as a director for Benchmark Bank, and as a member for 31 years of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, one of Dallas‚Äô oldest and most prestigious charitable organizations.
Larry was married to his wife Paula for over 49 years until her recent passing, and they have two sons, Christian and Matt, as well as five grandchildren, all of whom live in the Dallas area.
1. What first made you interested in participating in Leadership Plano?
I love being involved in meaningful organizations & activities (whether it be civic, educational, charitable, or religious), that help make life better for everyone and can improve their futures. Leadership Plano was one of the first of many I have had the privilege to be involved with.
2. What is the most memorable part of your experience (or what is something that was happening in Plano that you remember about that year)?
I can’t really remember what was happening in Plano (other than growing rapidly), but the most memorable part of the experience was meeting & becoming friends with people outside of my normal personal and business orbit who I would have never met except for LP. I served on boards & commissions with a few of them and got a whole new perspective from people with a totally different view & way of thinking about how things should be done. That was very valuable & allowed me to learn to see all sides of an issue and to listen to other people with an open mind. This not only helped me in my career but also when I later served on the Plano P&Z for seven years and joined other outside charitable and civic organizations.
3. Why do you think LP is so impactful for our community?
Successful & impactful leadership is not that common and should be encouraged at every turn. Plano is a large city and will have the usual problems facing it that other large cities have encountered. Solutions are not easy and require outstanding leadership which LP can help grow. Our city always needs to have a strong bench of leaders to step to & step in.
4. What is one thing you can attribute to LP that is a success in your life or career?
Nothing can be directly attributed directly to LP, but the LP experience helped me learn, grow & think thoughtfully on issues as my career advanced.