Kings Highway Conservation District

What’s in a Name

From an interview with Mrs Tommye Stone, widow of W.W. Stone, and Jeanette and Jim McCally, business associates and friends. Interviews were taken on October 15, 1993 by Howard Atkinson, KHCD president and Garyesue Tullos, KHCD Vice President and Historian.

Stone Park was the name chosen for the small triangle on Green at Edgefield around 1994. A survey and vote was taken at that time, asking for suggestions on a name for the triangle, under a program known as “Adopt a Park.” Of the 36 responses, 23 votes were cast for the “Stone Park” name. Why did so much of the neighborhood choose to name the park “Stone Park?”

For that answer, let us look at the man behind the name.

William Wood Stone, known as “Stoney,” was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on September 9, 1912. Stoney met his future wife, Tommye Sawyer of Brownwood, Texas, while attending high school in Shreveport; however, they did not begin dating until he was 24. They were married two years later in 1941, when he was employed by C. Wallace, building the Navy shell loading plant in McAllister, Oklahoma. The marriage lasted 34 years.

During World War II, Stoney volunteered to serve in the Marine Corps in the 4th Marine Division. Two promotions later, he was a Master Sergeant.

For 34 years, Mr. Stone worked for C. Wallace Plumbing of Dallas. He worked government contracts both before and after the war. His duties for this large mechanical contractor included purchasing all materials and equipment and scheduling them for the jobs. C. Wallace’s projects included many Dallas landmarks such as the Dallas Morning News Building downtown.

Tommye and W.W. Stone moved into their upper apartment at Tommye’s present address at 1324 Kings Highway when Stoney was discharged from the Marines around 1947. The red brick apartment house was then owned by Mrs. R.F. Ford. Soon, Stoney became the “fix it” man for every one who needed help with something. As surrounding areas developed, and Kings Hwy became more of a throughway, he petitioned the city for a stop light at the corner of Edgefield and Kings Hwy. This was not passed, so he started a petition for a four-way stop sign. Although it was not put in under his petition, the city eventually did put one in where it was needed.

In 1957 when the infamous tornado swept through Dallas, skipping around Oak Cliff, the Stones were in their car under the Commerce Street viaduct watching it. Several houses on Kings Highway were moved or destroyed. The Stone’s were among several neighbors who took in the newly homeless.

During the time the Stones were renting the apartment, Mrs. Ford was diagnosed with cancer. The Stones offered to buy the building, and when they did, W.W. let Mrs. Ford live in her apartment rent free for as long as she wished. She passed away a year later.

Stoney was a primary advocate of neighborhood children both financially and with his time. Stories abound of his taking groups of children to see Dallas Cowboys games on Sundays, working at Rosemont Elementary School carnivals, and of helping and clothing less privileged children of the neighborhood.

Once, while playing golf at Stevens Park, he made a 325-yard hole in one near the dogleg at Colorado Blvd. The Edgefield-Green Park, just a block from his home, was unofficially adopted by Stone as he frequently mowed it and spent time there on evening walks.

Stoney died on September 5, 1975, just 4 days before his 63rd birthday. He was a highly respected man in the neighborhood who fought to keep the area on a forward track. He was the neighborhood association during a time when one did not formally exist. Naming the park Stone Park was not only a fitting memorial to this community leader, but also a true tie to the past.