Julie McKinney Bown, our longest-serving Dallas County Master Gardener (DCMG) and the sole remaining member of the Class of 1992, has decided to retire from active participation in the DCMG program.
After earning her MBA with a major in finance from Georgia State University, she received her certification as a litigation paralegal. Julie was the youngest Vice President at Salomon Bros and their first female VP. During her career, she was the business manager for Advanced Outdoor Landscapes for three years.
From 1995 through 2001 Julie served the Dallas County Master Gardener Association (DCMGA) in several key roles on the Board of Directors, including Treasurer, President, and Past President. During her tenure, she applied her paralegal knowledge to facilitate the incorporation of the then 250-member organization and its subsequent qualification as a 501 c (3). Also, during this time, Julie researched liability issues with Texas A&M University’s in-house legal counsel and recommended insurance for Board Members.
Julie has contributed approximately 2000 hours to the DCMG program. Her favorite volunteer projects included educating students with special needs at the Multiple Careers Magnet Center, serving as a garden guide at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and propagating plants in the Texas Discovery Garden greenhouses. Of special note, Julie was instrumental in the complete revision of the DCMGA Bylaws in 2015.