HISTORIC FORT WORTH PRESENTS

Cantey Lecture
and
Preservation Awards
Honoring Samuel Benton Cantey III Visionary • Art Patron • Preservation Advocate

Samuel Benton Cantey III
1914–1973

5:30 PM

The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth

1316 Pennsylvania Avenue

Historic Fort Worth members
attend Free

The Cantey Lecture is an annual event featuring a prominent speaker who addresses historic preservation and architectural history. The Cantey Awards are presented at the same event and recognize outstanding achievements in preservation projects, stewardship, and leadership in the field of historic preservation.

This event is an important part of Historic Fort Worth, Inc.’s mission to preserve Fort Worth’s distinct historic identity through stewardship, education, and leadership. It also recognizes the contributions of Samuel Benton Cantey III, who engaged studio artists to paint buildings threatened with demolition. Sam Cantey III’s vision for saving historic buildings through the work of studio artists helped galvanize relationships among the artists in the Fort Worth Circle.

THE 2026 LECTURE

EFFECTIVE PRESERVATION IN CHALLENGING TIME Bradford C. Patterson brings Cantey’s vision into the present.

With the Texas Historical Commission since 1996, Patterson helps communities protect the places that define them—and put historic resources to work for resilient local economies.

America’s 250; Route 66 Centennial; the National Historic Preservation Act turns 60; and 50 years of tax credits bringing historic buildings back to life; these notable 2026 anniversaries offer the opportunity to reflect on where historic preservation is today and where it still needs to go.

Despite multiple generations of preservation successes, our collective efforts are facing increasing headwinds, yet there are reasons for optimism. Join the celebration of Fort Worth’s preservation success stories and hear about the state of historic preservation in Texas from Bradford Patterson, Chief Preservation Officer of the Texas Historical Commission.

Bradford Patterson serves as Chief Preservation Officer and Chief Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for the administration of the National Historic Preservation Act. He leads the Texas Historical Commission’s Architecture, History Programs, and Community Heritage Development divisions.

His responsibilities span preservation tax credits, disaster response, federal and state project review, grant programs, historic courthouse preservation, Texas Main Street, heritage tourism, the National Register of Historic Places, cemetery preservation, historical markers, and support for local preservation partners.

Read full biography

FOLLOWING THE LECTURE

2026
Preservation Awards

The evening continues with recognition of the projects, stewardship, advocacy, and leadership strengthening Fort Worth’s historic identity.<P>

Attend the lecture and awards →

THE 2026 LECTURE

IN REMEMBRANCE

Samuel Benton
Cantey IV

This year’s lecture also celebrates the life of Samuel Benton Cantey IV, the son of the namesake of this event. Sam IV died this May after a courageous fight with a series of medical challenges. He attended Culver Military Academy, did undergraduate work at Washington & Lee and TCU, served in the U.S. Army, and attended the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. He also earned a Bachelor of Foreign Trade from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and was a proud graduate of TCU’s Ranch Management Program.

He was fluent in Spanish and German and retired from the military with the rank of captain. Both Sams moved through life collecting friends, and both respected history. They left Fort Worth a better place.

Tonight, we also celebrate those who remembered Sam by honoring his life with a memorial gift to Historic Fort Worth. Rest well, Sam. Your time on Earth made all of us better.

The following people have made donations in memory of Samuel Benton Cantey, IV.: Francie and Bryan Allen, Linda Beckworth, Suzy and Dan Coleman, Gretchen Denny, Carol Graybeal, Ann and Bill Greenhill, Marguerite Gordon, Ann and John Holloway, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Johnston, Caroline Lee, Holly and William Schur, and Jerre and David Tracy.

Members Attend for FREE

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WHY HIS VISION ENDURES

Architecture is memory made visible.

As a Fort Worth visionary, businessman, collector of art and leader of the Fort Worth Art Association, (now the Modern Art Museum), Samuel Benton Cantey III (1914-1973) understood that great architecture is irreplaceable. In the 1950’s Mr. Cantey invited Bror Utter (1913-1993) to paint architecturally significant buildings in downtown Fort Worth as they were being prepared for demolition. Mr. Utter, a talented studio artist and teacher, was a member of the Fort Worth Circle, the legendary group of artists who traveled abroad and painted together. His paintings document both demolished and standing downtown buildings and are part of the permanent collection of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The annual Cantey Lecture is paired with HFW’s preservation awards.