Fort Worth businessman Louden leaves a legacy of philanthropy and service
G. Malcolm Louden, a leader of Fort Worth-area institutions and longtime president of Walsh Holdings who helped transition the ranching and oil company into real estate development, died on Oct. 15. He was 79.
Louden served as the head of Walsh Holdings for several decades. The Walsh family, led by F. Howard and Mary Walsh, had built a ranching empire to the west of Fort Worth. Louden helped manage their many philanthropic efforts and helped transition the family's 7,200-acre ranching properties into the Walsh development in west Fort Worth.
In 2015, the Walsh family formed a partnership with Dallas-based Republic Property Group to develop the former Walsh Ranch property.
"They are legacy minded in their desire to create a world-class community, which will have a positive, lasting impact on the region," Louden said at the time.
Jim Dunaway, a retired attorney and friend who worked with Louden for many years, said the Walsh development will continue to make an economic contribution to Fort Worth for generations.
"That will continue to develop and will really be a part of Malcolm's legacy," he said.
G. Malcolm Louden March 9, 1945-Oct. 15, 2024 To read the full obituary, go here.Originally from Waco, Louden began at TCU in 1963 as a business major and graduated in 1967. He served as the Student Government Association president and was honored as "Mr. TCU."
It began a long association with the school that continued as a member of the board of trustees. He was elected trustee emeritus in 2020.
TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. said in a statement that Louden was "a force to be reckoned with in life and as a true and loyal supporter of TCU."
"Personally, Malcolm was instrumental in welcoming our family into the Fort Worth community when we arrived 22 years ago; for this and all his support, we are forever grateful," he said.
Among the many honors and awards Louden received from TCU, the G. Malcolm Louden Player Development Center for TCU baseball that opened in 2014 was named after him. It provides both an indoor/outdoor practice facility for TCU's baseball program.
In a 2012 interview for a TCU Oral History Project, Louden was asked what the most important job was for a university board of trustees.
"I think the most important job we can do is hire a really good chancellor and support that chancellor and to be there for advice and consent for what he wants to do," he said. "And give funds!"
Louden was also a former member of the Cook Children's Health Care System's board of trustees, serving there for more than 25 years.
"His decades-long commitment to our promise and his unwavering support have left an indelible mark on our organization," said Rick W. Merrill, president and CEO of Cook Children's Health Care System.
In 2021, Cook Children's dedicated its simulation lab as the Louden Family Clinical Learning Center in his honor.
Louden's son, Taylor Louden, serves as medical director of Cook Children's Emergency Department. Louden has another son, Malcolm Jr., and a daughter, Carey.
Louden served on the board of trustees for Fort Worth Country Day from 1989-95 and 1996-2002.
"While I did not have the pleasure of working with Mr. Louden myself, it is well-known that his impact reached far beyond our school, including significant work in the city of Fort Worth," said Eric Lombardi, current head of school for Fort Worth Country Day. "He served on our board during a time of tremendous growth and expansion for the school, and his leadership and guidance helped to shape many key developments across campus."
Having Louden's support for your organization was important, said Dunaway.
"He was a great philanthropist," he said.
When Louden was working on behalf of institutions like TCU, Cook Children's and Fort Worth Country Day, he would go all in, Dunaway said.
"When he was at the head of those organizations, there was not anything that he wouldn't do for those groups," Dunaway said. "He will be missed."
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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