Dennis L. Dorsey

Dennis Lee Dorsey, born October 10, 1945, passed away on December 25, 2025. A born Texan to his core, Dennis never met a stranger. He was known as a gifted businessman and mentor with an extraordinary ability to connect with people from all walks of life. He loved hearing a person's story and had a remarkable gift for remembering names.
It has been said of Dennis, "He was the best business mentor anyone was lucky enough to have had the good fortune to know." Dennis proved himself to be a good samaritan to people at every level of life—whether working with a board of directors or a landscaper. Throughout the years, Dennis consistently demonstrated graciousness and kindness.
Dennis began his career with Xerox, where his exceptional sales ability led to a promotion as a Sales Trainer at the Xerox International Training Center in Leesburg, Virginia. It was there that he met his wife, Dian. After a six-month courtship, they married and shared 50 years together, marked by love, endurance, and deep commitment. Through life's ups and downs, laughter and tears, their marriage stood as a testament to devotion and strength.
After ten years of marriage, Dennis and Dian welcomed their daughter, Annie. Annie later married and, together with her husband William S. Butler, blessed Dennis and Dian with two beloved grandchildren, Beverly ("Birdie") and Jack Butler, who were the pride and joy of his life.
Dennis worked both domestically and internationally with Hydril Oil, an industry leader in blowout preventers (BOPs). Entering a new industry, Dennis once again demonstrated his strong business skill set. During this time, he developed a deep appreciation for the Mexican American community and excelled in mastering a second language, which served him well throughout his career.
In the late 1980s, Dennis was a driving force behind the Federal Asset Dissipation Association (FADA), which was later absorbed into the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Dennis credited his success at FADA to his exceptional team of 250 employees, who worked long hours to ensure the project's success.
Dennis later spent 26 years at NorthPark Center, serving as Vice President of Security and dedicating himself to the safety and security of the business, its employees, and guests. It was said of Dennis that "he took his responsibility very seriously." During this time, he envisioned and developed a collaborative approach to security known as the "Op's Program," which brought together multiple public-sector agencies, including the FBI, Dallas Police Department, SWAT team, and the North Texas Crime Commission. Dennis was involved across many public-sector.
When asked to help establish security for the George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum in Dallas, Dennis eagerly accepted the opportunity to consult with the team.
Throughout his career, Dennis was also credited with helping take companies public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Dennis was a lifelong learner and a serious student of firearms, a hobby he greatly enjoyed and pursued with enthusiasm and discipline. He also volunteered for several high-risk projects, working in conjunction with public-sector partners on covert missions—work that brought him great fulfillment.
Dennis is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dian Dorsey; his daughter, Annie Taylor Butler (husband William S. Butler); his grandchildren, Beverly ("Birdie") and Jack S. Butler; his sister, Vicky Johnson of Laclede, Idaho; his niece, Tonya Mothé (husband Chad Mothé) of Cardiff, California, and their children, Jade and Drake Mothé; his cousin, Quent Kelleher of New York City; and his cousin, Mary Beth Luttenberger of York, Pennsylvania.
A celebration of the extraordinary life of Dennis Dorsey will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas, on January 15, 2026, at 3:00 PM. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Dallas Chapter.