Dax Pass, R.I.P.

It is with a heavy, grieving spirit we report that Dallas has lost one of our brightest real estate talents.

Dax Howard Pass, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty Ranch and Land broker extraordinaire, husband of Caroline Summers, and father of three, passed today peacefully following complications from a heart attack suffered over the weekend.

He was way, way too young to leave us.

Services will be on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Highland Park Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow at the Dallas Country Club.

Dax’s roots ran deep in Texas, with a deep love of and respect for the land. He had more than 18 years of real estate experience in commercial, ranch and land, oil and gas and investment properties.  He and his family ranched in west Texas for six generations, developing connections throughout the State.  

“My family ranched in Erath, Somervell and Presidio counties growing up, and I spent my summers working the ranches,” Dax told me. “Currently my family ranches in Presidio, Jeff Davis, Brewster and Crane counties, and we run a commercial herd and breed horses.  I formed a new group within the Land and Ranch division (at Briggs), our focus is on brokerage, ranch management and natural resource management and consultation. “

I knew he loved working with the land, and understood it better than most. According to his Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty profile, Dax started brokering deals in 1995:

In 1995, Pass brokered his first land deal with John and J.T. Pass, beginning his career in the ranch and land business. For the past two decades, Pass has been guiding his clients through complex ranch and land and commercial real estate transactions. He launched his commercial real estate career by working for another family business, Whataburger Restaurants (Whataco Inc.). During his time with Whataco, he was in charge of site acquisition and development in Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana. The family’s franchise became the largest in the nation with 92 restaurants, employing 3,500 people and was sold in 2000 to Redstone Companies of Houston, Texas.

Then in 2001, it was oil and gas acquisition, development and exploration.  He co-founded Phoenix Resources, Inc., where he negotiated seismic permits and leased 104 square miles of Texas Gulf Coast in Calhoun County. Dax managed seismic data acquisition and expansion of additional leases. Phoenix drilled and developed a substantial portion of the county and was sold in 2006.

Next he founded Pass Properties, a real estate brokerage and consulting firm specializing in the sale of ranchland, pasture, agricultural farms, timber, hunting acreage and recreational properties across the Southwestern United States, notably in Marfa.

Dax was a graduate of Highland Park High School, and studied business at Texas Christian University. He lived in Greenway Parks with the love of his life, Caroline, and their family.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart,
 and my portion for ever.” -Psalm 73:26

We are praying for strength for Dax Pass’s beautiful, loving family. When a loved one passes, there is really no comfort for those who grieve. Let the love of our incredible real estate community, and the devotion of family, comfort the Pass family. Our deepest condolences.