DBU Leadership Gala

November 9, 2026
Chantilly Ballroom, Hilton Anatole Hotel
6:00 p.m. - General Reception
7:00 p.m. - Dinner and Program

Since 1898, DBU has produced servant leaders whose heart is to transform the world and strengthen their communities. To that end, DBU seeks to honor those whose lives reflect the values that the University holds dear. Established in 1988, the annual DBU Leadership Gala honors individuals who use their God-given talents and abilities to excel in their chosen field of work and whose lives are testimonies of faithful leadership and service to the community through the Russell H. Perry Award.

Please consider becoming a sponsor of this year’s DBU Leadership Gala in order to provide scholarship funds to DBU students as they pursue Christ-centered quality higher education.

Thanks to the overwhelming support for the 39th Annual DBU Leadership Gala, we are approaching capacity for this event. We have opened a waitlist for those who would still like to join us. Please submit the waitlist request using the link below. We will respond directly to you regarding next steps.

We are grateful for your support! You may still make a gift towards scholarships using the giving link.

For questions regarding the event, please contact the Office of University Advancement advancement@dbu.edu or (214) 333-5168.

Russell H. Perry Award Honoree

Mr. Jay Allison

M. Jay Allison is Chief Executive Officer of Comstock Resources, Inc., a leading independent natural gas producer listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NYSE Texas Exchange. Jay has served in that position since 1988, making him the longest-tenured public company CEO in the energy industry and the longest-tenured public company CEO among active CEOs of all NYSE-listed companies. Jay previously chaired the board of directors of Bois d’Arc Energy, Inc. and served on the board of directors of Tidewater, Inc., two energy companies that were also listed on the NYSE.

Mr. Allison received B.B.A., M.S. in Economics, and J.D. degrees from Baylor University, where he also played football for the Baylor Bears. After leaving Baylor, Jay was a practicing oil and gas attorney with the law firm of Lynch, Chappell, Allday & Alsup in Midland, Texas.

As a strong supporter of Christian education, Jay has served 18 years as a Regent for Baylor University, served as a Trustee for Howard Payne University, and takes great pride in having helped start Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, Texas, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. His wife, Jenny, is on the Board of Trustees at Dallas Baptist University and is a member of the DBU Women’s Auxiliary. Jay has also served in other service organizations, including the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the North Texas Food Bank, the Dallas Wildcatters Committee, the National Petroleum Council, and the Young Presidents’ Organization.

Jay’s outstanding business career has been recognized by his peers through numerous honors, including being named the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year for Energy, Chemicals, and Mining in 2009 and the DFW Upstream Executive of the Year in 2022, and receiving the Energy Executive Legacy Award in 2025. He was also named among the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 1990.

One of Jay’s other passions is long-distance running. He has completed numerous marathons and ultramarathons around the world. The Allisons’ lives are centered on their family, including their four children, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. They are active members of Prestonwood Baptist Church.