No matter the type of anniversary one is celebrating, hitting the 25-year mark is no small feat. There’s supposedly a reason (at least, according to some guy on Qora) its nickname — the silver jubilee — is associated with that brilliant metal known for its strength and durability. And for local businesses, hitting such a milestone also represents an incredible amount of community support and, vice versa, a business’s support for their community. After 25 years, a local business has become part of the fabric of the city in which they serve.
Martha Williams, the late Joan Trew, and Marshall Boyd founded Williams Trew 25 years ago, and the boutique real estate firm celebrated this incredible landmark with one heck of a party at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in late June.
Greeted by magnificent longhorns named Hoss, Rock, and Handsome Hank “branded” with WT25 — don’t worry, the brands were temporary, y’all — the Instagram photo-ops came early … and often.
The longhorns would set the tone for a party that honored the rich heritage of Fort Worth with nods to the history and legacy of Williams Trew. The venue itself, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame — a fitting stage — honors trailblazing women who shaped the West, which also echoes the legacies of founders Martha Williams and Joan Trew, whose impact on Fort Worth real estate and entrepreneurship remains indelible.
Next up was dynamic violin duo, Sapphire Strings, who performed in the museum’s entry hall. Dressed to the nines in cowgirl-wear, violinists Melissa and Val brought plenty of Fort Worth flair and moxie with a set that included everything from Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.”
Guests included agents and staff from Williams Trew, spouses, Ebby Halliday Companies leadership, and special guests — all dressed in their finest cowboy chic. This, a fitting dress code given some of the goodies they would receive: custom bandanas produced by Fort Worth-based Printed Threads featuring iconic Cowtown imagery. Guests could also get their names chain-stitched to their bandanas in real-time by Daniel “The Magic Cowboy” Wright from W Durable Goods.
Midway through the evening, Carolyn McCann, Sales Leader of Williams Trew, shared heartfelt remarks. “What a milestone — and a testament to Martha and Joan and the brand they built,” she said, thanking the behind-the-scenes team and all the agents, past and present. “You are the reason Williams Trew is still the best in the business. Bar none.”
McCann then introduced co-founder Martha Williams, who closed with a warm toast to the company’s legacy and future. “So tonight, let’s raise our glass to a milestone 25 years,” Martha Williams said in her closing toast. “Williams Trew began with a vision — thanks to Marshall Boyd and Joan Trew — to bring integrity, excellence, and service to Fort Worth real estate. To our clients, our agents, and the relationships we’ve built: you are the reason we’re able to celebrate tonight.”
Today, with over 125 agents and offices across Fort Worth and Parker County, Williams Trew leads many of the city’s most competitive ZIP codes. In addition to being one of Fort Worth’s premiere real estate firms, the company has consistently supported organizations like The Cliburn, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Cook Children’s Medical Center, the Presbyterian Night Shelter, and the Tarrant Area Food Bank, making service to the community just as foundational as service to their clients.