Evening celebrates leadership championing resilience, performance and human potential as the future of brain health.With brain health emerging as a defining issue for America’s future workforce, military readiness and community well‑being, Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas recognized Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr. with its 2026 Legacy Award during a sold‑out celebration at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. The award recognizes leaders whose vision accelerates the Center’s mission to transform how people understand and strengthen the brain.The program featured keynote remarks from Admiral William H. McRaven (Ret.) who reflected on the vital intersection of brain performance, leadership and service. Debbie and Jim Francis served as Dinner Chairs, with former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert as Honorary Chair.
“”
“Sarah and Ross embody the kind of leadership that elevates human potential,” said Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, founder and chief director at Center for BrainHealth. “As our Legacy Award recipients, they bring courage, optimism and a genuine love for people into everything they do. Their ability to see the best in others and to inspire teams, communities and complete strangers to rise to their highest potential is rare. They lead with authenticity and heart, modeling the cognitive resilience and innovative thinking that sit at the core of our mission. Their legacy is one of lifting others up, strengthening the collective brain health of our community and expanding what we all believe is possible.”
Champions for America’s Warfighters
Sarah and Ross have been deeply engaged in supporting the center’s Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters initiative, which provides essential brain health tools for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) operators, veterans and their families with research-based brain health strategies. The program addresses challenges such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTS), while also building resilience ahead of deployment. Their commitment reflects a long-standing family legacy of supporting U.S. military service members and advancing innovative health, technology and community-building initiatives across North Texas and beyond.“”
“The human brain is powerful, resilient and capable of extraordinary growth when given the right tools,” said Ross Perot, Jr. “The Center for BrainHealth is helping people strengthen their performance, recover from challenges and realize their potential in ways that truly matter. Sarah and I are humbled to be recognized with this year’s Legacy Award, and we accept it with deep appreciation for the innovative, compassionate community that makes this work possible. We love this city and this state, and we are grateful to play even a small part in advancing the center’s mission.”
