Building Dallas

How This Billboard Family Built Dallas from the Ground Up

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Discover the untold story of Dallas's iconic billboards and how one family's legacy helped shape the city's skyline and culture.

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 In this episode of Building Dallas, we sit down with Ben Ralston of Ralston Outdoor, the largest independent billboard company in North Texas. From his grandfather's first dozen signs in the 1960s to battling billion-dollar giants like Clear Channel, Ben shares how his family turned paint, steel, and strategy into a Dallas empire. Plus, learn how they infused local history into landmarks like the Katy Trail Ice House and what it really takes to build a billboard business today. If you're into entrepreneurship, legacy building, or just love Dallas, this episode is packed with insight, nostalgia, and vision.


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  • (00:00) - Introduction to the Ralston Family Legacy
  • (00:43) - Meet Ben Ralston: The Man Behind Ralston Outdoor
  • (02:28) - The Origins of Ralston Outdoor
  • (05:05) - Challenges and Changes in the Billboard Industry
  • (12:48) - The Art and Craft of Billboard Painting
  • (19:55) - Iconic Billboards and Their Stories
  • (22:14) - The Evolution of Billboard Advertising
  • (48:04) - Design Principles in Advertising
  • (50:33) - Billboard Real Estate and Leasing
  • (52:12) - Navigating Regulations and Restrictions
  • (01:07:43) - Digital Billboards and Technological Advances
  • (01:16:42) - Personal Stories and Industry Evolution
  • (01:27:27) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    • ...more
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    Building DallasBy Arrington Roofing