O’Neil Ford first came to Dallas to work with David Williams, who was determined to establish a style that merged the modernism of Europe with the indigenous qualities of the early pioneer houses of Texas. O’Neil Ford quickly became the darling of Dallas spending his energies at night at balls with debutantes and his days working with the most original architects and artists in Dallas. O'Neil Ford became the grandfather of Texas Modernism spurring generations of future architects who reinterpret this architectural approach. O’Neil Ford designed his first project as a studio for Jerry Bywaters in 1929 and designed the Haggerty/Hanley home in Dallas before he left for San Antonio in 1957.