Teacher inspires students to ‘control destiny’

By Warren Black

Celebrating 40 years in 2025, Wingfield’s has been a Dallas tradition since 1985. It was then that Richard Wingfield — a science teacher at WT White High School and a tennis coach — decided to open a hamburger restaurant at 2615 S. Beckley in Oak Cliff as a to-go-only restaurant on the weekends. That decision must have filled a need, because his restaurant is still thriving today.  

Wingfield was a very popular teacher and quite inspirational to his students. Two of them, Corey Maples ’89 and Tony Woods ’88, were inspired by their teacher.

The football teammates, who had been friends since the ninth grade, led their lives with a motto they learned from Winfield, which was to “Control your own destiny.” After high school, Woods went on to get an engineering degree, and Maples got a business degree. 

In 2015, Maples and Woods approached Wingfield with a business proposition. They had an idea to start a Wingfield’s Burger stand at the State Fair of Texas (Fair) and then to sell their products out of a food truck during the rest of the year. Wingfield’s has been a staple at the Fair ever since. Their approach was simple — keep the Wingfield’s tradition of giving the customer more than they bargain for. Wingfield’s 11 oz. burger is made from the highest quality Black Angus beef (that is about twice the size of any other burger around), and they are all hand padded with love. The burgers are served on a custom bun baked to withstand the size of the patty and support the fixin’s. Their new motto is “if you love what you serve you will never turn out a bad product.” 

Woods is the operations manager of the food service. He operates the food truck for community and special events. The food truck can be found at National Nights Out, Christmas in the Park at Fair Park during the holidays, teacher’s appreciation events, neighborhood recreational centers and supporting Peoples Church on Pine Street community charitable events. The men truly give back to the neighborhoods that have been supporting their business for years. 

Wingfield’s has always been a to-go business, however, there is a new Wingfield’s endeavor on the horizon. 

The first sit down restaurant is set to open late in the summer of 2026 near the intersection of Lancaster and Kiest. The businessmen hope to continue to build their legacies in a city whose heritage and traditions they love.

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