Page "Emmitt Smith" Paragraph 37

Smith / Cypress is a joint venture ( Smith owns 51 percent ) with Cypress Equities, the retail development arm of Roger Staubach's real estate services company.

Early in his own playing career, Smith approached the former Cowboy quarterback with an interest in learning more about real estate.

Skeptical at first, Staubach told Smith to spend some time at his company's offices during the spring and summer if he was sincere.

Smith did just that, spending the off-season at Staubach Co .' s headquarters in Dallas.

Staubach founded the company in the late 1970s to locate and negotiate office and retail space for clients.

In 2006 the privately held firm had transactions totaling $ 26 billion and of space.