DFW Head Resigns Amid Black Scholarship Scandal

DALLAS - Don O'Bannon, a high-ranking Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport official, has stepped down from his post.

The resignation comes as he is under investigation for accepting a scholarship from Dallas Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson.

As previously reported by Black Radio Network, the scholarships were provided by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which sets aside $10,000 per year for each caucus member to award to deserving students.

O'Bannon, oversaw contracts with minority businesses, was suspended three months ago and was on paid leave since then.

In a statement O' Bannon said, "I have resigned."

He did not explain why he's stepping down.

An investigation revealed possible ethics violations last October after O'Bannon's daughter, Danielle, received a $1,000 scholarship from Rep. Johnson.
The congresswoman owns a portion of two Hudson News stores at D/FW Airport, contracts that are directly overseen by O'Bannon.

Johnson has denied that O'Bannon had any role in the scholarship award. "I was solely responsible with Danielle working that application as well as others," the congresswoman said.

A spokesperson for D/FW said that investigation is still ongoing, and that the airport has not received a "formal letter" of resignation from O'Bannon as of yet.