Andy Bergfeld ’96 excelled in both football and track at Robert E. Lee High School (now Tyler Legacy). His athletic prowess earned him a football scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where the sixth-generation Tyler native became one of the Southwest Conference’s top receivers of the late 1980s. In 2022, his accomplishments were recognized with his induction into the Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I began college as a pre-med major,” said Bergfeld. However, his football practice schedule did not mesh with the required classes for a pre-med student. Forced to decide between his passion for the sport and his chosen major, he dropped his pre-med courseload. In doing so, Bergfeld discovered a deep and abiding love of history. “That’s how my route to law school began,” he said.
After graduating from SMU with a BA in history, Bergfeld pursued law at South Texas College of Law Houston. “My father, Julius Bergfeld, attended South Texas Law in the 1960s but never practiced,” he said. “He used the knowledge he gained to help run the family’s real estate business.
Bergfeld began his legal career by joining a defense litigation firm. After handling several trials, he was asked to consult on an unusual case. “There was an investigation into the possibility that a large construction company’s practices had led to multiple serious accidents on a stretch of roadway,” Bergfeld said. “We found strong evidence that the company was at fault.”
With the proceeds from the successful trial outcome, Bergfeld decided to enter into his own kind of real estate deals. He began with the purchase and restoration of the 1854 Col. John Dewberry House in Bullard, Texas, for which he received the East Texas Historical Association’s Lucille Terry award. After several successful projects, Bergfeld stopped practicing law for outside clients and became a full-time realestate professional and his own chief legal officer.
“I write all my own contracts and leases, and handle most of the legal issues that arise while doing business,” Bergfeld said. “I give credit to the solid foundation that South Texas Law has given me. While I no longer practice law, I am always using the skills I learned in law school. I have been able to take my career in an interesting and rewarding direction.”
In 2004, Bergfeld became president of Bergfeld Realty Company, using his legal and business acumen to continue the organization’s success. The firm currently handles the leasing and management of more than 560,000 square feet of retail and office space throughout Texas.
Bergfeld feels deeply connected to his hometown. Hifamily has been part of Tyler for generations, developing land and serving the community since 1878. He feels a duty to continue the legacy. He is now serving his second term as president of Heart of Tyler, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the economic, cultural, and historic revitalization of the downtown area, and he was recently elected president of the Smith County Historical Society.
Working closely with urban planners and architectural firms, Heart of Tyler advocated for a master improvement plan that will be completed by 2027 and features a new courthouse and a new public square. “It’s thrilling to be part of this project that will add so much to our economy and the future of our downtown,” Bergfeld said.
With business partners Tim and Garnett Brookshire, Bergfeld continues to acquire and renovate properties in downtown Tyler, including the People’s Petroleum Building and Plaza Tower. Most recently, he and another partner transformed the vacant 1930s’ era bus station into the Greyhound Inn, a sleek, sophisticated concept hotel and event space.
Bergfeld strives to create community and spread joy with his projects. “We have brought businesses to the downtown area that make people happy,” he said. “We want it to be a fun destination, for residents and visitors.” A refined, white tablecloth restaurant and the satellite location of a beloved ice cream shop are just two of the “fun” tenants in the People’s Petroleum Building and Plaza Tower.
Deeply involved in the community, Bergfeld has served on the boards of Historic Tyler, the Tyler Salvation Army, and the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. He has been a longstanding member of the Tyler Independent School District board of trustees, holding leadership positions, including multiple terms as president. He shares his life with his wife, Shawn, and their three sons, and is active in the First Baptist Church of Tyler.
