Saturday, November 9, was chock full of surprises. At one event T. Boone Pickens got a personalized guitar from Trace Adkins. At another one, three female impersonators entertained surprised guests. And at the last stop there was guest wrestling. No one can say Dallas isn’t diverse.
Big Black Tie Ball
Honoree T. Boone Pickens arrived too late for the meet-and-greet with Trace Adkins at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters’ Big Black Tie Ball at the Omni Dallas Hotel. Didn’t matter. The two plus Boone’s lady Toni Brinker had spent the day in Stillwater for the Oklahoma State University football win over Kansas. Why, Trace even sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at the game. Just the night before Trace had been in Nashville, where he taped the CMA Christmas special that will be shown on Tuesday, December 2. Then he hopped in his bus and made it to Dallas in time to join Boone and Toni for the trip to Stillwater.
J.W. Williams and Jay Rosser
How did the billionaire and the country-western singer hook up? Well, it seems Trace’s manager, J.W. Williams, called Boone a while back and said that Trace wanted to win Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. To do that, a donation of $100K to the Red Cross would help. Would Boone provide the assistance? Boone pitched in. In addition, Trace is the spokesperson for the Wounded Warriors, to which Boone also gives.
Marti and Larry Carlin, Ainsley Gibson, McKinley Gibson and Susanne and Chad Gibson
In the meantime, Boone’s team was very much present Saturday. Right-hand man Jay Rosser was introducing J.W. to one and all. Boone’s foundation director Marti Carlin had her whole family on hand including husband Larry and daughter Susanne Gibson with her brood (husband Chad and daughters McKinley and Ainsley).
John and Eryn Bakewell
Stephanie and Travis Hollman
While the VIP’s gripped and grinned with Trace and enjoyed the Roche Bobois-furnished VIP lounge, the rest of the 700 guests including Pat and Charles McEvoy, Eryn and John Blakewell, Stephanie and Travis Hollman, Linda and Jim Jennings, Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne and Irving city councilors Dennis Webb and Gerald Farris checked out the silent auction in part of the Dallas Ballroom.
It was noted that there was a significant odor in the silent auction area that extended into the rest of the ballroom, where tables and staging were set up. Some thought it had the scent of a new car; another thought a doll; still another claimed a shower curtain. Ah, that last one won the cigar. Seems the two-story, custom-made rust and brown curtains that separated the two sections of the ballroom were made of vinyl. The reason for the color was to give the ballroom a “rustic” look.
When it was time to move into the dining room, the curtain partially opened to reveal a stage with the vinyl wall on both sides of the stage.
Toni Brinker, T Boone Pickens and Meredith Lamb
At the base of the stage, Boone greeted guests including Meredith Lamb, Cheryl Hall and Trish and Ron Bassett.
T. Boone’s custom-made guitar
Event Co-Chairs Susan Gray and Katherine Musick arranged to have Trace come out to introduce Boone, but signals got mixed. A video was shown just as a specially created guitar was brought out. It appeared that Trace was to present the guitar to Boone, but a voice over the PA continued. Boone and Trace looked a bit puzzled.
Being a gentleman, Trace was up-front, saying he had made a mistake. Nobody cared about the hiccup. They wanted more of the twosome and they got it.
“Wake Up With the WOLF”’s Liz Tyler interviewed the duo on stage. Trace admitted, “I was a terrible big brother. I had two little brothers; made ‘em jump off the house just to see what would happen. You guys are much better. Happy to report that neither of my two brothers hate me anymore. I’m here because Boone said he’s be here. On Celebrity Apprentice, I said I’m gonna bring Boone Pickens, and everybody else sat down! I worked in the oil field for 10 years.”
Trace Adkins and T. Boone Pickens
Boone recalled that as a youngster, he had no musical ability. In school “they started me on the triangle, and I couldn’t hit it. Then they gave me the sticks. . . Finally they told my mother not to have me come back to the rhythm band.”
About his newly acquired guitar, Boone said, “I’ll show it off, but I won’t play it.”
Other tidbits dropped on stage:
- Boone’s nickname is “Easy Pickens.”
- Boone doesn’t mind giving out his phone number because he’s always trying to make a deal.
- Trace said, “Boone gives more money to charity every year than Donald Trump ever gave in his whole life.”
- Boone recalled how on CNBC, Donald made a silly statement about oil. So, Boone said, “Donald, I won’t talk about real estate, if you don’t talk about oil. . . [But] I believe the guy is patriotic.”
- Boone declared that moving to Dallas in 1989 was one of three best decisions “I ever made.”
Following the interview, BBBS CEO Rob Roby told the assembled group that 5,075 boys and girls are “on our radar, plus the 10K we serve currently.” He explained that it takes $500 to remove a child from the waiting list.
Then the awards of the evening were handed out to:
- Chris Owens — The Neal Hawks Compassionate Spirit Award
- Mark Early — The Frank Bracken Visionary Leadership Award
- Richard R. Kilgust — The Tom Sloane Lifetime Achievement Award
To let guests know the results of being a “Big”/”Little” relationship, Big Brother Steve Burdick and former Little Brother John Richter told of their years together that resulted in John becoming a pilot for SkyWest Airlines. As much as John felt he got out of the program, it was obvious to all that Big Steve also was a better person for the program.
The Yes! Event: One Special Night
While the Big Brothers/Big Sisters were already settling down to dinner in the Omni’s Dallas Ballroom, the Legacy Senior Communities’ “The Yes! Event: One Special Night” was just getting underway across the hall in the lobby of the Trinity Ballroom. The festivities didn’t start until 7:30. When Omni catering service manager Rick Ayala was asked the reason for the late start, he explained the meal had to be kosher, so the cooking could not start until after sundown.
David Stern
David and Stacy Blank
Daniel and Carmine Achtman and Nicole Blue
Trinity Ballroom
Regardless of the time, the crowd of 400 filled the lobby with such folks as Rabbi David Stern, Stacy and David Blank, Lottye Brodsky and Bobby Lyle, Drs. Carmine and Daniel Achtman and sisters, Nicole Aaron Blue and Angela Aaron Horowitz, whose son, Sam, made national headlines and an appearance on “Ellen” with his bar mitzvah performance.
Also present was Neil Goldberg, who explained that his dad, Robert Goldberg, had rehabbed at Legacy after being in a car wreck.
Carol Aaron
Regarding Legacy’s importance for families, Board of Trustees Chair Carol Aaron said, “Our grandmothers, uncles, cousins, mother-in-laws and friends have all been among those treated [there] with dignity, respect and love.” She went on to say that they will be exploring new ways to expand Legacy’s facilities and services. For instance, the $440,000 raised from the evening will “go toward refurbishment of the rooms and common spaces for long-term residents and will help enhance their quality of life.”
As Carol emphasized, “Believe in what you do and do what you believe in. That has been our mantra since we opened in 1953.”
When the doors had opened at 8:15 p.m., the guests discovered a magnificent ballroom looking light a perfect moonlit night. The staging, created by Todd Events, was set against a backdrop of blue, three billboard-size video screens, a DJ booth in the center of the dance floor and two huge food stations on opposite sides of the room.
Lucy Wrubel
Diana Ross, Lady Gaga and Cher
And what about the evening’s entertainment? Since the occasion was to celebrate the 60 years that Legacy has been “providing housing and health care options for seniors of all faiths,” the entertainment spanned those 60 years in addition to DJ Lucy Wrubel in center court setting the pace. Just how did they cover those 60 years? Why, with Diana Ross, Cher and Lady Gaga. No, not in person. They had three fabulous female impersonators fill the bill, much to the delight of the guests.
Alive For 35
Across town, Dallas Contemporary was in great party shape despite having been open for more than 24 hours. Since the Dallas art organization was celebrating its 35th anniversary, the powers-that-be decided to keep the place open and things happening for 35 hours — Alive For 35! Having started the day before, the fundraiser birthday bash ran from 8 p.m. to midnight. It could have continued for another 35 hours!
The Hensley Ensemble Gospel Choir
Ballet Folklorico Azteca
In the main gallery there were all types of food and G-rated entertainment. At one point in the evening The Hensley Ensemble Gospel Choir all in white sang to the rafters. For their finale, they paraded throughout the audience with colorful parasols. There was hardly enough time for guests like Matthew Simon and Shelby Wagner to jump up, get another drink and settle back at your table before the Ballet Folklorico Azteca started their performance. As colorful as the choir’s parasols had been, they seemed frozen in time compared the beautiful purple, blue and green skirts swirling on stage.
Will Card and Sara Stockstrom
Just a door away, other types of art were taking place. These weren’t quite as G-rated due to the squeamish factor. On one side of the room was the art of body tattooing taking place. With ink-stained white gloves, tattoo artist Will Card used Sara Stockstrom’s back as his canvas. To the side was the design that Will was copying onto her back. With ear buds firmly in place, Sara lay on a table with eyes shut and not a line in her face. On the other hand, observers like Stephanie Roberts and Niven Morgan had appropriate lines as they vicariously experienced the injection of ink.
An artist and his canvas
At the back of the gallery were David Nichols, Kelli and Allen Questrom. Kelli admitted that not only did she not have any tattoos, but her jewelry was very limited due to a skin allergy.
David Nichols, Allen and Kelli Questrom
Across the way from the tattoo studio was true interactive interplaying. James Gilbert was taking on all comers for a tussle of muscle on the wrestling mat.
One chap tested James’ ability and took it for a spin. Observer Brad Beaird reasoned that “chap” had been watching previous bouts and probably realized that James was getting a bit worn out and was ready to be flattened. But he wasn’t that worn out. He won that round.
On the sidelines, Sammey Mihos decided she was game for the challenge. But her party clothes were as appropriate as a suit of armor in a swim meet. So she exchanged her frock for more sporting attire. She didn’t need to go to all that bother. After a couple or three thuds on the mat, she had met her match. Despite sideline pals like Holly Reed, Robert Weatherly and Greg Haynes Johnson’s cheering (“Hey, go Karate Kid!” and “”Do it for Dallas!”), she had been flattened.
Robert Weatherly, Holly Reed, Greg Haynes Johnson and Brad Beaird
As Sammey left laughing, referee Jose Delgado chased after her with something in his hand. Seems Sammye’s lip pencil had fallen out during the match up.