Dallas has gotten used to being invaded by Longhorns during Texas-OU weekend. Well, it was a Dallas invasion of Austin back on Saturday, March 1 (aka Texas Independence Day eve). The boldest faces of North Texas headed to The Bullock Museum in the state capital for a black-tie supper to celebrate Ruth Altshuler’s and Ross Perot’s receiving the History-Making Texas Awards.
The award was created 10 years ago to “recognize living Texas legends whose contributions to the state and the nation have been truly historic and exceptional in scope and nature. Honorees are selected for extraordinary accomplishments within their field and community.”
Past recipients have been Barbara and President George H.W. Bush, Lady Bird Johnson, Walter Cronkite, Ambassador Robert Strauss, Herb Kelleher, Dr. Denton Cooley, Van Cliburn, Coach Daryl Royal, Secretary of State James Baker, Laura and President George W. Bush, Rita and Gov. Bill Clements, Barbara Conrad, Gene Krantz and George Mitchell.
Thanks to the Dallas contingent, Austin never looked so good thanks to Mayor Mike Rawlings, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, Patty and James Huffines, Perots by the scores, Nancy Dedman, Lynn and Allan McBee, Mary and Jack Balagia, Jimmy Westcott, Debbie and Alan Raynor, Linda and John McFarland, Sara Martineau, Marnie and Kern Wildenthal, Gail and Gerald Turner, Linda and Bill Custard, Linda Evans, Caren Prothro, Brent Christopher, Sheila and Jody Grant, Gloria and John Hammack and, of course, Event Co-Chairs Louise Griffeth and Jeanne Phillips. Dang, but those Dallas folks look good.
According to a field report,
“Former First Lady and past History-Making Texan Honoree Laura Bush introduced Ruth while General Jim Jones did the honors for Ross Perot. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings gave the Invocation and General Hugh Cox led us in the pledge of allegiance.”
One of the evening’s highlights was former First Lady Laura Bush’s introduction of Ruth. Without a note, she shared and even surprised some old friends and fans with tales about Ruth. At one point, Laura told of “Ruth and her men.”
Without missing a beat, Ruth announced from the podium, “I am not Elizabeth Taylor. Ken and I have been married 27 years!”
(FYI: Ruth’s first husband was killed in a “World War II bombing raid over Tokyo”; her second husband Charles Sharp died of Parkinson’s after 37 years of marriage and current husband Dr. Ken Altshuler is alive and very well.)
For a list of the event sponsors, just follow the jump!
Photos provided by History-Making Texans committee
- A Lasting Tribute — The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Ruth and Ken Altshuler, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Blakemore, Hunt Consolidated Inc., Gene and Jerry Jones and Margot and Ross Perot
- Lone Star Supporter — Louise and Guy Griffeth, Gloria and Jack Hammack, Sarah and Ross Perot Jr., U.S. Trust and PlainsCapital Bank
- Sam Houston Sponsor — Ambassador and Mrs. Lyndon L. Olson Jr., Buena Vista Foundation, Bud Light/Silver Eagle Distributors, CenterPoint Energy Inc., Barbara and Gerald D. Hines, Luther King Capital Management and Penn Davis McFarland Inc.
- Friends of 1836 — Anonymous, AT&T Texas, Jane and John Barnhill, Jan Bullock and Robert Green/Kimberly and Jim Taylor, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, Susan Combs and Joe W. Duran, St. David’s HealthCare, ExxonMobil, Frost Bank, H-E-B, Al G. Hill Jr., Lyda Hill, IBC Bank, In memory of Harold Simmons, Anne and Clay Johnson, Richard King IV, Cynthia and Brian McLaughlin/Michelle Brock, Debbie and John T. Montford, Erle Nye, Julie and Pat Oles/Karen and Karl Rove, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, Hon. Jeanne L. Phillips, Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation, Debbie and Alan Raynor/Association of Electric Companies of Texas, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt Jr., Peggy and Carl Sewell, Lindsay and Ford Smith, Spoetzl Brewery, Strake Foundation, Judy and Charles Tate and Scott Whitworth
- Museum Supporters — Charla Borchers Leon, Nancy and Gene Carter, Vivien and Scott Caven, A.L. Chilton Foundation, Carrielu and Chuck Christensen, Mrs. Trammell Crow, Nancy M. Dedman, Lt. Gov. and Mrs. David Dewhurst, Linda Perryman Evans, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Gibbs, Herndon Family Foundation, Sarita and Bob Hixon, Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation, University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, Mary John Spence, Nancy E. Underwood and Jimmy Westcott
- Special Friends — Anonymous, Nell O. Beck, Mr. and Mrs. Louise A. Beecherl III, Ginger and Jack Blanton, Nancy Brinker Charitable Foundation, Sophia and G.W. Brock, Michelle and B. Tim Brookshire, Peggy and Web Carr, Vicki and Bob Chapman, Brent Christopher, Robyn and Don Conlon, Cheryl S. Cotner, Covert Chevrolet Oldsmobile, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Custard, Rebecca and Mark Davis, Debbie and Jim Francis, Ginger Head Gearheart, Linda H. Gibbons, Mrs. Milton S. Greeson Sr., Mrs. Helen K. Groves, Nancy and Jeremy Halbreich, Rita and Henry Hortenstine, Caroline Rose Hunt, Shannon and Kyle Janek, Charlotte and John Kimberlin, Mr. and Mrs. Truett Latimer, Richard Leshin, T.C. Lupton Jr. Family Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Hans Mark, Sara and David Martineau, Lynn McBee, Judge and Mrs. F.B. (Bob) McGregor Jr., Harvey and Joyce Mitchell Family Foundation, Karen and Chip Oswalt, Robert and Mary Pickering, Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Rose, Jennifer and Ed Sampson, Carol Seay, Texas A&M University Systems Chancellor John Sharp, Weisie and John Steen, Susan K. Stone, Louann and Larry Temple, John M. Collins Foundation, Marilyn and Ben Weber and Pam and George Willeford.