Despite threats from weather guessers that North Texas was going to have a royal drenching just after noon on Friday, April 23, 2021 Cattle Baron’s Ball Co-Chairs Diana Hamilton and Heather Randall weren’t going to back out of the CBB’s Spring Luncheon at Smoky Rose.
As it turned out, the storms didn’t rain on the gals’ get together. While CBB member Elizabeth Tripplehorn was double checking the table settings, her brother Smoky Rose owner David Cash said it looked like the lunch had lucked out being in a window of fair weather.
Evidently the CBB committee members shared David’s thinking with nary a one showing up with an umbrella in hand. Instead it was bright spring dresses and all types of heels — stiletto, block, wedged. More than one claimed that they were learning how to navigate in their elevated shoes after a year of being grounded in flip flops, slippers and Crocs. Nancy Gopez decided not to jump right in with balancing act. Instead she wore glittery wrap sneakers.
Speaking of Nancy, she and Kristi Bare, who are co-chairing the CBB Golf Tournament, reported that the fundraiser on Monday, May 3, at the Four Seasons have only five places left plus a presenting sponsor — Mary Kay and toldright.
Another one who opted for lower heels was 2017 CBB Co-Chair Anne Stodghill, who looked like she wore her prettiest cowboy boots and a matching floral pattern black shirt. She reported that while most complained of the infamous “COVID-19” gained weight, her husband Steve “Stodgie” Stodghill had shed more than 100 pounds. BTW, the Stodghills are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this year.
Preparing for her second wedding anniversary on June 1, Lauren Bellemare reported that she had managed to attend the day’s luncheon thanks to mom/1996 CBB Chair Vicki Chapman babysitting five-month old Lucille Bellemare.
Elizabeth Gambrell admitted that she had reactivated her CBB membership before agreeing to co-chair Celebrating Luncheon with Marybeth Conlon and serving as president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Salvation Army just to mention a couple of upcoming undertakings.
As the committee members assembled for the traditional group photo, American Cancer Society North Texas Market VP Jim Brown watched from the sidelines. Only been on the job less than three months, Jim had previously been with the Strategic Director for ACS’ National Account Management team working with Walmart. But when the North Texas position became available, he took it. BTW, Jim is right at home in North Texas. The UTA graduate has held a number of leadership positions in the area including the Muscular Dystrophy Association in North Texas from 1998 to 2018, Dallas’ Resource Center development and marketing director from 1995 to 1997 and Carter Bloodcare donor recruiter from 1993 to 1995.
But back to the photo opp. It was slightly delayed due to the back up in the valet parking as guests continued to arrive. But once the photo setup got underway, it proved to be a balancing act for some of the high-heeled ladies who had to climb up on benches and tables. Others found themselves kneeling on the ground to accommodate the widest of lenses. Some shots were like a possible Christmas card; others were just like a fun class reunion.
Once the final photo was shot, the ladies adjourned to the dining room for healthy lunch of spinach salad topped with pears, currants and candied pecans with bleu cheese and a choice of dressings (champagne, lemon or balsamic vinaigrette) with a choice of protein (smoked salmon, smoked turkey or pulled pork).
In addition to a Dr Pepper chocolate sheet cake dessert, they also enjoyed the news that the 2021 fundraising efforts were already paying off with $1M in underwriting in the bank for the Double Down Against Cancer Ball scheduled for Gilley’s on Saturday, October 23, with Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell.
For a look or two of the ladies, their footwear and Jim at the luncheon, check out the MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.