After the flood of the century drowned North Texas the week before, it was with wary eyes that the 2022 Cattle Baron’s Ball underwriter-party team looked to the skies and eyeballed weather radars for the underwriters party scheduled for Tuesday, August 30, at Mary and Bill Corrigan‘s Highland Park mansion.
Fearful of another drenching, Mary had sent some of her furniture away for the night in case conditions forced the indoor-outdoor party to be held exclusively inside. Her fears were only heightened with word that way more guests than expected had RSVP-ed that they were jolly well attending. At the last minute, though, Mother Nature sent her regrets that only humidity would be present for the evening.
What a relief for the organizers that was. An estimated 250 partygoers, including CCB ’22 presenting sponsor Texas Oncology, crowded into the handsome home and spilled over into the backyard, where a bar had been set up and Sam Moore was crooning country-and-western tunes like “Stars on the Water.”
Among the 250 were Monica and Brent Christopher, who recalled their unique summer trip to Mongolia, where they rode “two-humped” camels and bought lots of cashmere. Brent said Children’s has sponsored the Cattle Baron’s Ball a number of times in recent years — including the upcoming bash to be held at Parker’s Southfork Ranch on Saturday, September 17. He said 20% of the children battling cancer in the state of Texas are treated at Children’s, so the sponsorship is a natural fit.
Another couple of the night, Claire and Dwight Emanuelson, reported they were building a second home at the Old Baldy Club in Wyoming. “It’s a new [social] season,” Dwight said, looking around at his fellow guests. “We’re going to be attending this year’s Ball, but more and more it’s a young person’s game.”
In the living room, meantime, guests were laughing and chuckling with Jobi, a 37-year-old Capuchin monkey sporting monkey-print diapers and handled by Sharon Langham. The little guy rode a tiny scooter around the house and snatched dollar bills from guests before pecking them on the cheek in “thanks.” Sharon said Jobi is a fixture at parties held at the Corrigan abode. But on this night, Jobi drew some mixed reviews. It wasn’t the little guy’s fault. Some were thrilled with his presence and antics; others muttered something about the unnecessary concerns of the recent development of Monkeypox.
Also attending the party were Gail Fischer with Ken Christensen, Natalie Lesikar, Lauren Chapman, Carol and Matt Holmes, Marjon Henderson, Samantha Wortley, Lauren Phillips, Richard Graziano, Brittany and Travis Mathews, Melinda and Mark Knowles, Evening Co-Chairs Michelle Meadows, Nikki Webb and Teffy Jacobs with her mother Doris Jacobs, Blake Stephenson, Joanna Clarke, Angela Seaman, Samantha Wortley, and Kim and Greg Hext, .
And, of course, what would a CBB gathering be without the old guard like past CCB Founder Jacque Wynne and CBB Chairs Jennifer Dix with husband Richard Dix, Fort Worth transplant Olivia Kearney with husband Jeff Kearney, Diana Hamilton with husband Steve Hamilton, Anne Stodghill with husband Steve Stodghill, Jonika Nix, Tia Wynne, Andrea Weber with husband John Weber, Sunie Solomon, Kristen Sanger and Kristi Sherrill Hoyl with sister Melissa Sherrill Martin.
Speaking of Kristi, her 17-year-old daughter Sydney Hoyl turned up as a special guest entertainer. A budding country-western singer-songwriter who spent the summer in Nashville honing her craft, the soon-to-be Hockaday grad performed several original songs, drawing an enthusiastic reception on the Corrigans’ back terrace.
Sydney’s set followed a brief presentation by 2022 CBB Co-Chairs Nancy Gopez and Kris Johnson. Despite Kris’ mic going mute, the program soldiered on with a report that almost everyone on this year’s committee was meeting their fundraising goal. The response was a resounding cheer from the crowd.
As the talking and entertaining went on, the guests were cooled off by two big LavaAire fan/misters that kept sweeping back and forth across the Corrigans’ backyard. They were welcome, given all that extra humidity courtesy of Ma Nature.
* Photo credit: Tamytha Cameron Photography