As an added plus to the Crystal Charity Ball’s 70th anniversary, CCB Chair Susan Farris and 2022 Fashion Show Chair Jennifer Dix decided to keep the good vibes of the recently held fashion show going. To do this they held an invite-only buffet reception underwritten by IBC Bank on Wednesday, September 14, at the home of Lee Ann and Alan White.
The occasion was to honor the four ladies who had served as honorary chairs over the years — Nancy Dedman (2009), Annette Simmons (2011), Norma Hunt (2019) and recently named Gene Jones — as well as the Hall of Fame Honorees, with a special tip of the hat to recently inducted Pat McEvoy.
But as the clock ticked down, possible COVID close encounters and family illnesses forced Norma, Annette and Pat to beg off.
Even so, the showing of the guests was uber-boldfaced. As one onlooker commented, “This is a gathering of philanthropic eagles.”
Why, Gene’s posse alone, including husband Jerry Jones Sr., Lori and Jerry Jones Jr., Charlotte Jones with Amir Rozwadowski and her daughter Haley Anderson, and Gene’s sister Kathy Counce with daughter Meredith Counce, was a party in itself.
HoF-er Robyn and Don Conlon were on hand with daughter-in-law/Ten Best Dresser Marybeth Conlon, whose husband Kevin Conlon was home taking care of their kids. Robyn and Don, who have been spending time at their place in the Grand Cayman, admitted that their plans to visit Little Cayman had been stalled due to two years of the pandemic.
And speaking of seas, Hall of Famer Claire and Dwight Emanuelson were just back from a “once-in-a-lifetime” week of floating with family along the Italian Coast, a sort of “pre-60th birthday party” for Dwight. When asked about Claire’s chairing the Kips Bay Decorator Show House patron dinner on Tuesday, September 20, Claire didn’t miss a beat. Despite the show house being open for just four days this year, down from four weeks, work was still underway for the debut on Thursday, September 22. Due to the house still being in the finishing stages, the dinner had been moved to The Mansion on Turtle Creek, with nary a guest bailing.
Co-Host/Hall of Famer Lee Ann admitted that while Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday, September 8, had deservedly earned worldwide attention, the Whites’ upcoming plans of traveling to London might have to be tweaked some due to the number of people arriving for the services. But with the funeral taking place on Monday, September 19, the Whites’ basic plan stayed put as they were to arrive the day after the services.
As the crowd including Brad Kelly, Erin Mathews, Wendy and Boyd Messmann, Gail Fischer with Ken Christensen, HoF-ers Lana Andrews, Mary Clare Finney, Sonia Hamra and Lisa Troutt and Best Dressed vets Lisa Cooley, Tiffany Divis, Monica Eastin, Meredith Land, Anne McPherson and Aileen Pratt filled the entry, the guests spilled into the living room. There, Alan, Barry Andrews, and Truman Arnold had front-row seats, along with the Whites’ Lab named Sugar, for the presentation by Susan and Jennifer of Nancy D. and Gene following a brief presentation by William Schonacher, president and CEO of IBC Bank-Oklahoma.
While the intro of the two honorary chairs was brief, the ladies looked like kids opening Christmas gifts as they unwrapped boxes holding a personalized Jay Strongwater heart-shaped dish from Madison and a L’Objet silver frame containing their photo by Haynsworth from Neiman Marcus.
And the partying didn’t end there. When Lee Ann told guests there was still plenty of food that needed to be eaten, some guests took her up on the invitation, with one couple staying past the witching hour, not letting the champagne and caviar go to waste.
For looks at the night, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.