Let's Straighten Out The Confusion About The 2023 Cattle Baron's Ball's Being The Golden One

There seems to be some confusion in these parts about the 2023 Cattle Baron’s Ball. All types of folks are picking out golden outfits and accessories for the American Cancer Society North Texas fundraiser because they think it’s going to be the gold anniversary. But they may be a wee bit ahead of their time.

Yes, it will be the CBB’s 50^th fundraising event that was created by Jacque Wynne and the late Patti Williams Hunt at Star Brand Ranch back in June 1974. But it will not be the 50^th anniversary (aka the “Golden Anniversary”).

That will take place in 2024.

Confused? Sure! Who wouldn’t be?

But think about it this way. The definition of “anniversary” is “the date on which an event took place in a previous year.”

That doesn’t help, and in fact that even sounds confusing, too.

Why not use some examples to clear the air: The U.S. was founded in 1776 and celebrated its bicentennial in 1976; the first Crystal Charity Ball took place in 1952 and is celebrating its 70^th anniversary this year; the assassination of President John F. Kennedy took place on November 22, 1963, and Dallas commemorated the 50^th anniversary of his death on November 22, 2013; and this year, the Junior League of Dallas celebrated its Centennial Year, having been founded in 1922.

Isabell Novakov Higginbotham and Andrea Cheek

So, yes, the 2023 fundraiser being co-chaired by Andrea Cheek and Isabell Novakov Higginbotham for American Cancer Society’s research and treatment in North Texas will indeed be the 50^th event — but it won’t be the Golden anniversary year.

But don’t hold a pity party. There’s still plenty to celebrate as the 2023 CBB kicks off the year leading up to the 50^th anniversary of the original Cattle Baron’s Ball that has resulted in being “the largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society raising over $89 million for cancer research.”

And how did all this confusion happen? Well, somewhere over the decades the CBB-ers were too busy raising $$ to bother with all the anniversary proprieties. When you’re battling cancer, who has time to worry about the frivolities of anniversary years?

But moving forward, save those golden plans for now. 2024 is just around the corner and Andrea and Isabell are kicking off the surge.