2024 Spirit of Generations Honorees Louise And Guy Griffeth Were Feted With Games And Wings Of Angels

Even Before The Senior Source’s 30^th Annual Spirit of Generations VIP Party started in the Anatole’s Plum Room on Friday, March 1, half the room was filled. Hidden in the crowd near the refreshment bar of lemonade and coffee were the day’s co-honorees, Louise and Guy Griffeth.

But as the crowd grew, including Karen and David Shuford, Sandra Estess with Darden McFarlin, Ellen and Bob Dill, Margo Goodwin, Diane Scovell,  Luncheon Chair Amy Hegi, past The Senior Source Board Chair Chad Park, The Senior Source CEO Stacey Malcolmson with Ken Malcolmson, Mike and Marla Boone, Jan and Fred Hegi, the Griffeths found themselves circulating around the room.

Louise was joined by her sister Judy Tate and her husband Charles Tate up from Houston and her brother Ralph Spence Jr. and his wife Tancy Spence in from Billings, Montana, as well as son Teal Griffeth and his wife Annie Griffeth. Teal, sporting whiskers plus glasses and a bow tie courtesy of Louise, admitted their household had been busy with artist Annie preparing for a show.

Brent Christopher, fresh from the Bullock Dinner in Austin honoring Dr. Kern Wildenthal, was being congratulated on the newly announced plans for the Children’s Medical Center expansion and wife Monica Christopher’s new role heading up TWU Dallas campus.

Debbie and Robin Robinson were both in fine fettle after the past couple of years of testing the healthcare industry. Robin even showed off the curls in his hair following chemo treatments, adding that he had hoped for black hair but was just glad to have the hair growing back.

Pam Busbee had a busy schedule. On top of the Spirit Luncheon, there was the memorial service for Linda Faulkner-Johnson at Christ The King and Claude Wilson’s service at St. Michael and All Angels.

As the VIP-types crossed the lobby to the Grand Ballroom, joining the other guests like The Senior Source former CEO Molly Bogen, Nancy Halbreich, Pam McCallum, Carole Lou Bruton, Delilah Bruton, Nancy Duncan, Vera Thornton, Bonnie Harding, Susan Roberd, Pat Harloe, Ben Renberg, Austin Wyker, Connie O’Neill and “angelic-designer” Patti Flowers, a number of others gathered just outside the ballroom. They were the past recipients — Julie and Jim Turner (2003), Sally and Forrest Hoglund (2009), Lydia and Dan Novakov (2011), Carolyn and David Miller (2011), Becky Bright (2011), Kay Bailey Hutchison (2014), Jan and Fred Hegi (2016), Diane and John Scovell (2017), Sandra Estess (2018), Marla and Mike Boone (2019) and Kathy and Larry Helm (2021) — who were announced and walked the red carpet in the opening of the day’s program.

After a group photo of the past recipients, the program got underway with The Senior Source Board Chair Rebecca Wynne and Becky Bright welcoming the guests, followed by DJ LC and George Dunham playing the Match Game for the audience to join in.

Each question received a spirited shout from the crowd, with the answers referring to one of the past awardees. All went smoothly until the subject was Chili’s. The question was, “This Norm was our 2003 honoree and was the founder of Chili’s Restaurants.” The choices were A) Norm Peterson, B) Norm Brinker or C) Norm Hitzges. There was a rumbling among the guests. There was no shout-out as before. Even when George guessed “B” and DJ LC said, “Another right answer — B.” Perhaps the reason was that none of the “Norms” was the actual founder of Chili’s. While Norm Brinker did indeed found Steak n’ Ale in 1966, it was Larry Lavine who founded Chili’s in 1975 at the corner of Greenville and Meadow. In 1983 Larry sold Chili’s to Norm Brinker. But, why quibble?

Following the presentation of the Molly H. Bogen Services Award to Betty and John Taylor and their son John Taylor III, who was accompanied by two lovely ladies, eight-year-old twins Betty Taylor and Cordelia Taylor, The Griffeth Game Show got underway, with the DJ introducing the following four teams as they took their places on the stage: The Leading Ladies (Margo Goodwin, Debbie Oates and Connie O’Neill), The Red Pants (Frank Houseman, Tom Stewart and Mike Haggerty), LYTM aka “Love You The Mostest” (Teal Griffeth, Judy Tate and Jeff Murray) and Heavenly Angels with wings designed by Patti Flowers (Peggy Carr, Chris Girata and Tish Burzynski).

As the questions were posed and answers revealed by the teams, Louise and Guy laughed at the exchanges that included:

• Question #1: Louise’s love of horses started back with her Quarter Horse Trail. Which non-profit did Louise start a woman’s auxiliary for? Answer: Equest
• Question #2: What Salesmanship Club of Dallas program where Guy was a buddy to children, helping them with this essential skill? Answer: Reading. DJ LC then read a “letter from one of Guy’s reading buddies. And it says, ‘Dear Mr. Griffeth, you stuck with me for five years and you were a great friend. Thank you for helping me read and I hope you will help more people read like you helped me. From your friend, Jonathan.’ “
• Question #3: Where is heaven on earth for Louise and Guy? Answer: Galveston
• Question #4: What is Louise’s favorite volunteer activity during Christmas time? Answer: Being a bell ringer for The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign.
• Question #5: What ministry at St. Micheal and All Angels that Guy started from the ground up? Answer: St. Michael’s Farmers Market
• Question #6: What always tends to happen at Christmastime at the Griffeths? Answer: Something catches on fire.
• Question #7: In 2017 Louise embarked on a fundraising journey to support veteran causes. What did she do? Answer: Skydiving
• Question #8: At Byron Nelson Golf Tournament, you will always find Guy at this hole? Answer: Hole #4
• Question #9: Which annual event is one that Louise co-founded gathering designers across Dallas to showcase their table displays? Answer: The Kappa Tablescapes
• Question #10: At St. Michael and All Angels, who is Louise’s and Guy’s favorite person? Answer: Jesus
• Question #11: Where did Louise and Guy meet? Answer: The University of Texas

With that answer revealed, The University of Texas Alumni Band loudly marched into the ballroom to the delight of the burnt-orange-loving guests. As the Longhorn fans led by the Griffeths stood with the signature hand gesture, it was noted that throughout the room Peruna fans politely laughed and applauded.

It was then that Chris Girata, sans his “Heavenly Angels” wings, invited Louise and Guy to the stage to accept their award from The Senior Source Board of Directors Chair Rebecca Wynne.

In accepting the award, Guy took his place leaning against the podium and watched with admiration as Louise thanked all the people present and The Senior Source for the honor. Louise teased his position saying, “Oh, you’re gonna stand back there. Okay, He’s always backing me up.”

Addressing the work provided by The Senior Source, Louise said, “It’s kind of scary growing older. I don’t know about y’all, but waking up most mornings with some new ache or pain, all the diminishing abilities like seeing and hearing and some of that ‘s important and then never being able to find your phone or your t-shirt. Frustrating, you know. Can you imagine if you’re also maybe facing all of that and living alone or surviving with limited income and very few resources. Or, maybe you’re the sole caretaker for a family member that’s ill. Or, maybe you’ve lived in some assisted living place and feel like you don’t have a voice or an advocate. Now that can be very frightening. We are so fortunate to have The Senior Source in Dallas with their numerous collaborations, and their access to so many services that they can really help those people and give them dignity and help…”

“But in closing, we honestly have a confession to make. If you see anything good in us at all or anything worthy, in all honesty it’s because of the example and the influence of our parents… And we most certainly know that anything that we might have accomplished is by the grace of God. He’s been so faithful and he’s painstakingly tried to teach us how to live and give and love. And we hope it be to His glory.

“So thank you, Senior Source, for this honor and for giving us the opportunity to pay tribute to those people who have given us such a wonderful life. And just on a personal note, and this one, I really may not be able to do this …”

Tearing up, she directed the comment to Guy saying, “Okay, Guy, you are, you’ve always worked so hard. And you’ve let me follow my heart into the community and then you’ve done your own wonderful things in the community. I just want to love you.”

With that Guy stepped forward and gave his wife a kiss to the delight of the crowd.

For more looks of the lunch, the angels and the Griffeths, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.