$2.2 million bash

Cattle Baron's Ball rakes in more than $2.2 million at ultimate Texas soirée with wild auction items

When the first face greeting guests at the Cattle Baron’s Ball is Bocephus the steer, it’s a pretty good indication that this is not your usual Saturday night soirée. The annual fundraiser at George Ranch Historical Park always guarantees a fresh take on the charity event scene, serving up a rollicking good time with a serious focus on raising significant money for the American Cancer Society.

The evening’s theme was “Hope on the Range,” and chairs Allison Flikerski and Lauren Maloy created a night full of country-fried fun complete with the popular pig races, casino tables and butt sketches, which sounds much more scandalous than it actually is.

While guests rounded the auction tables laden with everything from exotic trips and sports memorabilia to fashion items and housewares, Ward Davis provided the live music. The big board auction items drew crowds of guests throughout the evening, keeping their fingers crossed and eyes on their bids.

See loads more photos here.

The chance to win a new car from Sonic Automotive kept the car raffle hopping all night too. Tickets were $50 or six tickets for $250 and an Audi A4, Chevy Camaro and a Cadillac CTS were among the cars to choose from.

Ultimately, it is traditionally the live auction that makes the Cattle Baron’s Ball so memorable. Waiters carrying sparkling trays introduced a five-course party catered by celebrity chef Bryan Caswell that sold for $10,000 and a dinner cooked by Johnny Carrabba and served at his home, sold for a whopping $45,000, garnering a standing ovation from the crowd for the winning bidder.

The beautifully touching “Hope on the Range,” dual-sided children’s quilt brought in a stunning $100,000. The live auction raised a total of $580,000 and the Cattle Baron’s Ball clocked in at $2,225,000.

Caswell & Co. created Taste of Texas stations throughout the cavernous hall, wowing guests with stuffed avocados, wild boar barbecue ribs and fire-roasted oysters, while towers of sweets offered bite-sized delights.

The Eli Young Band got all the boot clad cuties and their cowboys on the dance floor, ending the night on the ultimate country high note.

Those making the rounds at the the ball included Cattle Baron’s Ball Victory president Gigi Harbison and her husband, Russell, Anna and Holt McNair, Debbie and Kent Chenevert, Becky and Kelly Joy, Jody and Jeff Dyke, Jackie and Monty Eubank, Shari and Marshall Heins, Susie and Don Sinclair, Jenny and Todd Stone, Ellie and Michael Francisco, Elizabeth and Alan Stein, Bruce Padilla and Shelby Kibodeaux and Ed McMahon.

Kevin Black, Elizabeth Stein, Tony Bradfield.

Photo by @TheMikeCharlton

Kevin Black, Elizabeth Stein, Tony Bradfield.

fundraisers galas

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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