Social scene

What do NFL players do on draft night? Go bowling at Travis Johnson's charityfundraiser

Travis Johnson, center, congratulates the ZT Wealth bowling team that took firstplace. From left, Jason Harrison, Zaire Johnson, Travis Johnson, Jonathan Dizonand Cassie Wu.

MD Turner Photography
Travis Johnson, left, and Andre Johnson bid on silent auction items.

MD Tuner Photography

While most NFL fans and players were glued to their HD televisions for the draft Thursday night, there were a select few more concerned with supporting a local cause: Travis Johnson, defensive end drafted by the Texans in 2005, and his Travis Johnson Foundation, which provides grants for rehabilitation for children suffering strokes and other major illnesses, as his four-year-old daughter did.

Among the players in attendance: Andre Johnson (Texans), Johnathan Joseph (Texans), Greg Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars), Dunta Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) and Tina Thompson (the WNBA Seattle Storm) just to name a few. The only game these big names were worried about was who could walk away with bragging rights as the best bowler.

The sports-studded evening at 300 Houston Bowling Lounge off Bunker Hill was filled with smack talking, high fives, jokes — and, more importantly, lots of donations.

It was a big night in more ways than one. It also happened to be Travis Johnson’s 30^th birthday where his wife surprised him with a 3-0 red velvet and vanilla cake.

At the beginning of the event, founder and former Texan (now free agent) Travis Johnson told the story of his daughter Zoe and their firsthand account as she suffered two strokes, which caused paralysis in the left side of her body. He recognizes and is thankful that his family was able to provide her with the best care during this trying ordeal, but realizes others may not have the means.

“We were fortunate, but not everyone’s fortunate in this kind of situation. The goal of the Travis Johnson Foundation is to let them be kids again,” he said before thanking his former teammates for joining him at his event.

Even a few of his former Florida State teammates flew in just to show their support for the big night.

It was a big night in more ways than one. It also happened to be Travis Johnson’s 30^th birthday where his wife surprised him with a 3-0 red velvet and vanilla cake. Let me be the first to say this may be a group of extraordinary charitable athletes, but they cannot carry a tune. I've never before laughed and cringed at the singing of "Happy Birthday," but I knew it came from a good place.

The First Annual ‘Strike Out Strokes’ Celebrity Bowling Tournament was presented by Momentum Porsche Jaguar Land Rover, where guests were either personally invited or donated to to cause to attend.

The only lull in the competitive bowling or “thank you for all you do” talk was around 9:30 p.m. when the four TVs in the private bowling room showed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell set to announce the Texans' first-round pick in the draft (26^th overall). The sound came on and the crowd got quiet as Goodell announced the Texans pick of linebacker Whitney Mercilus (marking the fourth straight year the Texans have drafted a defensive player in the first round of the draft).

Shortly after the pick, the crowd returned their focus to more important things: The fierce bowling tournament to raise funds to provide assistance to families in need of financial support for children who have suffered major illnesses and are in need of rehabilitation or therapeutic services.

“The funds raised through this event will provide a better quality of life for children who have suffered a major illness or trauma and need rehabilitation services. I know firsthand how this affects families. It’s important for them to know there are people out there who care, that I care,” Travis Johnson said.

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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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