What: Lone Star Flight Museum “Flights of Fancy” gala
Where: Lone Star Flight Museum
The scoop: Guests filled the Heritage Hangar as they joined the Lone Star Flight Museum’s board of directors and gala co-chairs Diane and Steve Biegel and Lisa and Russell Sherrill for the 2018 “Flights of Fancy” gala celebrating five new inductees into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. The museum’s marvelous flying collection of historically significant aircraft provided a stunning backdrop to the event and guests were treated to unlimited access to the museum’s STEM-focused galleries and exhibits, including the simulator bay of the $1 million, high-tech Aviation Learning Center (the second in the U.S.). The museum’s new 130,000-square-foot facility at Ellington Airport opened September 2017. The evening raised $700,000 in support of the museum’s mission to preserve, educate, and inspire aviators young and old alike.
Aerialists dropped from 53-foot silk ropes as guests entered the arrival hall and continued to dazzle in the hangars before mistress of ceremonies, Dominique Sachse, KPRC anchor, took command of the evening. Chairman of the Texas Historical Commission John Nau and Commission member Daisy White conducted the induction ceremony for the five new members of the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Each inductee or a representative was presented with a medallion and eagle sculpture:
Azellia White — accepted in person (still spry at 104 years old.)
The Braniff Brothers — accepted by Mr. Mike Braniff, grandson of Paul Braniff
Jim Lovell — accepted by Mr. Jeff Lovell, son of Jim Lovell
Sam Johnson — accepted by Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and congressman Johnson’s former flight leader
Noel Parrish — accepted by Ira Gruber, Professor Emeritus, Rice University (Gen. Parrish’s alma mater) and friend of Gen. Parrish
LSFM President and CEO Douglas H. Owens, lieutenant general (retired) presented the Tom Gregory family with the museum’s third Lifetime Achievement Award.
Who: Seen in the crowd were Diane and Steve Biegel, Lisa and Russell Sherrill, Buzz Aldrin, Joanne King Herring, Flora and Brian Antweil, Suzanne and Laurance Armour, Emily and Bud Arnot, Sara and Mark Bettencourt, Kelli and Eddy Blanton, Mike Braniff, Jack Christie, Brenda and Joe Cialone, Robin and Marshall Cloyd, Lilly and Dan Collins, Hon. David Dewhurst, Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu, Janet and Dave Foshee, Kathleen and Paul Grabowski, Fay Gregory, Larry Gregory, Ira Gruber, Anthony Hall, Linda and Barry Hunsaker, Janine Iannarelli, Jeff Lovell, Belinda and Mike Morgan, Keith and Alice Mosing, John Nau, Helen and Paul Oelkrug, Teresa and Doug Owens, Cabrina and Steven Owsley, Stephanie and Dr. Rod Paige, Mary Ellen and Scott Prochazka, Debby Rihn-Harvey, Karen and Scott Rozzell, Lisa and Jerry Simon, Kathryn and Jeff Smith, Annette and George Strake, Jane and Charles Szalkowski, Bette and Ralph Thomas, Bob Waltrip, Debbie and John Weekley, Daisy and John White, and Azellia White.
Hall of Fame inductees (front row) Daisey White, Azellia White, Buzz Aldrin, John Nau, (back row) Jeff Lovell, Mark Braniff, and Ira Gruber.
