With Halloween in a land far, far away, anyone not in the know of Literacy Advance of Houston's shenanigans may have concluded that some 150 folks dressed as wizards, sexy playmates, secret agents, city cowgirls and a mishmash of anything goes had gone haywire.
But take it from this serious board game contestant. While the Saint Arnold Brewing Co. mess hall was festive for the organization's sixth annual "Scrabble in the City" tournament Thursday, the competitive tension was fierce as wordsmiths gave it their all — bribes to the vigilant judges included — to emerge victorious.
Lara Bell and Roseann Rogers emceed the fundraiser that kicked off with an emotional testimonial from a Literacy Advance student, Gerard, who told the story of how he explained to his son about why he returned to the books.
"I told him that learning was the key to being free, and I wanted to have more choices in life."
"I told him that learning was the key to being free, and I wanted to have more choices in life," Gerard said. "Now there's no looking back."
The "Word Wizards" from Morgan Stanley won first place, Christine Holland's "Urban Cowgirls" scooped second and "How Do You Spell That?" from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation came in third. Melanie Fisk's troupe, "The Wigged-Out Word Wizards," was recognized for Best Team Costume and Jolea Bryant's "Two Snaps and a Twist" was singled out for Best Team Name.
In the words with friends crowd were Julie Baker Finck, Kristen Oesch Stubbs, Craig Klaasmeyer, Carey Kirkpatrick, Judy and Larry Dierker, Lindsey Duhon, DeeDee Dochen, Ellen Elam, Irene and Currie Evans, Debra Ford, Tony Lopez, Bud Johnson, Brad Spalding and Bill St. Clair, Mary Beth Mosley, Charles and Pat Prewitt, Elise Rodriguez, Andréa Shiloh and Kathy Stockton.
Bunnies Pat Gutierrez, from left, Robin Dickehuth, Kathy Stockton and Jacqueline Yee.
