Shelby's Social Diary
Rudy Giuliani is mum on presidential bid but high on praise for first respondersat benefit
Photo by Kim Coffman
The convention center was patriotically dressed for the dinner at the HiltonAmericas-Houston, just across the street.
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
Photo by Kim Coffman
You just can't go wrong with Rudy Giuliani as a keynote speaker and few appreciate his draw more than organizers of the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, which called on the former New York City mayor to headline the annual "Answering the Call" dinner at the Hilton Americas-Houston.
The evening that drew a crowd of more than 500 brought in more than $450,000 for the fire fighters branch of the city's first responders. As might have been expected, Giuliani reflected on 9/11 and praised the men and women who worked at Ground Zero. No mention of a possible 2012 presidential bid in the 20-minute talk by the Bracewell & Giuliani partner.
All smiles on this successful evening was dinner chair Philamena Baird, who was accompanied by her husband, Arthur Baird.
Receiving special recognition on this evening were members of Task Force 1, which functions as a federal team under FEMA's national urban search and rescue program. Headquartered in College Station, Task Force 1 is comprised of more than 540 emergency response personnel from 68 organizations and departments across the state.
Applauding these heroes were Mayor Annise Parker, accompanied by partner Kathy Hubbard, and city leaders that included Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and wife Gwen, Fire Chief Terry Garrison and wife Annette, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland and Federal Judge David Hittner.
Fans of our first responders included Margaret Williams with Jim Daniel, Melissa and Bill King, Joni Baird, Gaylon and Don Gullquist, Jasmeeta and Bobby Singh, Karen Hartnett and George Gayle III, Fred Zeidman, Paula Sutton and Bill Gross and Connie and Lee Vela.
