There was admiration all around for the dapper Jackson Hicks at Wortham Theater Center on Tuesday when he tooks bows (and received two standing ovations) as honoree at Legacy Community Health Services' ninth annual fall luncheon.

Holding court in the Grand Foyer where he has overseen and perfected catering and more for scores, if not several hundred, of the city's topnotch charity balls, Jackson was surely at home. Mayor Annise Parker, who presented the award and declared Sept. 20 Jackson Hicks Day in Houston, sat to his right, Jackson's partner Milton Townsend to her right. And up on the video screens praise poured in from across the country.

Both President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush saluted the founder of the renowned Jackson & Co., allowing that when a fancy dinner was called for Jackson was on speed dial. Opera world great Renée Fleming lauded his good works as well as his professional achievements. No surprise that Jackson earned the "Prince of Parties" moniker many years back.

Add Houston Grand Opera's Patrick Summers, Houston Ballet's C.C. Conner, Society for the Performing Arts' June Christensen and San Francisco Opera's David Gockley to the admiring coterie that praised, via video, Jackson's community service and business talents.

Luncheon chairs Phoebe Tudor and Cerón and Jackson fans Debra and Mark Grierson added their praise to the video.

It was a big day for Legacy, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and which is opening its new Montrose clinic on Friday. CEO Katy Caldwell and development director Chree Boydston applauded the success of the luncheon that enjoyed a record turnout of 450 and surpassed the goal of $200,000. METRO spokesman Jerome Gray reprised his familiar role as emcee.

Adding to the cachet of the chic crowd were Bobby Tudor, Todd Fiscus, Melanie Gray, Bob Devlin, Diane Lokey Farb, Cyndy Garza Roberts, Bill Caudell, Mary Beth Aspromonte, Monsour Taghdisi, Karen Pulaski Tyrell, State Rep. Sylvester Turner, Cynthia Petrello, Melissa Mithoff and Millette Sherman.