Shelby About Town

Hallie Foote, Carolyn Farb and James Carville take on new roles in this week'ssocial scene

Gregory Boyd and Hallie Foote share a moment at the Alley's pre-performancesupper.
Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Larry Norman, from left, Sharin Gaille and Gary and Caroline Kenney at theAlley.
Photo by Priscilla Dickson
Kimberly DeLape, left, and Alicia Smith chairs of the Memorial Hermann event.
Photo by Gary Fountain
Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, from left, Carolyn Farb and Rachel Regan at the MemorialHermann gathering.
Photo by Gary Fountain

It's not often that an actor about to go on stage joins a patrons group shortly before the performance. But that's just what Hallie Foote did Wednesday on opening night of the Alley Theatre production of Dividing the Estate, written by her father, the late Horton Foote.

Typically artistic director Gregory Boyd or the opening play's director — in this case Michael Wilson — addresses the group that gathers for the pre-curtain dinner. So it was a surprise to the score or so of diners to see the actor walk in. Nominated for a Tony Award in 2009 for her Broadway role as Mary Jo in Dividing the Estate, Hallie explained that she wanted the group to know how special this play and reprising the role are to her.

Hallie's sister, Daisy Foote, made the dinner event as did a number of the play's actors including Maggie Lacey, making her Alley debut, with her groom, actor Bill Heck. The two were married just before she arrived in Houston for rehearsals.

Joining the dinner festivities were production sponsors Jennifer Smith and Peter Ragauss, Alley board president Rob Reedy and wife Susan, Gracie Cavnar, Elsie Eckert, Sidney Faust, Karen and Jonathan Finger, Patty Hubbard, Molly and Ford Hubbard, Kathryn and Jim Ketelsen, Brady Knight and Beverly and Staman Ogilvie.

Booked for fun times

It was a great night for Memorial Hermann Foundation supporters on Tuesday when Kimberly DeLape, Lucinda Loya and Alicia Smith rounded up more than 150 fans at Saks Fifth Avenue for the kickoff to the foundation's inaugural "signature event" benefiting Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The Feb. 24 fete at the Bayou City Events Center is themed "Under the Boardwalk" and promises loads of boardwalk-themed diversions including midway games.

Joining the launch party was the multi-talented Carolyn Farb, who signed copies of her charming children's book Lucas Comes to America. More than 100 books were sold with a percentage of proceeds going to the signature event.

"Under the Boardwalk" chairs Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein, Melissa King and Rachel Regan shared their personal experiences with Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital with the gathering that included Kay and Fred Zeidman, Susan Krohn and Patrick Gehm, Philamena Baird, Karen and Roland Garcia, Jay Zeidman, Sarah Jawda, Saba Jawda, Memorial Hermann CEO Dan Wolterman and Children's Memorial Hermann CEO Susie Distefano.

Sight 'ems

David Brock, Media Matters founder and CEO, and Democratic political consultant James Carville talking up progressive politics and the work of Media Matters and American Bridge at the home of Gracie and Bob Cavnar where the like-minded group included Sarah Morgan, Andrea and former Mayor Bill White and Franci Crane . . .

Virginia Steppe celebrating her birthday with hubby Dan Steppe at a romantic table for two at Da Marco . . .

Karen and Byron Hood dining at Philippe Restaurant + Lounge with Lynne and Phil Aronoff on the same night that a huge crowd gathered downstairs in a salute to Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, making his first visit to the United States.

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hello, friends

Public memorials and services set for 'Houston's anchorman' Dave Ward

Photo courtesy of Dave Ward

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ABC13 anchor emeritus Dave Ward died on December 13 at age 86.

Members of the public are invited to pay their respects to the longtime newsman at visitations and funeral services this week. Plans include:

Wednesday, Dec. 17: Ward will lie in repose from 11 am-6 pm at the Crimestoppers of Houston Dave Ward Building, 3001 Main St., Houston, TX 77002.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Public visitation open to all at George H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors at 1010 Bering Dr., Houston, TX 77057 from 11 am-2 pm and 4-8 pm
Friday, Dec. 19: Funeral service open to the public at 12 pm at St. Martin's Episcopal Church at 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056.

ABC13 will carry the funeral live on television and streaming platforms.

For more than 50 years, Dave was Houston's anchorman. He began each newscast with his signature line, "Good evening, friends." That's how the legendary newsman felt about the viewers who shared his love for the city he was so proud to call his home.

His name was David Henry Ward, but he was known to thousands of Eyewitness News viewers simply as "Dave." Born in Dallas in 1939, Dave grew up in Huntsville and began his radio career with KGKB Radio in Tyler while attending college. Three years later, he joined the staff of WACO Radio as a staff announcer and quickly climbed to Program Director the following year.

Dave moved to Houston in 1962, where he worked for KNUZ Radio as a News Reporter and News Director for four years. He made the move to Channel 13 in 1966 as the station's only on-the-street news reporter and photographer, coming "inside" in early 1967 to anchor Channel 13's weekday 7 am. newscast.

Later that year, he became the first host of the wildly popular "Dialing for Dollars" program, which later evolved into "Good Morning Houston." Houston viewers flocked to see him and hear him, and by January 1968, Dave became the anchor of Eyewitness News at 6 and 10 pm.

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Read more about Dave Ward’s life and legacy, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.

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