High honors were bestowed on Ernie Cockrell and Charles Butt at the Four Seasons Hotel Wednesday when M.D. Anderson Cancer Center elevated them to prestigious Life Member status of the Board of Visitors.

Only 21 individuals have previously received the ranking that is based on distinguished service to the institution by members of the BOV. Cockrell, a native Houstonian and immediate past chair of the BOV, and Butt, San Antonio philanthropist and the executive who heads H-E-B, join fellow Life Members that include former President George H.W. Bush, Red McCombs, the late Laura Lee Blanton, George Mitchell and T. Boone Pickens.

Applauding their honors at the annual BOV fall dinner were Patsy and Greg Fourticq, Liz and Tom Glanville, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Regina Rogers, Joan Schnitzer, Ginger and Jack Blanton, Luci Johnson, Margaret Williams and M.D. Anderson president Dr. Ron DePinho and wife Dr. Lynda Chin. The BOV has 259 members from across the country.

La belle Wyatt in spotlight

It was a beautiful evening for Lynn Wyatt Tuesday in New York, where she was honored at the 30th anniversary of the Princess Grace Foundation during the annual awards gala, held at Cipriani 42nd Street. The special award was given in honor of her three decades of service which began as founding trustee in 1982.

Joining in the salute to Wyatt, a personal friend of the late Princess Grace, were Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene. Prince Albert presented the award following famed stage director Michael Wilson's introduction of the honoree. The lavish tone of the gala evening was set by the illustrious chairs — Princess Firyal of Jordan, Renée Fleming and her husband Tim Jessell.

Among those applauding Wyatt was Scott Brogan, founder of the Brilliant Lecture Series, of which Wyatt is chair emeritus.

A reel soirée

The Houston Cinema Arts Festival crowd took over the lobby of Hotel Icon with a cozy fete previewing highlights of the Nov. 7-11 happening. HCAF artistic director Richard Herskowitz shared insights with guests who were welcomed HCAF honchos including executive director Trish Rigdon and board chair Franci Crane.

Applauding the upcoming film adventure were Jim Crane, Susie Criner, Karen and Gene Oshman, Jared Lang, Andrea White, Lindsey Brown, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Houston Film Commission's Rick Ferguson, Minnette Boesel and more.

Dec. 1 on their calendar

A group of AIDS Foundation Houston supporters poured into Americas River Oaks in hopes of generating even greater interest in the Dec. 1 World AIDS Luncheon that will honor the law firm of Katine & Nechman.

Luncheon co-chairs Jessica Rossman and Gordon Bethune welcomed the group that included Chevron's Joanie Baird, honorees John Nechman and Mitchell Katine and honorary chair Edward Sanchez.

Sight 'ems

State Sen. Rodney Ellis front and center at The Rice for his fall fundraiser as the 83rd legislative session approaches. Lending support were Mayor Annise Parker, State Sen. John Whitmire, State Rep. Carol Alvarado, Leroy Hermes, Sylvia Garcia, Jessica Givens, Sakina Lanig and Brandon Dudley . . .

State Rep. Carol Alvarado celebrating her birthday in the party room at Haven, where good friend Cindy Clifford organized the lunching group of 20 women who included Judge Zinetta Burney, Lyondell's government affairs director Ann Travis, Constable May Walker, METRO exec Kim Williams and more. City Controller Ronald Green popped in to offer best wishes as did Haven's Randy Evans . . .

John Eddie Williams, John Connally III and Mike Mayell headhuddling over lunch at Tony's . . .

Tony Danza, in town to talk at The Up Experience, dining with Mary and Vincent Kickerillo at Da Marco.