The gents just kept on giving and giving at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's "One Great Night in November" until they had committed enough dinero to purchase artwork totaling $1.236 million.

Not bad for a men-only evening and especially good considering that proceeds topped last year's art-filled soirée. Chaired by Wallace Wilson and Will Mathis, the 28th annual fundraiser enjoyed an added note of entertainment — a first —with the presence of celebrity masters of ceremonies Leigh Kenoand Leslie Kenoof PBS' Antiques Roadshow fame.

After perusing a selection of possible acquisitions from curator's wish lists, the black-tie crowd voted to use their table sales funds ($340,000) to purchase Recognition: North and South (1865) by Constant Mayer.

Then the gift-giving began with Jim Flores purchasing Vase With Mythological Resurrection Scene for the museum in memory of the late Peter Marzio,who had always been the strong presence at this evening. Tony Visage and Greg Looser followed that tribute path by purchasing IED Night Watch, in memory of Marzio, for the museum's upcoming War/Photography exhibition.

The dinner chairs purchased Ancestral Suspension Hook in honor of Isabel Wilson, who served as MFAH board chair for a number of years. (It's a family connection: she is Wilson's wife and Mathis' mother.) By the time all was said and done, 24 lots had been acquired for the museum.

Adding to the manly mood of the night were three grand Bentleys on display outside the museum, a man-friendly meal from Jackson and Co. and cigars from Davidoff.

Comprising the always heavy-hitter guest list were Pete Coneway, Berdon Lawrence, Reed Morian, Mike Linn, Bill Hill, Fayez Sarofim, Bob McNair, Meredith Long, Tom Glanville, Harry Reasoner, Lenoir Josey, Albert Chao, John Eads and Bobby Tudor.