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    Shelby about town

    City staffers take a leap of faith

    Shelby Hodge
    Nov 13, 2009 | 6:00 am
    • It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Carl Davis skydiving!
    • Jeweler Franco Valobra with his strings of pearls
      Daniel Ortiz
    • Susan Krohn and Butch Robinson

    Talk about team building in the extreme — that would be a group of City Hall staffers who made their virgin jump into skydiving on Wednesday.

    William-Paul Thomas, City Councilwoman Sue Lovell's chief of staff, organized the daring escapade for some 30 brave souls who decided that it would be a fitting salute for Veteran's Day. They signed up at Sky Dive Spaceland, where Sgt. C.J. Messiah of the mayor's security detail made the challenging descent. Jumpers included Carl Davis of the Planning and Development Department, Claudia Vasquez and Stella Ortega of the mayor's office, Planning & Development's Susie Hargrove and the Finance Department's Tim Douglas.

    "It was awesome," according to Davis, who only hours after the initial fright was planning on a return to the air with his City Hall compadres.

    The real thing

    For those who thought that the ropes of pearls that jeweler Franco Valobra tossed into the crowd at Festari's Una Notte in Italia Saturday night were fake, we have one thing to say. Au contraire. Those babies were as real as they come, making 10 women very, very happy. Make that 11. He gifted his wife, Nancy Valobra, with a strand as well.

    Valobra was one of a score of celebrity male models who strutted the runway at the InterContinental Houston during the evening that benefited Family Services of Greater Houston. Sometimes, the guys throw roses. They always throw kisses to the women swooning in the audience. But tossing pearls was a first.

    Riding high

    Big guns of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo strode into the swank, French-flavored home of Susan Krohn last week for a meet-and-greet with major donors — of the $15,000 variety — and potential donors. In their Stetsons, boots and blazers, members of the Corporate Development Committee might have looked out of water surrounded by Krohn's crystal chandeliers and French antiques. But, hey, this is Houston and even our cowboys are a sophisticated lot.

    Welcoming the 100 or so guests were rodeo honchos including board chairman Butch Robinson, CEO Skip Wagner, COO Leroy Shafer and executive committee members Ed McMahon and Paul Somerville. The party mix included Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Carolyn Faulk, Charlene Floyd, Paula Robinson and more.

    Higher learning

    The University of Houston celebrated the appointment of three new regents Wednesday night with a cocktail reception and program at the campus' M.D. Anderson Library. Board of regents chairman Welcome Wilson presided over the do that saluted attorneys Nandy Berry and Jarvis Hollingsworth and restaurateur Tilman Fertitta, the latter detained in New York on business. Joining in the program was UH president Renu Khator.

    Among the heavy-hitter turnout were Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and wife Gwen, Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, UH regent Nelda Blair, Bill King, Bill Wright, Michael Berry, Jane and Jim Wise, Deborah Cannon, Edna Myer-Nelson and John White.

    Wining & dining

    That would be the Seventh of April group, a collection of wine connoisseurs, who gathered at the spanking new Stella Sola for their 425th dinner. Rave reviews followed by members that included Pete Creasey, Tom Amonette, Neil Strauss, Ben Floyd, Lenoir Josey, Lee Doggett, Ben Floyd and John Cooper.

    New guy in charge

    Look for innovative and classier things happening at Hotel ZaZa now that Matthew Nuss has stepped into the head office. As managing director of both the Houston and Dallas ZaZa properties, the veteran (but not too veteran) hotelier is here to "relaunch" the unique hostelry.

    You might remember Nuss, single by the way, from his days as Omni Hotel GM, or more recently as a partner with the Valencia Group, as in Hotel Sorella. He was spotted recently entertaining guests on the terrace at Monarch restaurant where his group sampled riches from Chef Aaron Neely's kitchen.

    Sight 'ems

    Designer Angel Sanchez, in town for his bridal and evening collection trunk show at Casa de Novia, bunking at Hotel Granduca. Andrea and John Mark Osborne co-hosted a Spanish-themed dinner at their River Oaks home in Sanchez' honor. The group included co-hosts Luviand Carlos Wheelock plus Courtney Fertitta, Katherine Phelps, Robin and Charles Reimer and Christine Hoffer . . .

    Donna Speer celebrating her birthday at El Pueblito on Richmond where Cappy and Darlene Bisso and Franco Valobra hosted. Joining the party were Donna's husband, John Speer, plus Barbara and Ulyesse LeGrange, Anna Dean, Mary Ann and David McKeithan, Denise Bush Bahr and Philip Bahr and Olga and Gerald Bush . . .

    More than a dozen Houston Texans dining at Mo's . . . A Place for Steaks including Mario Williams, Kasey Studdard, Eric Winston, Shaun Cody and Xavier Adibi.

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    long live the king

    Texas Renaissance Festival founder George Coulam has died at 87

    Jef Rouner
    May 21, 2025 | 1:50 pm
    Film still from Ren Faire
    Film still from Ren Faire
    undefined

    George Coulam, the founder and owner of the Texas Renaissance festival, was found dead in his home on Tuesday. He was 87, according to media reports.

    Coulam’s death comes two weeks after a Grimes County judge found against him, forcing the sale of the festival to new owner Meril Rivard. Although untimely, Coulam’s death is unlikely to affect the new ownership deal, according to Anthony Laporte, lead counsel on the case.

    “Because this deal is primarily with corporate entities, everything should progress without too much interruption,” Laporte tells CultureMap. “Obviously this is a sad day for those of us who knew George. We all mourn together, but it is unlikely to affect the way the new Renaissance Festival deal proceeds.

    Rivard issued a brief statement following the news.

    “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of George Coulam,” it reads. “Our thoughts go out to his loved ones. Like everyone else who loves the Texas Renaissance Festival, we remain committed to ensuring that the festival lives on, and we are working steadfastly to make that happen.”

    The Texas Renaissance Festival also issued a statement.

    We are deeply saddened by the loss of George Coulam, founder of the Texas Renaissance Festival. For more than 50 years, he built a community that has become a cherished tradition for generations of performers, staff, and guests.

    At this time, we ask for respect and privacy for Mr. Coulam’s family and the extended Texas Renaissance Festival family as they grieve. As this is a deeply personal matter, we are not offering additional comments at this time.

    The cause of death is currently unknown. Grimes County sheriffs were notified of his death at 9 am Tuesday morning. Bystanders reported seeing an ambulance leave Coulam’s home, which is known as Stargate Manor. The Navasota Examiner, which was first to report the news, includes an account of gunshots being heard near the home.

    Regardless of the circumstances, Laporte said that after the recent judgment that forced the sale, everyone, including Coulam, seemed relieved and happy that the matter had been resolved.

    Coulam’s death ends a long and sometimes toxic reign over the Texas Renaissance Festival. Over the past two decades, Coulam was sued multiple times for sexual harassment of employees. The HBO docuseries Ren Faire showcased Coulam’s mercurial nature in dealing with potential buyers of the festival while also offering glimpses into his “sugar daddy” dating life.

    Following the release of Ren Faire, several corporate entities sued Coulam for breach of contract. The case came to a close this month, with a judge saying the $60 million sale must go through. Coulam also owes Rivard and the other plaintiffs $22 million in damages and $1 million in lawyer fees.

    As CultureMap has previously reported, the Texas Renaissance Festival is expected to proceed as planned, with an opening in October 2025.

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