Len Cannon, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Peyton Manning
Two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning was also on hand. Country music legend Lee Greenwood performed his iconic song, “Proud to Be an American.”
The celebration of Bush’s “selfless service, kindness, and civility, which serves as an inspiration for the leaders of tomorrow” was the largest so-called Presidential Salute yet, said a rep for the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Some 600 guests were in attendance, helping raise a whopping $1 million.
In her remarks to the crowd as part of a panel moderated by KHOU anchor Len Cannon, “Rice reflected on the Bushes’ legacy, noting that people love the Bushes because they loved people and that they treated others with respect and honor,” said the foundation rep. “Manning said mentors like President and Mrs. Bush, who give back to the community and ‘walk the walk,’ make it easy to follow in their footsteps.”
Another memorable moment came when Pierce Bush, grandson of the former president and first lady, toasted his grandparents, reading from a handwritten note to him from his granddad. The note referenced going fishing on one of the president’s boats, which was auctioned off as part of the evening’s fundraising efforts. An anonymous buyer picked up the 2011 speed boat for $435,000.
Dinner was fit for a president, too. Maine lobster bisque was followed by hibiscus-glazed short rib, with Mastro’s famous butter cake as the wow-factor dessert. Fabulous wine pairings included Cellier des Chartreux Sauvignon Blanc “Blue” 2022 and Smith Devereux “IBEX” Merlot 2019.
Andrea Gaston, Mary Carrida, Mary Kate Cary, Rob Cary
Betty Welsh, Christi Voelkel, Neil Bush, Mark Welsh, Tyson Voelkel
Brenda Mahoney, Jason Mahoney, Jayton Rainey, Melanie Toler
Brenda Robinson, Jean Becker, Neil Bush, Becky Russell, Elizabeth Russell Latham, Garrett Latham
Bush Foundation CEO, Honorable Andrew H. Card, Jr.
Evan Lee, Lisa Lee, Pierce Bush
Garrett Latham, Elizabeth-Russell Latham
Harriet McClure, Dr. Frank B. Ashley III, Fred McClure
Hunter Goodwin, Harriet McClure, Amber Goodwin
Irina Borovaya, Andrey Drozdov, Pierce Bush, Richard Zientek, Leslie Zientek
Tyson Voelkel, Christi Voelkel, Dr. Frank B. Ashley III, Janice Ashley
Lee Greenwood
Kristy Bradshaw, Phoebe Tudor and Stephanie Tsuru
The clusters of crystal chandeliers lit up an oval dance floor, “surrounded by custom, hand-painted, 20-plus-foot-tall dusty blue and gold panels, meant to replicate the beautifully adorned walls of the Hofburg Palace,” noted a Houston Ballet rep of event planner Richard Flowers’ handiwork.
“The venue dazzled with candelabras and fragrant floral centerpieces of white tulips, peonies, roses, hydrangeas, and gray dusty miller, atop lace-detailed blue linens.” The event was said to draw inspiration from Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling ballet, which follows the story of the Austro-Hungarian crown prince of the 1880s.
The dinner menu was fit for old-school European royalty. Following a salad of baby greens with goat cheese, dried cranberries, pistachios and honey-champagne vinaigrette, guests enjoyed medallions of aged beef tenderloin with marchand de vin, caramelized shallot jam and braised red cabbage. For dessert: a mascarpone crepe with blood orange coulis and candied orange peel.
Coming just after dinner, the most delicious treat of the night might have been the surprise waltz-inspired dance number, featuring dancers from the Houston Ballet Academy, choreographed by former company dancer Hayden Stark, now an Academy instructor. Think handsome young gentlemen in tails swirling vigorously about with ladies in flowing gowns.
Shortly after the performance, guests and members of the dance company alike flooded the dance floor, stirred to their feet by the boisterous tunes of the Stratosphere band.
Cabrina and Steven Owsley served as ball chairs, along with Margaret and Jonathan Cox. The honorees were Akemi and Yasuhiko Saitoh, who, after years of supporting the company, were instrumental is bringing about the Ballet’s historic trip to Japan last year.
VIPs in the crowd included the Ballet’s creative leader Stanton Welch, Margaret Alkek Williams, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Leigh and Reggie Smith, Jim Nelson, Anne and Albert Chao, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Rosanette S. Cullen, Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Jo Furr, Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones, Melissa Juneau, Beth Muecke, Patti Murphy, Ileana and Michael Treviño, and, glamorous as ever, Lynn Wyatt.
Angel Rios, Lynn Wyatt and Richard Flowers
Chris and Kristy Bradshaw
Connor Walsh and Chae Eun Yang
Dr. Sippi K. Khurana and Ajay Khurana
Eric and Tonya Jordan
Fady Armanious, Hallie Vanderhider, Bill Baldwin
Henry and Jean May
Akemi and Yasuhiko Saitoh
Houston Ballet Company dancers enjoying the live music of Stratosphere
Melissa Juneau and Kent Willis
Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones
Rose Cullen, Jody and Kathy McCord
Kelly and Twana Faykus
Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Nelson
Zoe Cadore and Ada Agbor
Marianne and Joe Geagea
Patti Murphy and Beth Muecke
Susan and Gary Binney
Tripp Carter, Karen Payne, Jim Nelson