parties

Rotary Club Honor Brings Lynn Wyatt to Tears — After Laughing About How She Proposed to Her Husband

Fulton Davenport
Rotary Club Honor Brings Lynn Wyatt to Tears — After Laughing About How She Proposed to Her Husband

Jerry Reyes, Lynn Wyatt and Douglas Drummond

IT WAS AN emotional afternoon for Lynn Wyatt. The doyenne of Houston society, dubbed "the original influencer," was the honoree at the Downtown Rotary Club's luncheon at the Bayou Place ballroom, and she didn't hold back the tears as she accepted an array of accolades from the group, including that Rotary's national Paul Harris Fellow Award, whose past winners have included Mother Theresa, Bill Gates and Bob Hope.

"I don't know what to say," she said, "so I'm just gonna cry." Her sons Brad and Trey joined her at her table.

The awards were handed off after a video was presented in which a wonderfully candid Wyatt told little known tales of her life. In one anecdote, she explained how, during their courtship, her now husband Oscar bet her $1 million that she would propose to him, and not the other way around. Her beau, an oil tycoon who flew his own plane, extracted the the proposal from her by sending the jet into a nosedive until she got down on one knee!

Jana Phillips and Shelly deZevallos served as chairs and TV's Mia Gradney and David Paul were emcees. There was a live auction, a highlight of which was a custom gold and diamond bracelet valued at more than $7,000, donated by Cindy Lewis of Lewis Jewelers. The event, which also included a fashion show produced by Lenny Matuszewski and featured some Rotarians as models, raised over $100,000 to benefit the organization's community service projects.

Brice and Sarah Cambas

Leah Salinas

Lynn Wyatt and Dot and Walter Cunningham

Miranda Sevick on the runway

Jana L. Phillips and Karina Barbieri

Emcees David Paul and Mia Gradney

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Parties
promoted

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places