The Original Bionic Woman Honors Houston’s 2019 Women of Substance

Actress Lindsay Wagner, who fiercely bounded across television screens as The Bionic Woman in the mid 1970s, was decidedly more human when she addressed the Women of Substance luncheon, which honored 13 Houston women, whom many would consider bionic for their relentless altruism.

During the height of her career, Wagner starred in several of Robert Bradford‘s television productions, and became friends with the producer and his wife, Barbara Taylor Bradford, whose book A Woman of Substance was inspiration for the luncheon. Wagner was a fill-in at the Hyatt Regency Downtown for Taylor Bradford, who has been a regular at the annual fundraiser which benefits the Mission of Yahweh homeless shelter for women and children.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Salient and the private equity firm’s chairman and CEO John Blaisdell, funds raised for the mission topped $500,000. And that would earn applause for luncheon chairs Amy Pierce and Sherri Zucker and “Iconic Women of Substance” and honorary chairs Rose Cullen, Regina Rogers and Sybil Roos. Also a thrill for special advisor Warner Roberts and creator/producer Paul-David Van Atta.

Honored as 2019 Women of Substance were Susan Boggio, Lesha Elsenbrook, Diane Gendel, Winell Herron, Sippi Khurana, Joanna Marks, Hannah McNair, Rachel Regan, Millette Sherman, Michelle Smith, Hallie Vanderhider and Beth Wolff. Leading the prestigious contingent was Joanne King Herring, who was recipient of the Lifetime of Substance Award.

PC Seen: Emcee Deborah Duncan of KHOU Channel 11, auctioneer Bill King, the Rev. Mary Gracely, Houston Texans chief Cal McNair, IW Marks Jeweler honcho Brad Marks, Trini Mendenhall, Samantha Kennedy, Maria Bush, Andrew Gardener, Bobbie Weinstein, Lisa Holthouse, Kristina Somerville, Farida Abjani, Jan Duncan, Gregg Harrison, Brittany Zucker, Charity Yarborough, and Lisa Simon.