Texas Air Pioneers Get Their Hall of Fame Due at This Sky High Gala

What: Lone Star Flight Museum “Flights of Fancy” gala.

Where: Lone Star Flight Museum at Ellington Field

PC Moment:  The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame grew by five members on this evening with induction ceremonies conducted by Texas Historical Commission chairman John Nau and commission member Daisy White. Receiving the honors were 104-year-old Azellia White, Texas’ first African-American female aviator; Braniff Airlines founders Paul and Thomas Braniff; astronaut Jim Lovell; Congressman and Air Force war hero Sam Johnson; and the late Air Force Brigadier General Noel Parrish.

The evening played out in the museum’s vast Heritage Hall where City Kitchen served dinner and The Grooves provided music. But before guests took their seats, aerialists amazed as they dropped from 53-foot silk ropes and performed on high.

Overseeing the event that raised $700,000 in support of the museum’s mission to preserve, educate and inspire aviators young and old alike were gala chairs Diane and Steve Biegel and Lisa and Russell Sherrill.

Who: Retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Joanne King Herring, Kelli and Eddy Blanton, Alice and Keith Mosing, Sara and Mark Bettencourt, Teresa and Doug Owens, Emily and Bud Arnot, Cabrina and Steven Owsley, Stephanie and Rod Paige, Flora and Brian Antweil, Lisa and Jerry Simon, Suzanne and Laurance Armour and Annette and George Strake.