Houston Billionaire’s Galveston Mardi Gras Shows the Party Side of Tilman Fertitta That Few Ever See
Usher, Major Sports Stars, UH's Football Coach and Fertitta Family Royalty Come Together in One Wild Night
BY Shelby Hodge // 03.05.19Knights of Momus duchesses and queen Blayne Fertitta flank host Tilman Fertitta at The San Luis Salute to Mardi Gras in Galveston. (Gary Fountain photo)
The Midas touch of Houston Rockets owner and hospitality magnate Tilman Fertitta never fails to deliver a golden glow on all that he spearheads. Consider Saturday night’s dazzling San Luis Salute to Mardi Gras when 2,000 jolly revelers packed the Galveston Island Convention Center and rocked to the sounds of Usher.
It was a special “Mexico Magnifico” night for Fertitta, aka Mr. Galveston Mardi Gras. Not only was his daughter, Blayne Fertitta, Queen of Momus, but his father, Vic Fertitta, reigned as King of Momus. The entire Fertitta family — the queen’s mother, Paige; Blayne’s brothers Blake, Michael and Patrick; and the King’s wife, Joy — celebrated along with notables and a few surprise guests.
Two towering Houston Rockets, PJ Tucker and Gary Clark, and Rockets CEO Tad Brown joined the party as did the University of Houston’s newly-anointed football coach Dana Holgorsen. “We came here to support Tilman,” Brown said. Likewise, Holgorsen, who Tilman, as head of the UH board of regents, brought on board in January.
The smartphones lit up in a frenzy of photos as Jeffries chairman Rich Handler, Tilman and UH chancellor and president Renu Khator took it to the dance floor. San Luis Salute regulars will note that Tilman seldom exhibits such exuberance as he did on this night. But with his family in the spotlight, Tilman was one happy party animal.
Khator and her husband, Professor Suresh Khator, are Tilman’s frequent guests at the annual gala, regularly seated at the host’s VIP tables. Among those enjoying the lavish attention that VIP guests receive were Handler, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and wife Tanya, Joanie and Doug McLeod, Dancie and Jim Ware, Astronaut Scott Kelly and wife Amiko, radio host Michael Berry and wife Nandita, and State Senator John Whitmire.
As has been tradition throughout the 23 years of rocking parties, the San Luis Salute continued its support of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston by honoring prominent neurosurgeon Dr. Joel Patterson, division chief and program director of Neurosurgery in the Department of Surgery.
Elizabeth Anthony
Another honored tradition of this gala is the extravagance of entertainment and decor executed by Richard Flowers and The Events Company, part of the Landry’s Inc. empire of which Tilman is CEO. Día de los Muertos and Mexican Fiesta motifs filled the vast ballroom where giant Mexican puppets sashayed through the throng and models costumed as Día de los Muertos skeletons frolicked and where tables were dressed in colorful pottery with even more colorful florals.
PC Seen: In addition to the 23 Knights of Momus duchesses and their escorts, CNBC’s Brian Sullivan and wife Brenda, Doe and Henry Florsheim, Ellie and Michael Franscisco, Doe and Henry Florsheim, Alanna Flores, State Representative Carol Alvarado, Joshua Espinedo, Rose Cullen, Katie Earthman Cullen, Kathy and Jody McCord, Frances Moody and Tony Buzbee, Matt and Chesney Goodson, Kathryn and Jeff Smith, Congressman Randy Webber and wife Brenda, State Senator Larry Taylor and wife Kerri.
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