Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1439511
I t's been a few years since I've at- tended the iconic Cattle Baron's Ball. But then again, it's been at least since 2019 for everyone. The sold-out evening at Gilley's Dallas welcomed a record 2,400 guests on a crisp night in late October. The first Cattle Baron's Ball was in 1974 and is the largest single-night fundraising event for cancer research in the world, raising more than $90 million for the American Cancer Society in North Texas. The Cattle Baron's com- mittee is a rite of passage for many local community leaders in the making, with 100 women serving passionately year- round to raise awareness of the annual event. The list of past members is a veritable who's who of Dallas' philan- thropic community. This year's chairs, veteran c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s D i a n a Hamilton and Heather Randall, were slated for 2020 when the ball was can- celed. They returned for 2021 with the theme "Double Down." And double down, they did, netting a whopping $3.6 million. Selfishly, it's one of my few opportu- nities during the year to wear cowboy boots. Some friends corrected me that mine are more riding boots than cow- boy, but all I cared was how chic they looked. Thank you, Cattle Baron's Ball. I would be hard-pressed to choose best dressed for the night since there were so many fabulous cowboys and cowgirls with sparkling jewels and shiny frocks. If I were to list a few of the standouts, they would be Talley Hodges, Olivia Kearney, Marjon Henderson, and Jess Bolander. The star cow- boy had to be main stage entertainer, Dierks Bentley. The award-winning country music superstar, who had been under quarantine three weeks earlier, played to a standing (and dancing) crowd. Others spotted in their den- im-and-diamonds best, bidding up the live auction to make a new record ($980,000): 2022 Ball Chairs Kris Johnson and Nancy Gopez, Luis Araujo, Jonika Nix, Chase Morton, Maggie Kipp, Scotti Sitz and John Davidson, Samantha Wortley, and Victoria Snee. And some exciting news to report: The Ball returns to Southfork Ranch for 2022! THE LEGENDARY — UNBRIDLED CATTLE BARON'S BALL By Billy Fong. Photography Tamytha Cameron. Joe Bob & Lisa Shirley Dean & Wanda Fearing Theresa & Brian Parkinson Greg & Kim Hunt Kevin Dahlberg Dennis & Laura Moon Former Cattle Baron's Ball chairmen Diana Hamilton, Main Stage Headliner Dierks Bentley Heather Russell Robbie & Skyler Baty Deborah Ferguson Marjon Henderson Samantha Wortley Olivia & Jeff Kearney 44