PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 28, 2008—FIRST EVER ALUMNI AWARD
Gayle Lucas Semtner, First Distinguished Alumni Award winner for Christ the King Catholic School (Photo provided)
The Distinguished Alumni Award for Christ the King Catholic School was given to Gayle Lucas Semtner January 27 . She was honored at a reception in the Church Atrium.
She is the former Director of Religious Education at Christ the King Catholic Church and has served on various community boards including Arts Council of Oklahoma, Leadership Oklahoma City, YWCA, St. Anthony Foundation, Omniplex and Junior League of Oklahoma City. She was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Father Rick Stansberry presented the award and gave her a Waterford crystal cross.
PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 26, 2008—MERRITT HONORED
ROSY ENDING…For 13 years, Suzy Merritt has been in charge of the McGuinness High School Hospitality room for the annual McGuinness Classic basketball tournament.
This year, she is retiring from that chairmanship and in appreciation for her efforts, High School Principal David Morton and Athletic Director Gary Savely presented her with a dozen red roses at the halftime of the McGuinness-Edmond Santa Fe game.
She has decorated the hospitality room and has provided, with the help of local restaurants, lunch and dinner for high school and college coaches, media members, administrators during the three-day tournament. Suzy’s and Paul Merritt’s son (they have five ) will graduate from high school this year, thus her retirement.
All of the Merritt sons have played basketball.
PARTY TO REMEMBER…The evening was elegant, the music sounded great, the flowers were lovely, the food was very tasty and all in all, Lil Ross’ birthday was perfect.
Her husband Bill Ross was the host and 170 guests gathered for the celebration at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
Always gracious, the Rosses greeted everyone, along with their children and grandchildren, Heather, Bob and Lilly Ross, Molly and John Fritch, Becky, Alan, Caroline and William Roten.
Molly Fritch, Bill and Lil Ross, Becky Roten and Bob Ross were at the birthday party for Lil Ross. Molly and Bob also celebrated their birthdays. (Photo by David Faytinger).
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GIRL’S NIGHT OUT…Friends and family members gathered for a “Gifts and a Girl’s Night Out” party honoring bride-to- be Marjorie Howard. Tallie TriskaBrenna Wells and gave the party, in the home of Beth and Ed Wells.Assisting were Beth Wells and Janie Carter.
Marjorie Howard and Steven Wetwiska will be married in March.
Taylor Donnell, Emily Venk, Marjorie Howard, Annie Portman were at the party in Howard’s honor. Hostesses were Tallie Triska and Brenna Wells . Assisting were Beth Wells and Janie Carter in the Wells home. (Photo by David Faytinger).
CELEBRATING 60…Friends who celebrate birthdays within several days of each other got together for their 60th birthdays. They planned a Senior Prom and the honorees and spouses and guests wore vintage dresses and white sports coats.
Hosts were Bob Stafford, Diana Lee, Madelynn Bartley and Gary Bartley.
The party was at the River Oaks Golf Club and the tables were decorated with black cloths and crystal vases filled with pink roses. Chris Cox provided 1960 and 1970’s music for dancing.
Guests included Lezley and Steve Lynch, Malisa and Steven Scoufos, Traci and Eric Young, Amanda and Michael Kascsak, Lois and John Street and Gloria and Harold Hedges.
The group of four also celebrated their 40th and 50th birthdays with each other.
Bob Stafford, Diana Lee, Madelynn Bartley and Gary Bartley celebrated their 60th birthdays. (Photo by David Faytinger).
FAREWELL..A farewell luncheon was given by staff members at Café de Brazil to honor Dr. Booseh Jafari who moved to Seattle where her husband, Dr. Mehrdad Jafari, is an oncologist at the University of Washington.
Dr. Booseh Jafari was a member of the Fixed Prosthodontics Department at the College of Dentistry.
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PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 21, 2008—LIL CELEBRATES
Happy Birthday, Lil
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Joan Gilmore and DeDe Benham wish Lil Ross, right, Happy Birthday at her party. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace.)
A cocktail buffet at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club honored Lil Ross on her 70th birthday. Husband Bill Ross was the host. Three birthday cakes were set up in the Ballroom, along with lots of other foods.
Molly Fritch and Bob Ross, two of the three children of the Rosses, also celebrate January birthdays, so the cakes were favorites of Molly (chocolate) Bob (his mom’s bundt cake) and Lil (several layers…one of chocolate, Italian cream and carrot.)
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PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 20, 2008—NANCY MILLER VISITS
(Photo provided by Catherine Langford)
Nancy Will, Father Rick Stansberry and Nancy Miller were at Christ the King Church recently. Miller is writer, creator and director of Saving Grace, a new television series on TNT (Channel 31), starring Holly Hunter.
Miller was born, raised and educated in Oklahoma and was in Oklahoma City visiting her sisters.
PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 14, 2008—FIESTA BOWL WRAP UP
AT THE FIESTA BOWL…Judi Freyer, Jimmie Lynn Austin, Billye Austin and Gay and Ed Kirby were at the pre-game festivities at the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona. The University of Oklahoma played West Virginia.
This group attended the Alumni Association/Sooner Club Boomer Bash.
AT THE FIESTA BOWL…Tripp Hall, Greg Pruitt, Lynda Thompson, Joe Washington, Carol Burr and Max Weitzenhoffer were at the Boomer Bash at the Westin Kierland Resort Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Others at the OU Fiesta Bowl pre-game party included Stacey Barry, Judy and Becca Bodenhamer, Carrie and Barry Feuerborn, Ruthie and Robert Klabzuba, Sherry and Roger Teigen, Bette and Jim MacKellar, Barbara and John Schaefer, Stan and Nick Baker, Marolyn and Doug Sauls, Kerri and Brooks Hull and Patti and Tom Landers.
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Parties Extra! Podcast— Chris Purcell, OU Board of Regents Executive Secretary
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PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 13, 2008—JANUARY AND DECEMBER EVENTS’ WRAP-UP
GATHERING AGAIN….Patty and Len Casteel celebrated January 6th with their annual Epiphany Party in their home. Their invitation stated in part: “So we gather again… As we have in the past… To celebrate good health …And friendships with all of the cast.
The Casteels took down their Christmas tree and holiday decorations and put up their 100- plus sets of Wise Men which they have collected through the years.
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BUBBLY NEW YEAR…Champagne toasts were given and a breakfast buffet was served at midnight following the 23rd annual Gentlemen’s New Year’s Eve party at Quail Creek Golf and Country Club.
Don Howland and James Kincaid were chairmen of the event and Don Miller, Mike Baldwin, Bill Bernhardt, David Goss, Gary Gray, Earle Haggard, Bill Henson, Berry Johnson, Dr. Norman Levine and Ted Wernick assisted them.
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PARTY HOPPING…Darlene Wynne was hostess for all who attended the Gentlemen’s New Year’s Eve party for a January 1st brunch. Guests enjoyed Bloody Marys and Mimosas. They also had some black-eyed peas and cornbread.
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LADIES ONLY…Mi-Ling Stone Poole was hostess for a Christmas brunch in her home. Chef Karl Greene cooked the foods which included grilled salmon, French toast, omelets and bananas foster.
Guests who were asked to wear red brought gifts for teenage children at The Hope Center in Edmond.
The house was decorated with seven Christmas trees with various themes. The kitchen tree had antique cookies cutters and a collection of grapes and Santas.
Party-goers gather for a picture at Mi-Ling Stone Poole’s holiday event. (Photo provided)
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FIRST EVER…Dr. Abbey Onan was hostess for the first Christmas brunch for the Fixed Prosthodontics Department of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry.
Guests enjoyed homemade breads, breakfast casseroles, fruit and mimosas. Among the partygoers were professors and prosthodontists and the host’s family members.
Donna, Dr. Abbey and Virgil Onan celebrate the season. (Photo provided).
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FORUM AT OU…University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren was the very articulate moderator for a forum of experts in the political arena. The group of men and women came to Norman to discuss the restoration of bipartisanship in politics and to make a statement to all national presidential candidates.
They were Dr. David Abshire, Michael Bloomberg, Bill Brock, Bill Cohen, Jack Danforth,Susan Eisenhower, Bob Graham, Chuck Hagel, Gary Hart, Angus King, Jim Leach, Sam Nunn, Edward Perkins, Chuck Robb, Mark White and Christine Todd Whitman. There were seven republicans, three independents, and seven democrats.
Each of the panel members spoke and answered various question from media members in the audience and each man and woman gave statesmanlike answers.
Boren ended the forum with this statement: “We close this meeting with an appeal to all American citizens and to the media. Help us put the questions we have raised directly to the candidates. We cannot do it my ourselves.
“ You must ask the candidates if they plan to create a bipartisan cabinet and administration. We must ask the candidates to present a strategy for a united consensus.
“We must ask the candidates for their strategies to build a more positive relationship with the rest of the world. We leave as we came: filled with hope for our future and with determination to keep this country great.”
Panel members convene at the University of Oklahoma ‘s special forum in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace.)
PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 5, 2008—THE KING’S PARTY
Dr. John and Sharon Bozalis greet their guests Candy and Tom Dulaney at the Oklahoma Museum of Art where the Sharon and John were hosts for the Beaux Arts Ball King’s party . (Photo by David Faytinger).
KING JOHN…Beaux Arts Ball King Dr. John Bozalis and his lovely wife, Sharon, entertained family members, friends, Beaux Arts Ball committee members and debutantes and escorts at a party December 30.
The party was at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The Beaux Arts Ball benefits the acquisition fund of the OCMA.
Guests arrived downtown and greeting them at the front door were Paris cancan dancers. Each female guest received a black and white feather boa in keeping with the Paris exhibition at the Museum.
As they walked in the front door, guests were also treated to a showing of the video of the history of the Beaux Arts Ball from 1946-2007. Guests took home a DVD copy of the video as a party favor.
Sharon Bozalis looked very royal and queenly in a purple silk outfit.
Food tables were set up all over the first floor of the Museum and included such delicacies as French Fries in a paper cup, French crepes filled with meats and seafood, pates, cheeses, truffles and all things French. Black and white vases with bouquets of red carnations and white feathers decorated the tables.
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Hostesses Leslie Blair, Samonia Meredith and Mary Ellen Meredith are decked out in pirate’s attire for their holiday party. (Photo by David Faytinger).
AHOY MATEYS…Mary Ellen Meredith, America Meredith, Stephen MacMurray, Leslie Blair and Samonia Lee Meredith were hosts for their 5th annual Pirate Holiday Open House.
It was in the home of Mary Ellen Meredith and decorations, along with Christmas ones, included parrots, palm trees and pirate flags. Pirate costumes were not required, but were encouraged.
Entertainment was the pirate band Rum Fellows, Norman, and Troy Scott, Oklahoma City, with his balloon animals and magic.
On the menu were sushi, beef and chicken on skewers and desserts provided by Sharilyn Young.
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Pam Smith, Ann Felton and Jan Leu celebrate at the “No Bridesmaid’s” luncheon for Felton who married Bob Gilliland in December. (Photo by David Faytinger).
HONORING ANN….Pam Smith and Jan Leu were hostesses for a “No Bridesmaids’ Luncheon” for Ann Felton who married Bob Gilliland on December 29.
The party was at Pearl’s Restaurant on Classen Blvd. Red roses decorated the tables along with wooden trees set around the room.
Guests included Cheryl Browne, Ann Alspaugh, Judy Mee, Connie Givens, Jeaneen Naifeh, Christina Felton, Chris Mead, Kanela Huff, Judy Lehmbeck, Carol Troy, Andrea Henthorn, Donna Vogel and Alecia George.
The couple was married at All Souls Episcopal Church chapel and a reception was held in the bride’s home in Nichols Hills.
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Jennifer Kalil, Emily Kelly and Mary Alexander were at the baby shower for Kelly. (Photo by David Faytinger).
IT’S A GIRL…. Emily Huffman Kelly was the honoree at a baby shower given by Sally Bentley, Laurie Hyde and Meridith Cassidy in the Bentley home.
It was a salad luncheon and dessert was petit fours iced with a pink baby carriage. Ivy topiaries with pink silk ribbons and sterling silver rattles decorated the table.
Emily and Paul Kelly who live in Boston, Mass., are expecting a baby girl in March.
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PARTIES EXTRA!—JANUARY 4, 2008—ANN FELTON AND BOB GILLILAND’S WEDDING RECEPTION
Ann and Bob Gilliland at their wedding reception. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace.)
Ann Felton and Bob Gilliland were married on December 29th at All Souls Episcopal Church with family members attending. The couple entertained at a reception in her Nichols Hills home following the ceremony. Flower arrangements were everywhere throughout the house and the dining room was filled with party foods. A three-tiered fondant wedding cake was covered with fresh flowers.
Ann wore a beautiful ivory silk suit with a quilted collar.
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