The Foundation for Historical Louisiana took the decade of the 1940s as its gala fundraiser theme this year and again filled the Old Governor’s Mansion with history, heritage, and hundreds of preservation party-goers. Special guests in attendance included Mayor Kip Holden, Dick Leche of Atlanta and Charles Leche of Mandeville, the two sons of Governor and Mrs. Richard Leche, one of the nine first families who resided in the now National Register of Historic Places building. The reigning Miss Louisiana USA Elizabeth McNulty was the draw for an old fashioned “kissing” booth collecting e-mail addresses for the Foundation’s historic preservation e-alerts.
Board members Lenore Feeney, FHL Chair, (in a perfect war years’ ensemble
complete with hat and gloves) along with husband Randy Walsh (impeccably dressed
as a full service Esso gas station attendant) welcomed glamorously and military
attired attendees.
Leo and Jackie Honeycutt, Gala Chair Couple, and Carolyn Bennett, Executive
Director also greeted the over 400 who came through Louisiana’s White
House doors. Other FHL Board members serving as hosts were Sandra Stokes, Darryl
Gissel, Leslie Ayres, Jack Thompson, Michele Deshotels, Emily Wilbert, Ory
Poret, Melanie Hanley, Mary Tharp, Jill Rehn, John W. Wilbert, Jr., and Sylvia
Duke.
Foundation sponsors of the organization’s historic preservation mission announced on large blue banners were: the Community Fund for the Arts, Entergy, Union Pacific Foundation, Taylor Porter Attorneys at Law, Jones Walker, Sylvia and Gene Duke, Perkins McKenzie Insurance, Chenevert Architects, Louisiana Lottery, Robert M. Coleman Architects, AIA, LUBA Workers’ Comp, Southern Scrap Recycling, Oak Real Estate, Buquet & LeBlanc, Nathalie and Bob diBenedetto, Lenore Feeney and Randy Walsh, Kay Long, Ann and Charles Major, Jack Thompson, Emily and John Wilbert, and an anonymous donation in memory of Senator John Hainkel, Jr. In kind underwriters were: Franklin Press, Baton Rouge Coca Cola Bottling Company, Mockler Beverage Company, Stoli Vodka, Baton Rouge Beer Industry League, Country Roads, Blanchard;s Building Materials, Clear Channel Radio, and State Lumber and Supply Co., Inc.
A patriotic, “USO Dance” Red, White, and Blue decorating design filled the Mansion with bunting, red roses, and white lilies. Bette Stoelzing was Decorations Chair and personally created beautiful, massive arrangements for the landmark building. Shane Smith assisted with colored lighting effects in the Mansion portico and Rose Garden.
The garden stage (built by a team of FHL volunteers after a donated stage was stolen from storage) was the place to be for the music of Leif Pedersen and his 12 piece 1944 Big Band sound. Additional musical guests were the Pfister Sisters who serenaded in the foyer with ukuleles, upstairs in the solarium turned martini bar complements of Stoli Russian Vodka, and on the big stage. They were the Andrew Sisters reincarnated and Boogie Woogie bugle boy had the dance floor filled with jitter buggers and swing steppers. Beverly Cook and Randy Deselle, both dance instructors, judged the dance contest and awarded trophies to Peggy Davis and Charles Coates. Allen Tumey of WAFB’s Tumey’s Travels selected Phil Cangelosi and Jane Smith as the best costumed couple—an Army major and his flag-pins-adorned dutiful wife.
The well-know East Room Silent Auction (with over 120 items) chaired by Emily Wilbert and Sylvia Duke was again the hub for bidding and visiting with friends amid tables adorned with “libations and glorious rations.”
In charge of the planning and presentation of the marvelous food and splendid beverages (two ice sculpture luges for a flavor variety of Stoli martinis) were FHL staff members Claire Trahan and Allie Wester. Key caterers assisting FHL were Rhonda Altazin assisted by her husband, son, and daughter, of Courtlands Catering and Angela Musso and Brad Antie of Bayou Bistro.
Other featured restaurants, caterers, and suppliers were: Ambrosia Bakery, Juban’s, Just Desserts, Wild Olive, Socially Yours, Inc., Chef Don Bergeron, Heirloom Creations,
The historic rooms on the second floor of the Mansion were open and docents on hand to share stories and invite attendees to get involved in the historic preservation movement. Docents manning their Mansion posts were Martha Helen Connor Byrd (whose father served as treasurer during Huey P. Long’s tenure), Sue Ellen Graham, Amelia Gilmore, Michael Katchmer, Polly Williams, Marian Reilly, Ann Higginbotham, Zemina Davis, Linda Hargroder, Sharon Dupuy, Barbar Coreil, Bob Brumberger, Cleona Parisi.
Other volunteers and staff serving on the 2007 Gala Committee were Peggy Hunt,
Selena Grant, Adrien Broussard, Clif Murphy, B. J. Lorio, Peter Wells, Johnny
Palazotto, Angela deGravelles, Phil Cangelosi, Femi Euba, Fred Loy, June
Peay, Linda Dawkins, Mary Murphy,
