Rumor Has It - October 2022

Joy! They didn’t have to scratch the earth’s surface too long for love. Travis Cole Swanson and Sarah Elizabeth Gubbels met after graduating from Texas A&M as petroleum engineers when their careers path merged. At the Houston Zoo Lights event, Travis proposed in front of the lit-up JOY sign during a photo opp. They tied the knot July 16 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church with a reception at The Gallery, themed Whimsical Woods. Guests were in awe at the huge kissing ice swans centerpiece and were delighted when a smoke machine created special effects during the first dance. Donations to the couples’ favorite charities, Smile Train and The Water Project, were requested in lieu of gifts. Parents of the couple Jeffery and Michelle Gubbels, Beth and James Slaughter, and Robert and Melissa Swanson took part in the sparkler exit that ended the night but was just the start of a bright future.

PAYING TRIBUTE Officer O.G. Miller was honored for his 19 years at Memorial Villages Police Department and seven years at SBISD. Pictured, from left: Lane Owens, Monica Velasquez, Chief Ray Schultz, Adam Pavlock, honoree O.G. Miller, Juan Valdez, Brooke Hamilton, Eric Jones, Andy Miller, and Keith Kelso

Retired but not tired. Chief Ray Schultz gave homage at the Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church to Officer Oscar “O.G.” Miller for his 19 years at Memorial Villages Police Department and seven years at SBISD. O.G. was a friend and mentor to many and will begin a new chapter that includes a bar-b-que pit. He taught thousands of children the D.A.R.E. program and interacted with many youth groups. He was awarded two plaques and funny gifts and attendees enjoyed lunch and a giant cake. Offering words of praise were Senior Pastor Alf Halvorson, Carter Bliss, Commissioner Brooke Hamilton, Susan Schwartz, Officer Andy Miller, Gary Brye, and resident Tehmina Masud. The standing ovation included Nicolette Stewart, Laurie and Bert Rosenbaum, Carl Moerer, Jack Dillihunt, Valerie Cantu, Susan Grass, Kimberly Aguirre, and Jose Gomez.

FAMILY REUNION Together for a family reunion and celebration of life in Carbondale, Colo. are Daniel Mata, Tarryn Lankford, Meredith Mata, Connor Lankford, Lilleyh Lankford, James Lankford, Ashleigh Lankford, Cooper, Lankford, Colby Lankford, Adeline Lankford, Ryan Lankford, Val Hunt Lankford, and Brendon Lankford.

Celebration of life. Former Bunker Hill residents, James Richard Hunt (94) and wife of 70 years, Shirley Mae Hunt (93) enjoyed their twilight years in Carbondale, Colo. They died six months apart, but they brought the family together. A celebration of life took place this summer with family members, Valerie Hunt Lankford, Ryan and Tarryn Lankford, Brendon and Ashleigh Lankford, Meredith and Daniel Mata, and Susan Hunt Atkinson. The crowd of 50 reminisced about the elder Hunts’ lives with a church ceremony before several hiked up the mountain behind their house to spread their ashes.

TOUR DE FRANCE Frances (Chae) and her competitive bike-riding husband Nielson Powless break away from the crowd.

Bike on. Lou Ann and Alex Chae cheered with their daughter Frances (Chae) Powless as Frances’ husband, Neilson Powless, rode in the Tour de France as a professional for the EF Education–EasyPost team. He placed 13th overall and was the highest placing American in the race. The couple met in his hometown, Sacramento, Calif., where Frances danced for the Sacramento Ballet. Currently she takes choreography jobs worldwide. Lou Ann and Alex joined them in San Sebastian, Spain to watch Neilson race and then onto Nice, France where Neilson and Frances live. A very nice vacation indeed.

TOASTING MICKEY Mickey Mills smiles as his wife Cynthia toasts him on his 80th

Sip, sip hooray. It was just a little last-minute celebration for Mickey Mills’ 80th. His wife Cynthia had exquisite silver and white balloon art at the front door. Piano player Adam Stout played Mickey’s fave tunes. Exotic delights were served with drinks and champagne at the afternoon soiree. The white designer cake was a showstopper as was the photo wall with a mylar background and bling. Cynthia toasted Mickey, surrounded by loved ones and three dogs, Baron, Minka, and Sloan and off they went to Tony’s.

ADVENTURING ABROAD Catherine Henry admires Queen “Lizzie” in London on her way to South Africa.

International adventures. After growing up in Memorial and living in the Heights, Catherine Henry bought a townhouse in the Galleria area. Barely settled in, she went to London, UK with friends Josh and Elisa Briggs and Reyna Hernandez and later to South Africa with the Texas A&M Professional MBA class of 2023 as an international business trip. High Tea at Fortnum & Mason in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon was a British highlight. In South Africa, despite the cultural shock drive through shanty town, she found the local BBQ (called braai) worthy to try and biltong jerky the best ever. She advises: “Stay hyperaware but savor the trip and the jerky.”

A TRIBUTE IN THE TRIBUTE ROOM (Pictured, from left) Shehla Rana, Amy Ditta, Sharon Brier, Joan Lebow, Erica Rose Sanders, Kelly Anzilotti, and Deborah Douglas Laws surround Cindi Rose (sitting at her tiara-themed birthday party.

Pretty in pink. “Chanel” your inner princess and wear a tiara and pink. The only one in blue was the gal of honor for her birthday. Cindi Rose’s blue dress matched her blue tiara and banner that said Miss Elite Texas, although her shoes and purse were pink. A few friends that met at TRIBUTE at The Houstonian for lunch as a tribute to Cindi were Ms. Texas Universal Global Shehla Haseeb Rana, Kelly Anzilotti, Joan Lebow, and Erica Rose Sanders, all tricked out in pink of course.

HILL COUNTRY WEDDING Grayson Williams kisses his bride Brittany Ditta Williams. The two tied the knot in the gardens at Texas Old Town. (Photo: JMG Photography)

A boho vibe. On their 10th anniversary of dating, Grayson Williams and Brittany Ditta – who met on the Pearland High School Golf Team – took a trip to the middle of nowhere (Panther Creek Falls in Washington State). A phone was set up to video the waterfalls and Grayson snuck in a surprise i-proposal. The wedding, July 9, 2022, was in the gardens at Texas Old Town, a venue in Kyle, TX. Savory fajitas and margaritas were served indoors. Brittany’s mom Amy Ditta and Dimitri Rakopoulos were some of the first to join the two-step as the couple swung around the room. The wedded couple left two days later for Costa Rica.

ADVENTURING Rhonda and Bill Glick walked on glaciers in Alaska and Iceland.

They started in Alaska. Rhonda and Bill Glick like adventure but Rhonda admits she’s a wimp. When she had to walk on glaciers and ice in Iceland, she was terrified. Kayaking in the waters did not scare her as much; the seals and puffins were so close she was charmed. She describes Iceland like another planet with volcanic ash and bubbly waters. They used a guidebook to drive through very desolate parts in Iceland and were given a Wi-Fi hotspot for the car so their GPS and phones would work. The highest speed limit is 55 miles per hour.

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