Private ‘Cotton Ball’ Bash Celebrates Company’s Milestone in Lavish Style

Jenny Antill
Private ‘Cotton Ball’ Bash Celebrates Company’s Milestone in Lavish Style

Franco Valobra, Kristen Cannon, Faith and Lee Majors

A PRIVATE COMPANY eager to celebrate its 25th anniversary right spared no expense at a lavish quarter-century bash at the Post Oak Hotel last week.


Cotton Holdings — an infrastructure support services outfit that cleans up all measure of damage from storms, other national disasters, terrorist attacks and more — welcomed nearly 300 guests to its black-tie (and, in many cases, black cowboy hat) "Cotton Ball." Nodding to the cheeky world play, tables were set with voluminous all-white florals, and mirrored accents, amping up the glamour.

After a fabulous surf-and-turf dinner — during which Cotton execs such as co-founder Pete Bell made moving presentations about the company's history, and sent Patron shots out to the crowd for toasting — a sumptuous dessert buffet was offered up, as were concerts by country star Clay Walker and, in the later hours, the fun and quite accomplished '80s cover band The Spazmatics. The dance floors stayed packed!

A custom 25th anny logo was affixed to almost every available surface, from the mini-Champagne bottles given out as favors, to the French fry and pizza boxes that circulated as the party tilted into after hours.

Spotted in the crowd were Cotton honchos Randall Thompson, Bryan Michalsky, Chris Sneck, James Scaife, Johnny Slaughter and Russell White. Former Navy SEAL and Lone Start Survivor Foundation founder Marcus Luttrell was also on hand, as was Six Million Dollar Man star Lee Majors with wife Faith, and Franco Valobra of Valobra Master Jewelers.

Andrew Cordes and Brian Teichman

Nicki Keenan, Pete Bell, Heather Mountain & Tilman Fertitta

Bailey Bell, Hunter Bell

Chris and Margaret Sneck

Claudia and Brad Freels

Jenny and Rick Bailey

Jeremy and Britney Mahugh

Katy Ellis, Zinat Ahmed, Molly McMurtry

Kim and Patrick Glass

Tracey and Rick Rice

Clay Walker at Cotton Ball

Parties
Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

Keep Reading Show less

Late photographer Jhane Hoang (center) and some of her subjects, including fashion models and musicians

WHEN JHANE HOANG died late last month after a quiet, private battle with cancer, Houston lost one of its most talented and exacting photographers — and my colleagues at CityBook and I lost a beloved contributor and friend.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

John Bryan, Mary Jon Bryan, Billy Bob Thornton, J.P. Bryan

MORE THAN 500 guests gathered in Galveston for the Bryan Museum Gala, an evening that celebrated both the 10th anniversary of the museum and some of the most influential names in Texas oil and gas. Titled the Wildcatters Gala, the event honored Ernie H. Cockrell, Mary Ralph Lowe, Trevor Rees-Jones and the families of Eddy C. Scurlock and R.E. “Bob” Smith — all recognized for their legacy of leadership and philanthropy in the industry.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties