Mardi Gras
Please Join Us
at La Torretta Resort & Spa
February 11, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
WITH King, Jim Graves and MC, Anthony Yanez, Morning Meteorologist, KPRC Local 2
Directions:
1. Click on the following link to print your registration page, you can fill it out and mail it to
Montgomery County Performing Arts Society
PO Box 1714
Conroe, TX 77305
or Fax it to:
936-760-3169
or with a credit card call
936-760-2787
Mardi Gras Registration Form
2. Click on PayPal Button Below Tickets are $125 then print registration form above, follow mail or fax instructions.
3. To print an invitation click on the following link.
Mardi Gras Invitation
MEET OUR Queen Candidates in this Years 2012 Mardi Gras Court
You Get To Choose the New Queen
To Vote please call 936-760-ARTS (2787)
Votes are $10 each
2012 Mardi Gras King Jim Graves
Jim Graves, founder and CEO of GLNX Corporation of the Woodlands, has always been fascinated with trains – model trains, freight trains, passenger trains – and tank cars, so it’s no surprise that he has spent the last 55 years involved with the railroad industry. His Great Grandfather, James Matthew Graves, served in Bell’s Regiment in the War with Mexico and helped found the town of Melissa, where Jim Graves was born and raised. Mr. Graves was the oldest son in a farming family with eight children, and graduated from high school at only age 16. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he was employed by Magnolia Petroleum Co. in the Tank Car Department. He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he received a Certificate in transportation. After Magnolia Petroleum was merged with Mobil Oil in the late 1950s, he was transferred to Kansas City where he was in charge of the Mobil rail car operations. During his 12 years with Mobil Oil, he gained considerable experience in the management and operation of railroad tank cars. In 1964, Jim joined Celanese Corporation to manage Celtran, Inc. -- a start up transportation subsidiary. Jim was responsible for all aspects of fleet administration including: mileage accounting, ad valorem taxes, UMLER, fleet sizing analyses, routine maintenance, railroad running repairs, and handling of railroad claims.
For 15 years, Jim was a member of the transportation equipment committee of the Manufacturer's Chemists Association, served on the Tank Car Committee task forces of the American Association of Railroads, and was actively involved with the development of federal regulations governing the transportation of hazardous materials. While employed by Celanese, he developed the 35,000 gallon aluminum tank car with six axles and 394,000 lbs on the rails which provided Celanese the ability to greatly reduce their transportation costs of acetic acid. He travelled to derailments in the U.S., Canada and Mexico as part of a team investigating the causes of tank car derailments and searching for ways to increase the safety of railcars. For many years, industry insiders called him “Mr. Tank Car”.
Based on his expertise in the transportation and chemical industries, Mr. Graves formed a new company, GLNX Corporation, to manage rail cars for private individuals who wished to invest in the ownership of rail tank cars. Currently, GLNX is one of a small number of corporations in the U.S. operating a privately-owned fleet of tank cars for private investors and providing out-sourcing services. Jim is still actively involved in the operation of the company as CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Jim is married to his beautiful wife Angela Myers Graves. For many years, Angela owned the Angela Myers Academy of Dance, a dance studio in Conroe. She is still active in the performing arts. They live on Lake Conroe near Walden in a lovely Mediterranean style home they call “Villa Graves”.
Master of Ceremonies Anthony Yanez, Morning Meteorologist, KPRC Local 2
Anthony Yanez's first day at KPRC will be remembered for more than just a new job. The date was July 15, 2003, and Hurricane Claudette was blasting everywhere -- from Galveston to Palacios. He realized he wasn't in Albuquerque, N.M. anymore. Gone were the days of forecasting mild, warm weather and endless sunshine. Welcome to Houston, a city of four million, where a forecaster has to deal with oppressive heat, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
The work hours may seem odd, but Anthony loves his job. As the weekday morning meteorologist, Anthony wakes up at 2:30 a.m. He is into work at 3 a.m., and starting at 4:30 a.m. he's giving an hour-by-hour forecast to help you plan your day.
If you ask him what the best part of his job is he'll tell you having the opportunity to tell stories, weather stories. There is never a dull forecast in Houston. And when the weather takes a turn for the worst, Anthony will keep you and your family safe by showing what is next in any severe weather situation.
Anthony holds the American Meteorological Society seal of approval for television weathercasting, as well as the National Weather Association seal, given to broadcast meteorologists who have shown competency and on-air performance skills that are above standard.
He is the former president of the Houston AMS chapter. Anyone interested in Houston's weather is welcome to attend any of its meetings.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, N.M., Anthony is a University of New Mexico graduate. He earned his broadcast meteorology certificate from Mississippi State University.
Anthony has done it all in the news business: photography, editing, reporting, anchoring and even sports, but he found his true passion in weather.
Believe it or not Anthony loves Houston humidity. Sometimes after work he and morning anchor Owen Conflenti play golf. While Owen claims to beat him, he's amazed how some of his bogeys sure did seem like an 8 or 9!
He is an avid skier and in the winter his favorite spots to visit are Taos, Purgatory, and Vail. And, is also a certified open water SCUBA diver.
Anthony is married with four children.
Mardi Gras Court 2011
King: John Wiesner
Queen: Kathy Sanders - New Danville
Princess, Margaret Harrison - Crighton Theatre Foundation
Grand Duchess, Doris Golemon - Montgomery County Food Bank
Adrienne Cadik - Montgomery County Democratic Party
Joyce Cooke - Lake Conroe Area Republican Women
Lorraine Counts - SPCA PETS SNAP of Montgomery County
Barbara Ellis - April Sound Ladies Association
Marion Franke - Children’s Safe Harbor
Jill Harris - Bentwater Ladies Organization
Marge Hayward - Assistance League of Montgomery County
Terri Jaggers - Sam Houston State University – Pay it forward
Garlaine Kelly - Rotary Club of Lake Conroe
Judy Larson - American Heart Association / Rotary Club of The Woodlands
Christa Mills - Access Builds Children (ABC)
BJ Ordner - Conroe Symphony League
Susie Pokorski - Montgomery County Performing Arts Society
Renée Powell - Conroe Service League
Sandy Riney - Montgomery County Cancer Association
Mimi Sadler - The Salvation Army
Amy Sowers - Stage Right
Pat Spackey - Daughters of the Republic of Texas/Daughters of the American Revolution
AND THE WINNERS ARE...
ALL Hail Queen Kathy Sanders
New Danville
Kathy Sanders has been a resident of Montgomery County since 1994. She volunteers on an average of 60 hours a week to provide the vision, leadership, and day-to-day management of two non-profit organizations that she founded to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities:
Texas New Community Alliance dba New Danville was founded in March 2005, and is a 42-acre master-planned community for adults with mild intellectual and developmental disabilities and low-income senior citizens. New Danville offers a wide variety of programs which include adult education and training, social and life enrichment activities, employment services, and with a $1 million award from Montgomery County Community Development, constructed low-income residential housing. Her next goal is to raise the necessary capital to build 'Down Town' New Danville which includes a tea room, movie theater, grocery store, hair and nail salon, gift shop, clinic and other amenities.
Lone Star HCS was founded in October 2004, and is certified by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services as a Home and Community-Based Service provider. Lone Star HCS is the sister company to New Danville, and provides case management, nursing, residential support services, day habilitation, counseling and therapies, dental, and adaptive aids.
Kathy was recently honored with two Community Service Awards for her volunteer work with New Danville. The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored her in San Antonio at the 110th Texas State Convention, and San Jacinto Masonic Lodge #106 honored Kathy for her dedication and service to her community.
Kathy is a member of the Coushatti Trace Chapter, Willis, TX, of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition to her patriotic service, Kathy has volunteered and provided leadership for many local charities and other non-profit organizations including:
American Heart Association - Members of the Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Underwriting Committee; 2001 Heart Ball Chair, 2005 Heart Ball Honoree\
American Cancer Society - Chair, Cattle Baron’s Ball Underwriting Committee
South County/Woodlands Chamber of Commerce - Women Owned Business Roundtable coach, Members of Business Expo Committee and Taste of the Town
Humane Society of Montgomery County - President/Treasurer, Board of Directors; initiated discussions with City of Conroe for replacement animal shelter
Interfaith of The Woodlands - Member, Caregivers Conference Committee
Keep Montgomery County Beautiful - Founder/Treasurer, Board of Directors
Montgomery County United Way - Member, Board of Directors; Chair, Marketing Committee; Members of Community Impact Committee and Fund Distribution Committee
Southwest Montgomery County Improvement District - Appointed by Montgomery County Commission’s Court as member of Board of Directors
Leadership Montgomery County - Class of 2000; Charter Member Alumni Association; Guest Speaker for annual Healthcare Session
Kathy and her husband Steve have two sons, Jimmy and Ryan. Jimmy is a special-needs adult who attends day programs and lives at New Danville. Ryan is a Captain in United States Air Force, and has been deployed three times to Iraq. Ryan and his wife Lauren have a two-year old daughter, Avery.
Princess Margaret Harrison
Crighton Theatre Foundation
Margaret is married to William and has 2 kids. She is secretary for Giesinger Elementary PTO runs activities, including fundraisers, carnivals & capital improvements. She is a board member & Treasurer for Access Builds Children (ABC). Member of Conroe Service League where she was in charge of renovating The Bargain Box and the CSL retail shop. She is the YMCA Basketball & Volleyball Coach & Captain of the Cindy's Angels (Race for the Cure).
And an especially warm congratulations to Jackie Barker our Lifetime Achievement/ARTS Award recipient.
Photo Coming SOON
Congratulations Ladies!!!
Montgomery County Performing Arts Society
3rd Annual Mardi Gras Ball!
February 26, 2011
La Toretta Lake Resort and Spa
6:00 PM until Midnight...
click here to learn more about LA TORETTA LAKE RESORT AND SPA
PRESS RELEASE: Media Contact: 
T.W. “Spider Mohle 936-760-2787
Email: mcpas@consolidated.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
John Wiesner, Named MCPAS 2011 Mardi Gras King
Montgomery County, TX – October 20, 2010 – The Montgomery County Performing Arts Society’s Executive Director, Carrie Chastellaine announced that John Wiesner will be crowned this year’s King of the Mardi Gras Ball. A native Texan, John Wiesner was born in Richmond, Texas and raised in Hempstead, Texas where he graduated high school with eleven class mates. He went on to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he graduated with a BBA in Marketing. He married his high school sweetheart Elizabeth Sorsby. They raised three sons and are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
After college John entered the automobile business and in 1972 purchased the Buick Pontiac GMC franchise in Conroe. At one time there were five dealerships bearing the Wiesner name, two in Rosenberg that were sold in 2004 and the Tomball dealership that was sold in 2007. John stills owns the Huntsville dealership that was started in 1993 and the Conroe store with the GM and Hyundai lines. At one point over 500 hundred people were employed by Wiesner and now with three locations there are still over 200 employees.
John has been committed to his community having served as Chairman of both Conroe as well as the Woodlands Chambers. He feels his greatest accomplishment was helping to establish the Lone Star College system in the Conroe and The Woodlands area. Other accomplishments are serving as a former bank director, Chairman of the Montgomery County Appraisal District, Conroe Regional Medical Center, Director of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association, Vice President of
He is a big supporter of the United Way, YMCA, and Montgomery County Fair Association. He received the Sam Walton Leader Award, Rotary Clubs’ Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Conroe Man of the Year Award and Texas Automobile Key Award as Outstanding Director. John Wiesner has made community involvement his goal and he wants to see things get accomplished.
Queen’s Court is being nominated from various civic organizations, so please get your court nomination in as soon as possible. The fundraising “event of the year” will be held at the La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa on Saturday, February 26, 2011. There will be loads of beads, masks, a parade, dancing, live and silent auctions, authentic New Orleans dinner and merriment. For more information on our 2011 Mardi Gras Ball, or on any of our upcoming performances please call 936-760-ARTS (2787) or check us out on our website WWW.MCPAS.ORG.
About the Society:
Celebrating its 32ND Anniversary, since inception, MCPAS has sponsored more than 320 performances of live music, dance and theater events and has sought to provide a variety of learning experiences for adults and children through master classes, lectures and special student performances. The organization also works to build relationships between the performing arts and other interests within Montgomery County. “MCPAS brings great moments in your life by bringing you great moments in Performing Arts.”
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Mardi Gras Court 2009
Seated: Crowned 2009 Mardi Gras King Judge Alan "Barb" Sadler and Queen Millie Scott
From left to right: Nora Winter, Marjorie Hayes, Carol Gooch, Janet Councill, Janice Green, Beatrice Rouse, and Bonnie Wilkerson
Not shown in Photo: Francine Hope and Ann Marie Ricci
2009 Mardi Gras Court:
Janet Councill - Conroe Service League
Carol Gooch - Montgomery County Assn. of Business Women
Janice Green - The Conroe Symphony
Marjorie Hayes - Montgomery County Republican Women's Club
Francine Hope - Lake Conroe Area Republican Women (LCARW)
Ann Marie Ricci - Montgomery County Choral Society
Beatrice Rouse - Montgomery County Democratic Party
Millie Scott - Montgomery County Performing Arts Society (MCPAS)
Bonnie Wilkerson - Assistance League of Montgomery County
Nora Winter - The Crighton Foundation
The Mardi Gras celebration first arrived in North America with the LeMoyne brothers, Iberville and Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent them to defend France's claim on the territory of Louisiana on March 3, 1699. They made camp just south of New Orleans, named the spot Point du Mardi Gras and engaged in a spontaneous party that is often referred to as North America's first Mardi Gras. Today this tradition continues to be one of the most fun, colorful, and festive celebrations; and a wonderful way to raise money for the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society.
Mark your calendars now because you and your friends most surely will want to attend Montgomery County's Fundraising Event of the Year! at Del Lago's newly remodeled resort. Please come back often and visit our website to find out all of the exciting details that our Planning Committee members are working on. Volunteers are needed, so call our office if you want to join in the fun!
