The barn-sized sign on a big truck parked outside the Dallas Country Club announced that “Barry and Alan” wished everyone happy holidays. That would be beer magnate Barry Andrews and banker Alan White, who hosted their annual “Gentlemen’s Lunch” for the area’s movers and shakers at noon today. Jump for the high-powered details.
The buffet spread was good, but the people-watching was better. In this corner: businessman and ex-mayoral hopeful Tom Dunning with his guest, former Texas Gov. Mark White. Over there, ex-Dallas Cowboys Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. Mega-car dealers Carl Sewell and Ken Schnitzer worked the room, as did Baylor Hospital bigwig Joel Allison, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk and ex-DISD honcho Mike Moses.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst broke bread at White’s table, and Emmitt delivered the opening prayer. His best line: “Thank you, father God, for Barry Andrews and … for all of us bein’ here and eatin’ free.” The laugh that drew was topped a little later, though, by David Gaschen, a singer and veteran Broadway star (“Phantom of the Opera”) who performed several songs accompanied by the Steve Bayless Orchestra.
Before warbling “All I Ask of You,” Gaschen explained that while the number was to have been a duet, his female partner had come down with laryngitis, so he’d be going it alone. “The hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he announced to the crowd once the song was over, “was looking down at Troy Aikman and singing, ‘Love me, that’s all I ask of you!’ ” Troy, who was perched at the foot of the stage, thought it was pretty funny, too.
