Posts Tagged ‘Holmes Lamoreaux’

“I’M THE OLDEST BACHELOR UP THERE”

A Wells Fargo building on Market Street, with the character of a packing case, was where the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra gala took place Saturday evening following the concert at Powell Hall. Class and style are hard to define, but if we’re talking about classic quality, that may describe many of the 520 who attended. There was a dazzling explosion of designer wear, that moved with the women, albeit wrinkles and stretch marks peeping daringly. With her hub, Joe, UMSL’s retired chief Blanche Touhill, a self-described historian, confided she’s writing a book on the history of the campus. Carol Walker was there with her husband, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Bert Walker (who probably can’t go to funerals, because he’s always smiling), swooned over that nation as “much better than England and France.” Bob Duffy, bossman of The St. Louis Beacon, tipped that the online newspaper will present a performance of the comic opera, H.M.S Pinafore on New Year’s Day at The Sheldon. Heading the cast of the Gilbert-Sullivan work are: Christine Brewer; Symph conductor David Robertson and Opera Theatre’s Tim O’Leary. Duffy escorted Susie Weldon Erlinger of St. Charles. “Don’t write St. Charles,” ordered Erlinger, the heiress of Dr. Virginia Weldon and the late cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Clarence Weldon. Mo. Attorney General Chris Koster escorted Chris Kaplan, wife of the much-too-ill real estater Bob Kaplan. Kaplan whispered in the columnist’s ear, “Bob jokingly told me ‘to go with Chris if that dumb son-of-a-bitch is willing to take you.’” Koster, 46, said he’s been divorced for 10 years and “I’m the oldest bachelor up there (in Jeff City).” His mom, Pat, has been re-married to Bob Thompson and Chris said, “She can still break 50 on the Whitmoor C.C. golf course.” Builder Tony Thompson dined with United Way’s stunning Cheryl Polk, while La Chef Catering’s Sherill Gonterman’s staff was serving salmon and tenderloin. A founder of the Contemporary Art Museum, Susan Sherman fawned over her new business as a fine arts consultant with former nightclub owner/restaurateur/sports drink peddler Jimmie Jamieson. Sherman and Miran Halen, wife of concertmaster David Halen, posed for photos in their Dennis Bass outfits, while Sherman said,”I was taught to model for photos by someone in New York.” Conductor David Robertson and his Israeli-born wife Orli’s sons, Peter, 19, and Johnny, 18, watched with awe as the crowds heaped praise on David as Peter proclaimed, “We’re agnostics.” Dr. Bill Danforth praised the Danforth Plant Science Center for its work and added, “The green revolution has saved a billion lives around the world.” With Danforth were St. Louis American’s Donald and Deena Suggs. Donna Wilkinson described her eye-popping outfit as a creation by fashion designer Bob Mackie – “You know, he does all of Cher’s.” I was seated with retired PR maven Anne Tretter and her partner, Holmes Lamoreaux, owner of 52 percent of Sabreliner Corp, which has just received $5 million in state economic development incentives. The company hopes to add 400 employees after construction of a new 27,000 square-foot hangar to house expanded stripping and painting operations in Perryville, Mo. For the U.S. Army, Sabreliner has just completed turning out clam shell doors for VIP’s use on Blackhawk helicopters and will soon make stabilizer parts for Boeing. The company also does major work for Lockheed, said Lamoreaux. Veiled Prophet Queen of the early 1950s, Julia Terry Barnes, escorted by Lee Zingale and his partner, homebuilder Edgar Ellerman took off, while Grand Center patriarch and former mayor Vince Schoemehl, with his wife, Lois, drove away in their fancy Cad. Vince had only one worry – that he’ll be torn down for a parking lot. The gala was dying with a flurry of wraps, hugs and pecks on the cheeks. Out on Market Street, more than a few guests remembered the good times, when the street was anchored by John Cella‘s American Theater and a Union Station, that drew thousands of customers into its Fred Harvey’s coffee shop. So, throw another buck into the slot and remember the good old days. Oh, hell!

l to r Floyd Warman, Gail Johnson and St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch

St. Louis county Chief of Police Tim Fitch has set his sights on encouraging residents in communities to contact the county cops if they find officials on  patrol, who are not licensed police. “We can arrest them for impersonating police officers,” said Chief Fitch.  “It’s like having unlicensed nurses working in hospitals”. Sidled next to police commissioner Floyd Warman over lunch at Chez Leon, Fitch came clean on his own past. “I was arrested three times for speeding at the age of 18,” he admitted. Also there were Clayton Capital Partners CEO Kevin Short and CFO Paula Reeb.  Both were bullish on the company’s financials so far this year compared to the same period in ’09. The company owns Cathedral Properties and Fitz’s Root Beer.  Nearby, Sabreliner’s Holmes Lamoreaux dined with his colleague Gail Johnson.