³Celebs display talents -- or lack thereof; Singing mayor joins entertainers in 
onstage antics for Star Serve²

By SHELBY HODGE

	To borrow an expression from Texas lore, Sunday night's Lobster Bop at The Palm 
was the most fun a person could have without taking his or her clothes off, even 
if one daring guest did display a certain immodesty in showing off a new tattoo.

 	The mayor sang. The fire chief played bass. The director of emergency medical 
services played piano. Tone-deaf celebs tried desperately to carry tunes. 
Individuals with no rhythm danced.

 	Every onstage antic meant money in the till for Baylor College of Medicine's 
Teen Clinic. The 11th annual Star Serve benefit, this year taking the lobster 
theme, brought in $ 93,000 for Dr. Peggy Smith's professional baby.

 	Linda Knight, Foley's senior vice president of marketing, orchestrated the 
evening of high jinks and high humor that was run tightly and efficiently enough 
to have everyone happily on his way home by 10 p.m. Topping the night's 
play-for-pay party were the priceless minutes during which Mary Jo Antone 
Hatfield, wearing black dress and stockings topped off with an organdy apron, 
sang ""My Heart Belongs to Daddy'' a la Marilyn Monroe to an obliging Charles 
Hurwitz. 

 	Michel Halbouty's love song "Merci, Merci" sung a capella to his adoring wife, 
Billye, was a golden moment, sweet enough to bring a tear to the eyes of any 
romantic. Susan Glesby and Texas A&M geophysics Professor Emeritus Migeli Caputo 
put up the money for that entertainment.

 	But it was Mayor Bob Lanier, Star Serve honoree along with his wife, Elyse, who 
was bid up to the stage most often. The big-bucks crowd liked hearing the mayor 
sing. They also paid good money to see Lanier and others do the hokeypokey, 
attempt tap dancing and sing some more.

 	Lanier even agreed to team up with Zina Garrison, who was also there, for 
tennis doubles in his own back yard against any doubles team willing to divvy up 
a $ 500 contribution for the Teen Clinic.

 	While the crowd dined on lobster and steak dinners, the foolishness, under the 
direction of a feisty Ron Stone, continued onstage. State Sen. Rodney Ellis and 
state Rep. Debra Danburg competed in a Hula-Hoop contest. Sonny Messiah-Jiles 
held a sing-along with her ukulele.

 	Fire Chief Eddie Corral danced around the stage with local singer Miss Molly, 
who was later carried in on a stretcher by five firefighting hunks, wearing only 
their yellow waterproof trousers, suspenders and boots.

 	Celebrities waiting tables and taking to the stage when necessary included Jack 
Rains, Sandy Rivera, Jan Carson, Warner Roberts, Emergency Medical Services 
director Dr. Paul Pepe, Ron Stone Jr., Judge Eric Andell, Harris County 
Commissioners El Franco Lee and Steve Radack, state Rep. Ashley Smith, City 
Councilwoman Sheila Jackson Lee and the really talented and really handsome Kevin 
Black, brother of singing star Clint Black.

 	Jan Becker was the naughty one who raised serious money by unbuttoning her 
blouse (within the limits of decency) to display her devil tattoo.

 	The audience was as impressive a group as the onstage celebs.

 	Claiming their tables in The Palm were John and Minnie Daugherty, Jodie and 
Maryann Hoffer, Eddie and Courtney Glasscock, Jodie Jiles, Eddie Corral Jr., Dan 
and Virginia Steppe, Bill and Susan Whitworth, Myra Wilson, Greg and Patsy 
Fourticq, Ron Hatfield, J.D. and Beth Epstein, and Suzy Simons.

 	Roberts was the big money-maker of the night for personally having sold the 
most $ 100 raffle tickets. Also, her team of raffle promoters beat out the other 
groups working to sell the most tickets.

GRAPHIC: Photo: Joining Lobster Bop chairwoman Linda Knight, back right, in the 
high jinks at The Palm are, from left, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, 
country-western singer Kevin Black and Mary Jo Antone Hatfield; Steve 
Campbell/Chronicle

The Houston Chronicle
October 13, 1992, Tuesday, 2 STAR Edition

SECTION: HOUSTON; Shelby Hodge; Pg. 3