As Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick put it, “Everybody loves to be a Texan and Black Tie and Boots gives everyone a chance.”
“I have been told by people, let’s just say close to the administration, that said, `Look, this is THE ball. This is just it,” said Patrick, who chaired the Trump campaign in Texas. “There are other balls, the balls the night of the Inauguration, but this is it.”
Boots-and-tie-wearing Texans in Washington, D.C., started celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration Thursday night, in a very big way.
The 2017 Black Tie and Boots Presidential Inaugural Ball, sponsored by Texas State Society in Washington, drew more than 11,000 guests, including Austinites of different stripes – from high school dancers to top Texas officials.
There were buffet tables of food, and a buffet of music – from the Gatlin Brothers to the Beach Boys, who performed their forever-young hits, alongside a big screen with a continuous loop of what appeared to be 60s surf videos.
And there were boots of every description.
For Gov. Greg Abbott it was a pair of black crocodile boots. For Patrick it was black ostrich leg boots. Both pairs bear the Texas seal.
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was wearing caiman boots. Miller, a former contender to be Trump’s secretary of agriculture, said he was just as happy to not leave Texas after Trump appointed former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue for the Cabinet post.
Miller, one of Trump’s most avid supporters during the presidential race, said he had ordered a hat, boots, saddle, spurs, and cuff links to give to Trump. Everything was Texas-made, except the spurs, which came from Arizona, he said.
Thursday marked the 10th time the Texas State Society, now headed by U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, hosted the Black Tie and Boots Presidential Inaugural Ball, now headed by U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland.
“The event is larger than the Republican State Convention so bring your A-game,” said Abbott who, along with First Lady Cecilia Abbott, spent a couple of hours at the ball.
Brent Maupin, store manager for Allens Boots on South Congress Avenue, said the store got a shot to sell its boots and hats at the event and jumped on it.
Maupin, who has worked at the store for six years, said it’s been a great experience and he’s educated a wider audience on Texas boots and hats.
Maupin was trying to convince one group to consider one of the hats, which range in price from $250 to a signature black Stetson at $1,000. He was getting through to a man who really wanted the $1,000 hat, but his wife would need more convincing, Maupin said.
The store hosted another pop-up shop at a party Wednesday evening. The team was planning to head straight back to Austin after closing shop at the ball, Maupin said.
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sarah Clemmons, a Lake Travis High School senior and captain of the Cavalettes dance team who performed at the gala, said the visit has been a trip of a lifetime.
“It was overwhelming, empowering,” she said.
Clemmons said she was shocked when she was selected by the Texas Dance Educator’s Association to participate at the event. In all, 25 all-state dancers were selected to perform.
Abigail Payne, director of the Cavalettes, also attended Thursday night’s event.
