The 93rd Texas Rose Festival held its annual Thursday Celebration Luncheon for the first time at the Cascades Country Club in Tyler, honoring Festival President David Dial, the family of Queen Claire Anne Malone, and two former Rose Queens. The invitation-only event, dedicated to 1986 Rose Queen Marla Hughes Reeder, marked a reflection on past festival memories and a welcome to newcomers.
Annette Findley, co-chair of the Thursday Celebration Luncheon Committee since 2013, stated that this year’s theme, "celebrating the four seasons," serves as a reminder of the community’s beauty and the "enduring friendship and family tradition" central to the occasion. Findley remarked on the tradition of the Texas Rose Festival being passed from one generation to another. Patrick Willis, also a co-chair of the committee, highlighted the special nature of Tyler's traditions in bringing together generations of families and friends.
The Thursday Celebration Luncheon itself was established more than four decades ago by a civic group led by Katherine Bertram. Its original purpose was to honor out-of-town guests, festival dignitaries, the Queen’s family, and the festival president and his wife on the first day of the festival.
Willis shared historical context regarding the festival's origins, recounting the story of Judge Thomas B. Ramey. In 1933, Ramey traveled with his family to Chicago to attend the World’s Fair. There, he encountered a display of roses that captivated him, and upon learning they were from Tyler, he returned home six weeks later. Judge Ramey then gathered with family members and the Tyler Garden Club to help organize the inaugural Texas Rose Festival. That first festival began with a $2,500 budget and attracted 40,000 visitors to the small town. Willis reflected on the "civic pride" fostered by this event, which ultimately led to Tyler becoming known as the "City of Roses" with its associated carnations, gowns, and parades.
Festival President David Dial emphasized that the Texas Rose Festival embodies the spirit of Tyler and the community’s generosity. Dial described it as a "cherished event," noting that the organization's culture and community are "unmatched," with volunteers fully committing to the festival with astonishing dedication.
The luncheon recognized 1956 Queen Gail Hudson White for her 70th anniversary, who stood and waved to the attendees. Marla Hughes Reeder, the 1986 Rose Queen and this year’s featured speaker, shared memories from her reign 40 years prior and spoke about the significant impact her parents and family had on her experience. Reeder likened Tyler to the "Kevin Bacon city," referring to the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" theory, suggesting that connections within Tyler are often just "two or three degrees" of separation due to the Rose Festival. She noted that while Tylerites are friendly and welcoming to many visitors, the enduring friendships formed over 40 years stand out. Reeder concluded by stressing that the festival is about connection, promoting Tyler, and the network of people in the community, highlighting potential future business partners or best friends.
The event concluded with fellowship and drinks, following acknowledgments of the parents of Texas Rose Festival Princess Brynn Eve Ballard and Duchess of the Rose Growers Emmy Elizabeth Brewer.
