11/29/2025
Jet Setters Ball’ 25 Raises $700,000 for Lone Star Flight Museum, Honors
LSFM Board Member, Community Leader, and Philanthropist Ralph B. Thomas
HOUSTON, Texas (Nov. X, 2025) – The Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) was transformed on Friday, Nov. 14, into a glittering evening in Paris -- complete with Eiffel Tower replicas and stunning centerpieces featuring red roses and poppies. Nearly 500 guests attended the Jet Setters Ball’ 25: Destination, Paris, helping to raise $700,000 to support the museum’s STEM-related programs, educational mission, exhibits, and a vast collection of military and commercial aircraft. Museum leaders and gala guests honored LSFM Board Member U.S. military veteran, business executive, and philanthropist Ralph B. Thomas.
Thomas grew up in a family of pilots. He became a licensed pilot at the age of 19 and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas. In his 20s, he served in the Texas Air National Guard and was assigned to Ellington Airport. He served nearly 50 years as a business and financial strategist with Fayez Sarofim & Co., playing a key role in the organization’s huge success.
Thomas has served as a member of the LSFM board of directors for nearly 10 years. He has been instrumental in helping the museum to expand its educational and community engagement programs, and he generously supported programs and events designed to inspire future generations of aviators.
Gala co-chairs Donna and Matthew Noll, Lone Star Flight Museum President and Chief Executive Officer Anna Hawley, and LSFM board members welcomed local and state elected officials, sponsors, supporters, volunteers, and media representatives to the gala. KPRC Channel 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton served as Emcee.
Notable public officials included former U.S. Congressman and LSFM Board Chair Pete Olson and his wife Nancy, Harris Co. Judge, Eric Andell, Harris County Judge Caroline Dozier, Houston City Council Member At-Large, Position 3 Twila Carter, Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman and wife, Captain Ron Caputo, Deputy Commander, Sector Houston-Galveston, U.S. Coast Guard and Texas Aviation Hall of Fame members Bill Bussey and Al Cisneros.
Prominent guests included Chris and Ellen Clair Thomas, Michael and Alicia Fertitta, Flo McGee and Wade Upton, Brenda and Joe Cialone, Charlie and Carol Herder, Edith Hernandez, Kyra Joiner, Cheryl Boblitt and Bill King, Ellen and Paige Michael Cokinos, Angie and Frank Hinnant, Ashley and Black Boyd, Holly Waltrip and Edward Sanchez.
LSFM President and CEO Anna Hawley commented: “Not only does Ralph serve as an impactful board member and generous donor for the Lone Star Flight Museum, but he also continues to fuel the museum’s focus on supporting our country’s veterans, celebrating Texas aviation history, and inspiring future leaders in the workforce. Our gala chairs Donna and Matt Noll led a great team to create a fantastic event. Collectively, our chairs, the host committee, board members, sponsors, staff, and our guests made this year’s gala a success. We are grateful to all of them for the enormous support.”
The 2025 Jet Setters Ball lead sponsors included Fayez Sarofim & Co., Hildebrand Fund, Joan Skipper and Ed Peine, and Bette and Ralph Thomas. United Airlines served as the official airline of the Lone Star Flight Museum and this year’s gala.
The Events Company established a distinctly French ambiance for the gala with special touches such as French and Parisian landscapes. The Events Company designed floral arrangements and décor that featured a stunning 8-foot Eiffel Tower shimmering in the center of the hangar among the seated gala guests. For the pre-gala reception, City Kitchen prepared hors d’oeuvres featuring a mini lobster Newburg tart, seared tuna, and other delicacies. The gourmet seated dinner featured a baby lettuce and shrimp salad, braised beef short rib, crepes, and broccolini with assorted desserts that included chocolate mousse, chocolate truffles, chocolate-dipped gooseberries, and edible flowers.
The Honorable Eric Andell Expert, Big Board Auctioneer, and Josh Rush, Live Auctioneer with Johnny Bravo Entertainment, inspired supporters to ”bid big” and “bid often.” Featured items on the Big Board were a curated case of fine wines, a private event at the Lone Star Flight Museum, a City Kitchen gourmet dinner at home, an upscale hunting trip to Cibolo Creek Ranch, and many others. Attractive Live Auction packages included a Ferrari Challenge Race Car experience, a food and wine inspired stay in a Tuscan villa, US Open Tennis Championship weekend in New York, a private jet getaway to Florida, an upscale European getaway, and many others.
Before and after the dinner program, gala guests had the opportunity to tour the museum’s permanent aircraft collection, step inside space shuttle simulators, test their piloting skills in flight simulators, experience STEM-based exhibits, enjoy a ride in the MaxFlight simulator, and learn more about 100 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame inductees.
To support the Lone Star Flight Museum and to learn more about the STEM education programs and how you can get involved, please visit LoneStarFlight.org or call the museum’s development office at 346-352-7678.
About the Lone Star Flight Museum
The Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM) is a 501c3 aviation museum and STEM learning center with a mission to celebrate flight and achievements in Texas aviation as well as educate and engage our youth through science, technology, engineering, and math. In addition to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the 130,000 square-foot museum is home to a flying collection of rare and historic commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. Guests can experience the wonder of flight in a warbird ride and get hands-on in the high-tech Aviation Learning Center and Flight Academy. Multiple public and STEM-focused education programs create an unforgettable museum experience for visitors of all ages. Located at Ellington Airport, just 20 minutes from downtown Houston, LSFM is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays Noon – 5 p.m. Tickets start at $12 with senior and military discounts. Admission is free for children 4 and under. Membership levels are also available. For details, visit lonestarflight.org or call 346-708-2517, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram.
Let Your Curiosity SOAR! Historic aircraft, hands on STEM learning, flight simulators and the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Located 20 mins from downtown Houston.
