Press Release and Photos By Brownwood Community Library:

“The First Annual 2023 KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY, benefitting the Brownwood Community Library, was literally picture-perfect on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at The Brownwood Country Club. Arriving guests in chic derby attire were greeted with refreshments and bid numbers for the silent auction. The party was sold out with 180 guests.

The big Derby Party was the place to be in Brownwood on Saturday to mingle and listen to live jazz. The Derby Party was complete with a southern buffet of fried chicken, country ham, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, sweet tea, and pecan pie. Silver Mint Julip Cups were available for purchase for $100 and sold out.

The Kentucky Derby fundraiser was the vision of Carmaleta Felton, a seasoned fundraiser from Dallas who was raised in Odessa. She retired to Brownwood two years ago with her husband, Otis Felton, pictured below.

Mrs. Felton believes in giving back to her community and joined the Brownwood Community Library Association Board of Trustees in 2022. Mrs. Felton chaired numerous fundraisers in Dallas raising millions of dollars and was named “Dallas Woman of the Year” in 2017 by Les Femme du Monde.

The Derby soiree began with mint juleps and music by Stephan Goacher and his Derby jazz combo dressed in red and white vests with red bow ties. The jazz music set a festive mood for the lively party.

Looking through the rooms were seas of beautiful ladies wearing colorful Kentucky Derby hats. The gentlemen joined in the festivities with their colorful bow ties. The Derby hat contest winner was the beautiful Shannan Burch and the bow tie contest was won by Joe Stieber, Co-Owner of Wilson Cleaners.

Ann Jones, owner of Ann Jones Realty, who sponsored the floral arrangements, served as The Derby Hat and Bow Tie Judge along with Joe Sheppard, who designed the floral arrangement.

The florals were arranged in an English gentlemen’s bowler hat with the top cut out to hold the assorted florals topped with a brightly colored English Fascinator, a small hat frequently worn by the British royals.

Derby Chair Carmaleta Felton announced she would be joined in 2024 by a Co-Chair: Dr. Amber Shugrue. Brownwood Library Director, Becky Isbell announced the following awards: Sally Porter was presented an award for recognition of her commitment and dedicated service to the library: Pam Morse and Sheila Carroll were presented the Brownwood Library Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Lively bidding began on the first two items before the big race. There was a problem tuning in the race on one of the three TVs, but guests were quick to bring out their iPhones and share while others gathered around other TVs to watch the race.

The live auction continued, with bids on trips to Dallas, Austin, fine wines, original watercolor paintings, hunting trips, Dallas Ranger tickets, Lyric theater season tickets with dinners, a custom fire pit, summer Brownwood Club membership, and more. The silent auction contained an assortment of items of which many sold over the retail price which made the bidding exciting and all going for a great cause.

The night ended with the announcement of the raffle winners: 1st place Pam Morse, 2nd place: Bret Hood, 3rd Place John Tribou, and the booby prize (for the last place horse) to Calvin Fryar.

The Brownwood Library Derby Party Sponsors were PF&E Oil Company, Ann Jones Real Estate, ASAP Creative Arts, Citizens National Bank, Dr. Amber Ervin, Edgefactory, Edward Jones, Hendrick Health, Landmark Admin, Wendlee Broadcasting, and Western Bank.”