DALLAS STARS HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER
DALLAS — Celebrities, scientists and socialites made up the huge crowd of 2,200 at the 14th annual Komen National Awards luncheon last fall.
The event honored more than a dozen individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to fighting breast cancer, from doing scientific research to raising awareness.
And who got the most applause? Linda Gray and Larry Hagman — stars of the legendary TV show “Dallas.” The pair flew in to show their support for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its founding chairman, Nancy Brinker.
“I have a huge history of breast cancer in my family — my great grandmother and my sister had it — and Nancy was instrumental in helping me get help for my sister,” said Linda Gray.
Plus, Dallas is like Gray’s home away from home. “It’s like a family reunion,” she added. “People are so open and charming and delightful that it’s always a pleasure to be here.”
Among the other celebrities were novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, Supremes co-founder Mary Wilson, singer Sara Hickman, President Gerald Ford’s daughter Susan Ford Bales and President Lyndon Johnson’s daughter Lucy Johnson.
J.C. Penney collected the award for community service, which was accepted by Jim Oesterreicher, vice chairman and chief executive officer. Another local winner was the Al Hill Family, which was recognized for individual philanthropy. Margaret Hunt Hill had a hard time reaching the microphone to make her acceptance speech: “I’m so short!” were her first words. Then she added, “We’re happy to join the many donors to the Komen Foundation and happy to have our dollars help save lives.”