The Silent Auction
was held on Saturday night during the dinner/dance/stage show at The Club at NAS Kingsville. Forty-seven businesses and individuals donated 74 items for the auction. A total of $7,580 was raised.
All proceeds will go to the Kleberg County Heritage Foundation to purchase the display cases for the newly restored Kingsville Railroad Depot. (Scroll down this page to see a listing of the Silent Auction items, who donated and who purchased each item. Photos are available for some items.
The town of Kingsville was established on July 4, 1904, with the arrival of the first train over the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railroad. Land for the town site was donated by Mrs. Henrietta King.
When the train arrived in Kingsville on July 4, 1904, the first thing passengers saw was the Railroad Depot. Thanks in part to the railroad, Kingsville's historic downtown has changed greatly over the last 100 years. Recognizing the important role the railroad has played in Kingsville's history, the Kleberg County Heritage Foundation has restored the Railroad Depot to its original 1904 condition.
The Railroad Depot will now serve as a railroad museum and Visitor's Center as well.
Kati Bareis West ('66) was the Chairman of the
Silent Auction Committee.
Members of her committee included :
- Carolyn McTaggart Arnold
('66)
Doris Clark Leadbetter
('66) Nancy Gregg Morrow ('61)
The goal of the Silent Auction was to offer a minimum of 50 items and to raise a minimum of $5,000 for the Railroad Depot Restoration Project. Thanks to the generosity of friends and classmates, 74 items were donated, and $7,580 was raised.
Silent Auction items and donors are listed below.
- Kati Bareis West ('66) graciously provided the FIRST Silent Auction item - one of her handmade, one-of-a-kind, original quilts.
High Bidder - Doris Clark Leadbetter ('66)
- Debbie Dembski Shelton (’63)Houston Texans Game Package. This fantastic package includes two tickets to the 7 pm Saturday, August 14 football game between the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in head coach Dom Capers' box on the 45 yard line. In this luxury box, you will be hosted by Karen Capers (Dom's wife) and be treated to complimentary food and beverages. In addition, you will receive a Houston Texans ice chest filled with various Texans souvenir items including a baseball cap and football autographed by Dom Capers
High Bidder - Dolores Cumberland Melton ('62) 
- Jerrie Lee Rogers Bethel ('65) - King Ranch (1957) by Tom Lea, 2 volume set of out of print books in excellent(like new) condition.
High Bidder - Frank Stephenson ('65)
- Richard Ulatoski ('65) - very early Colt double action revolver w/barrel markings pat'd 1884, 1900 & 1905 - Police Positive 32 Police Ctg
High Bidder - Jerry Buckholt (guest)
- Kati Bareis West ('66) - a personally autographed and inscribed football from former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr. Starr is a member of the NFL Hall of fame and was selected MVP for Super Bowls I and II.
High Bidder - Greg Berg (guest)
- Rodney Trant ('64) - King Ranch 150th anniversary edition crystal 26 oz. decanter and four 14 oz. on-the-rocks glasses.
High Bidder - Gilbert Alvarez ('64)
- Nancy Corbin Deviney ('65) - Eight Wine Tumblers with Texas Logo, made by Two Hands in Clay of Kingsville, plus two bottles of wine.
High Bidder - Martha Halberdier Theiss ('67)
- Cyndi Chesser Walker ('65) - an autographed copy of Waiting for Daylight: King Ranch: Images from the Past (August, 2003) by Janell Kleberg. The book's photographs were taken by Janell Kleberg while working cattle from horseback on the King Ranches in South Texas, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.
High Bidder - Frank Stephenson ('65)
- King Ranch Saddle Shop donated an insulted ice chest made of Tan Cordura with Rio Leather trim. Thanks to Toni Leslie Rich ('61) for her help with this donation.
High Bidder - Sonja Haggerton Hightower ('68)
- Nancy Corbin Deviney ('65) - framed turkey photograph, 38" x 28", by South Texas wildlife photographer Jerry Smith. Photo is titled "Board Meeting" and was taken on the King Ranch in 1982. The photo is signed and number 12 of 36.
High Bidder - Jerry Zwernemann ('65)
- Debbie Dembski Shelton ('63) - an original painting done by Debbie especially for the Reunion.
High Bidder - Dolores Cumberland Melton ('62)
- Debbie Dembski Shelton (’63) - handmade lavender flowered evening bag by Bonita Unique Handbags(Debbie’s company). Bonita Unique Handbags are sold in boutiques in Las Vegas and Florida
High Bidder - Bill Ewert
- Debbie Dembski Shelton ('63) - handmade pale green flowered evening bag by Bonita Unique Handbags (Debbie's company). Bonita Unique Handbags are sold in boutiques in Las Vegas and Florida.
High Bidder - Sharron Haberer Farris ('62)
- Debbie Dembski Shelton ('63) - handmade pale blue flowered evening bag by Bonita Unique Handbags (Debbie's company). Bonita Unique Handbags are sold in boutiques in Las Vegas and Florida.
High Bidder - Noelia Longoria Chapa ('63)
- Debbie Dembski Shelton ('63) - handmade taupe feathered evening bag by Bonita Unique Handbags (Debbie's company). Bonita Unique Handbags are sold in boutiques in Las Vegas and Florida.
High Bidder - Anita Ulatoski (guest)
- Debbie Dembski Shelton ('63) - handmade red evening bag with cardinal by Bonita Unique Handbags (Debbie's company). Bonita Unique Handbags are sold in boutiques in Las Vegas and Florida.
High Bidder - Frank Deviney (guest)
- Donny Kloster (’62) – A framed copy of an early ‘60s Skee’s Drive Inn menu featuring steak baskets for 75 cents, Skeesburgers for 40 cents, etc. This wonderful piece of memorabilia is also signed by Helen, a Skee's carhop.
High Bidder - Frank Stephenson ('65)
- Original Painting, Along the Highway, donated by Kingsville artist Dolores Price- a friend of the KHS Centennial Reunion. Click on Kairos Gallery to see more of her work.
High Bidder - Sonja Haggerton Hightower ('68)
- Bobbie Horn ('66) - an original piece of jewelry custom designed for the Reunion. Learn more about Bobbie’s company, Of Earth and Fire
, and see samples of her work.
High Bidder - Frank Bonikowski (guest)
