2025 Angelina Eberly Luncheon Hits High Notes for Austin History Center Association.
Story and photos by Forrest Preece
The 2025 Angelina Eberly Luncheon was held at the historic Austin Club on Wednesday, April 9. This event is a yearly celebration produced by and benefiting the Austin History Center Association (AHCA).
Charles Peveto, President, Austin History Center Association, began the luncheon thanking the 200 guests for their support and announcing to the exciting and recent public/private partnership with the Austin Public Library System (APL) and welcoming those partners: Hannah Terell, Interim APL Director, Cody Scott, Austin History Center Campus Project Manager, and Jennifer Chenoweth, Austin History Center Division Manager.
Peveto then introduced Michael Marks, Chair of the Millett Opera House Foundation, who gave brief remarks about the significance of the 1878 Opera House, which is now the home of The Austin Club.
Adam Powell, the new AHCA Executive Director, talked about the strategic plan for the restructuring of the association. It will become a fundraising board focusing on a capital campaign to finance the vision for the two-building Austin History Center Campus. The campus will consist of the 1933 library building, which is the current Austin History Center, plus the completed expansion in the historic Faulk Building south of it. The result will be a world-class campus for historic research.
Of special note this year was the $1.1 million Legacy Gift from Roy and Linda Bush. Powell said that this donation would be a transformative gift for the AHCA, which has become a growing permanent endowment with over $2 million, managed by Genesis Wealth Management.
Martha Hartzog, one of the four founders of the AHCA, spoke about The Sue Brandt
McBee Living Legacy Award, as did Robert McBee, Sue's son. Noted architect Sinclair Black accepted the 2025 award for his tireless work in historic preservation and urban planning.
Dee Hall, who served on the luncheon committee, recounted the story of Angelina Eberly.
Honorary Chairs Shuronda Robinson, CEO of Austin Woman Magazine, and Will and Noel Bridges, co-owners of Antone's Nightclub, Arlyn Studios, and Deep Eddy Cabaret, conducted a solicitation of donations to help fund the History Center's operations.
The event ended on a fun-filled note as Esther's Follies’ Shannon Sedwick and her lively crew of comedians provided an imaginary look back to when "comedy was outlawed in Austin," followed by an entertaining question-and-answer session about the Capital City's history.
As the nonprofit partner of the Austin History Center, the AHCA preserves and shares the rich and diverse history that has shaped Austin's impact on Texas, the nation, and the world since 1839.
