Heritage Ball Honors History, Sets Record

FRANKLIN -- Saturday evening's Heritage Ball brought out the big guns, even a Civil War-era cannon.

The piece of artillery belonging to Ronald and Marty Ligon was entrenched near the entrance where guests, including Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife, Crissy, filled soaring tents splashed with huge floral impact pieces.

A terrific silent auction that was all mobile, as in guests bid by their mobile devices, brought a record $60,000 before the evening ended. Steering that ship were Nancy Smith Flittner and her husband, Greg Flittner, as well as Vivian and David Garrett.

The florals, always a keynote of this black tie gala, reached new heights this year including a bloom-bejeweled chandelier designed and installed from a cherry picker by area fine artist and gallery owner Kelly Harwood.

A fantastic towering floral piece centered the cocktail tent; Jeff Yates was its artist. And spectacular arrangements anchored bars, greeted guests as they alighted their vehicles, flanked antique benches and centered copper-and-gold-laid dining tables. Steve McLellan, owner of Garden Delights, was the artist for all these and worked with a stable of volunteers including Vivian Coble, Jim McReynolds and Kris Bagbey to create the glorious pieces lush and opulent with roses, hydrangeas, orchids and sunflowers.

Angela Calhoun served as design chairwoman for the fifth consecutive year, producing a visual masterpiece beneath sprawling alabaster tents nestled together on the Eastern Flank Battlefield Park.

Marty Ligon, who served as the chairperson of the first Heritage Ball 41 years ago, was honored, as were Nancy Smith Flittner and Greg Flittner who took Ball King and Queen titles.

The prestigious Patrons Award went to Robert Hicks, the New York Times bestselling author and longtime preservationist, an honor well deserved, indeed.

Historic downtown residents Lisa and Brian Bethard were the chairmen for this year's event that drew 700 black tie-and-gown-clad guests. The two major sponsors were CapWealth Advisors and FirstBank. Premier sponsors were Alexander Automotive and SouthStar, LLC & Ovation.

A myriad of additional corporate sponsors helped stage this magnificent event that benefits the 47-year-old Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. The gala was one for the history books.

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