Hedonia Club of Waco, now in its ninth decade, will host a traditional gala at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, at the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium.
“The tradition of Hedonia is about bringing people together through friendship, fellowship and a shared appreciation for camaraderie, celebration and community, while continuing to grow and make a positive impact on Waco,” Hedonia Club president Mike Indergard said. “Members can expect the Ball to capture that spirit — a lively, elegant, black-tie celebration that honors the club’s traditions while embracing new energy, new friendships and the excitement of being part of something that continues to evolve.”
Hedonia Club hosts a black-tie ball every November at which college-age debutantes are presented to their families, friends and club members — a time-honored tradition. This year, the spotlight will be on two debutantes — Lucy Jane Bateman and Zara Diaz — who will be presented to family and friends in their white gowns and kid gloves in the Baylor Club ballroom.
Miss Lucy Jane Bateman is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Giles Brooks Litton Bateman of Round Rock. She attends Fusion Academy in Austin, where she is an artist, animator, actor, singer, songwriter and voice-over artist. She will be presented by her father, Mr. Giles Bateman, to the song “The Shire” and escorted by Travis Keegan Stewart.
Miss Zara Diaz is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Clemente Diaz of Waco. She attends Texas A&M University, where she is majoring in society, ethics and law with a minor in business. Zara is a member of the Aggie Angels, Texas A&M Pre-Law Society and the KAPi Pre-Law and Government fraternity. Last summer, she completed an internship on Capitol Hill with Congressman Pete Sessions. She will be presented by her father, Mr. Carlos Diaz, to the song “New York, New York,” and escorted by Keeton Brice Matthews.
Junior debutantes include the following young ladies: Miss Lillian Mattie Demaree, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Michael Demaree II; Miss Holly Marie Wickliff, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Eliot Martin Wickliff; Miss Vivienne Diane Kramm, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Jason Kramm; and Miss Lillian Steffany Sgobbo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Michael Sgobbo.
The 9- and 10-year-old girls will wear floor-length white dresses with short gloves and carry a small nosegay of roses as they curtsy to an adoring crowd. Maverick Tetens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Shane Tetens, and Hudson Siegmund, son of Capt. and Mrs. Mark Douglas Siegmund, will escort the junior debutantes.
The Greg Bashara Group will perform music during the formal presentation. Later in the evening, after the little girls have gone home, club members and their guests will dance to Groove Knight, an 11-piece party band from Austin.
Before the presentation, Indergard will host a president’s reception, honoring the debutantes and their families. The night before the ball, a special patron dinner will take place at the President’s Suite of McLane Stadium.
“The success of the Hedonia Ball reflects the dedication, care and countless hours contributed by so many, “Indergard said, “especially my wife, Laura Indergard, whose support and personal touch have helped bring the elegance and spirit of this evening to life.”
Debutante season coordinator Jennifer Heinz has been an integral part of the planning process, said Indergard.
“We are equally grateful to Jennifer, whose knowledge, devotion and stewardship of Hedonia’s traditions have been instrumental in preserving the excellence and legacy of our debutante season.”
Indergard added that it’s been an all-around good year for Hedonia Club.
“We’ve had a big influx of junior members this year,” Indergard said. “That’s been good to bring in some new perspectives to help take us into the next era. We have more members in their 20s now than we can remember, which is great.”
Indergard added that the club has hosted monthly happy hours, a couples event, a whiskey-tasting event downtown and a fall social at a board member’s home.
“Presenting our daughters remains at the core of the club,” Indergard said. “And continuing to bring in upstanding community people who want to be involved and represent the club well — and one day present their daughters — is what is important to us.”
Hedonia Club comprises a group of civic-minded men who annually present their college-age daughters as debutantes. The club was founded in 1937 with a charter membership of 200 and a mission “to enrich our community and bring families together through the preservation, tradition and elegance of presenting member daughters to society.”
The first officers were Charles Eubank, president; Walter G. Lacy Jr., vice president; and Frank L. Wilcox, secretary-treasurer. Dr. Carl Lovelace is credited with naming the club “Hedonia” after the Greek word meaning “pleasure — to live a happy, joyous life.”
This year’s club officers are Michael Theodore Indergard, president; Dominic Braus, vice president; Mark Steinhagen Bennett, secretary-treasurer; and James Tyler Martin Sr., past president.
