XL Fortunate 500

Heritage stars

People whose socializing derives from (relatively) deep Austin connections

By Jane Greig
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

In the volunteer world and social whirl, there are some folks who raise their hands, sign up to chair a committee or fête and are never seen again — until the photo op.

Then there are folks such as Carol and Tim Crowley. You see them at A Christmas Affair, the Bandana Ball and countless other benefits. But did you know this couple would rather push up their sleeves than dress up?

Native Texans Carol and Tim Crowley are committed to their family and their community. Not surprising when you consider the backgrounds of this couple.

Tim was born in El Paso and came to Austin as toddler; Carol is part of the Covert clan of native Austinites. These University of Texas grads crossed paths not on the Forty Acres but at an Admirals Ball, the deb fête originally associated with AquaFest. Carol was making her debut and Tim was escorting another deb.

Clearly children Chris, 18, and Elizabeth, 12, are the center of Carol and Tim's volunteer activities — at Highland Park Elementary school, Lamar Middle School and McCallum High School. Raising money for the McCallum football booster club produces more than dollars because "Hopefully those kids feel the support of the parents," Carol says.

Carol chaired the Bandana Ball benefiting Ronald McDonald House twice and has been in charge of the holiday Lights of Love event. Tim and Carol have chaired the gala for the Children's Hospital. The Crowleys' commitment to health care for children was heightened when Chris spent a few days in Children's Hospital of Austin as a toddler. "Seeing the doctors diagnose and treat our child got us started supporting the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas," Tim says.

Both have served on the boards of educational and health nonprofit organizations. In addition Tim Crowley has served on the board of Goodwill Industries, was a founding board member of the Greater Austin Economic Development Corporation (now Opportunity Austin) and is treasurer of the Headliners Club.

Full plate? Not quite.

Before a crowd of 1,000 Austinites, Tim Crowley, president of the Austin Community Banking Group at Frost Bank, became the 2006 chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, familiar territory to the Crowleys. Carol's father, Dr. Frank Covert, and Tim's father, Dan Crowley, served as chamber chairs. "We have been lucky to have had families in which service in the community was an expectation," Tim says.

But you do not need to be Austin born and bred to participate in the gala social scene. "Austin is somewhat unique because it does not matter if you have been here 45 years or just moved here if you are interested or passionate you are welcome with open arms," Carol encourages natives and newcomers.

They are the real deal.

James Armstrong and Larry Connelly
Austin Museum of Art, Austin Lyric Opera

M. Ann and George Attal
Austin Galleries, Easter Seals, St. Stephen's Episcopal School

Judy and John Avery
Texas State University, Children's Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas

Jannis and Robert Baldwin
The Longhorn Foundation, SafePlace

Debby and John Burns
Austin Preservation Club, Settlement Home

Nicole Nugent Covert
University of Texas, Children's Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas, Friends of the LBJ Library

Joanne and Jack Crosby
The Rust Group, University of Texas, CinemaStar Luxury Theaters Inc.

Charmaine and Frank Denius
University of Texas, The Seton Fund

Beth and Tom Granger
The Seton Fund, Austin Community Foundation

Luci Baines Johnson
The LBJ Holding Company, Friends of the LBJ Library

Roger Joseph
Roger Joseph Developments, Inc., YMCA

Sue McBee
Austin History Center Association, Austin Community Foundation

Charmaine and Gordon McGill
Sydcor, University of Texas

Julie and Pat Oles
Barshop & Oles Co., Clayton Dabney Foundation

Quality Quinn
Austin Public Library Foundation, The Austin Project, Q2 Literacy Initiatives/Project EarlyWord, ARIES Alliance, Chamber Music Austin, Austin Film Society, Quality Irish Sporthorses

Catherine Robb
LBJ Library Future Forum, Austin Music Foundation, State Bar of Texas, KLRU, American Heart Association, Scenic Austin, University of Texas, Friends of the LBJ Library

Robin and Bud Shivers
Shivers Group Home, Shivers Cancer Center, The Seton Fund

Joan and Greg Talley
The Seton Fund, Junior League of Austin

Daphne and Ben Vaughn
St. Stephen's Episcopal School, The Seton Fund

Mercedes and Harry Whittington
Office of Patient Protection, Texas Funeral Service Commission