The Fortunate 500: Heritage stars

People whose socializing derives from (relatively) deep Austin connections

By Janet Wilson
May 12, 2005

Photo by Matt Rourke/AA-S LUCI BAINES JOHNSON heritage/business/charity/arts/politics
THE FORTUNATE 500
All stars	Art stars
Music stars	Education/Charity stars
Food stars	Literary/Media stars
Heritage stars	Film stars
Business/High Tech stars	Politics/Law stars
Sports stars	Fashion stars
Part-time Austinites

Luci Baines Johnson learned the art of social communication from the best -- her dad, President Lyndon Baines Johnson. While campaigning for re-election in 1964, the president gave his then 16-year-old daughter an assignment: after each event, return to him with the names of three strangers and report three things important to each of them.

The lesson stuck.

Now an accomplished businesswoman and philanthropist, Luci Johnson, 57, is still appearing at social and political functions, seeking out strangers, asking what is important in their lives.

"It's possible to go to events and chatter about the weather and come away not having learned a thing, feeling like it was a pretty superficial experience," Johnson says. By vowing to meet someone new every time, "my world is permanently enriched."

Her involvement in Austin's social scene "comes from a desire not to be a part of social events, but to be a part of social service," she says. "It comes from the value system my family handed down -- to whom much is given, much more is expected."

There are always more solicitations and invitations than she can accept. And sometimes, she asks, "Can I just write a check?"

That's because at this juncture of her life, Johnson prefers to devote her energy and attention to her 92-year-old mother, former first lady Lady Bird Johnson, her four children and nine grandchildren. (The 10th grandchild arrives in October.)

If you see her chatting at a fund-raising party, there's a good chance a family member or loved one was instrumental in the soiree. No way would she have missed the Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas gala in February. It was a worthy cause and her daughter Nicole Nugent Covert chaired the event.

Johnson thinks it is important to pass the baton to the next generation. That way, she can continue supporting community causes, but spend time with what means most: her family.

More heritage stars

James Armstrong and Larry Connolly arts/education/heritage
M. Ann and George Attal arts/heritage/business/charity
Lucky Attal heritage/business/arts
Judy and John Avery heritage/law/charity
Jannis and Robert Baldwin heritage/politics/charity
Amanda and Alec Beck heritage/charity
John and Debbie Burns heritage/charity/business
Renee and Eddie Butler heritage/charity
Nicole Nugent Covert heritage/charity
Joanne and Jack Crosby heritage/charity
Carol and Tim Crowley heritage/business/charity
Charmaine and Frank Denius heritage/politics/education/law/charity/sports
Jannette Fish heritage/business/charity
Beth and Tom Granger heritage/charity
Millie Holmes heritage/charity
Lady Bird Johnson heritage/charity/business/politics
Roger Joseph heritage/business/charity
Rita and Matt Kreisle heritage/business
George Kuykendall heritage/business/politics
Sue McBee charity/arts/politics/heritage
Charmaine and Gordon McGill heritage/charity/business
Carol and Tom Nelson heritage/charity
Julie and Pat Oles business/heritage/charity/arts
Quality Quinn heritage/charity/literary
Mike Reynolds heritage/charity
Catherine Robb heritage/charity
Joy Scott heritage/charity
Robin and Bud Shivers heritage/charity/politics
Joan and Greg Talley heritage/business
Beau Theriot heritage/arts/food/charity
Daphne and Ben Vaughn heritage/charity
Mercedes and Harry Whittington business/heritage/politics
Diana and Rodger Williams heritage/charity
Evan Williams heritage/business/charity
Mary and Will Wilson heritage/charity