Houston, December 17: On Sunday, January 9, join “A Conversation with James A. Baker III & Susan Garrett Baker with Jim McGrath” at The Heritage Society’s “An Evening of Heritage” event. This grand event starts at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a Sunday supper and music by Jerry Atwood.

“Starting off the new year with native Houstonian and former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker all in the name of Houston history is an impressive 2022 resolution,” The Heritage Society’s executive director, Alison Bell said. “We are excited to host this fundraising event chaired by Betty and John Cabaniss that will be held in a spacious tent in Connally Plaza thanks to board member and sponsor Kirksey Gregg Productions.”

James Addison Baker III is an American attorney, statesman, and political figure. He served as White House Chief of Staff and United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Ronald Reagan, and as U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush. His father was a partner of Houston law firm Baker Botts. He and his wife, Susan Garrett Baker, currently reside in Houston and have eight children and 17 grandchildren.

“An of Evening of Heritage promises to highlight the interesting life of the Bakers since Jim McGrath is conducting the interviews,” The Heritage Society’s president, Minnette Boesel said. Boesel shared that McGrath worked for the White House as a speechwriter, producing hundreds of speeches, statements, and video presentations in dozens of foreign countries and most of the 50 U.S. states.

“Baker and his family had a quest to preserve the Baker Family Playhouse in the name of Houston history,” The Heritage Society’s development director, Laura Woods said. “The 128-year-old Baker Family Playhouse is likely the oldest standing children's playhouse in Texas and has dwelled behind five grand Houston homes and survived at least 10 significant Texas Gulf Coast hurricanes before being moved to The Heritage Society.”

For tickets and information about An Evening of Heritage, please contact lwoods@heritagesociety.org.

More about The Heritage Society: Founded in 1954 by a number of public-spirited Houstonians to rescue the 1847 Kellum-Noble House from demolition, The Heritage Society has since saved an additional nine historic buildings, moved them from various locations to join the Kellum-Noble House in Sam Houston Park, and restored them to reflect their respective eras. These 10 buildings, along with the museum gallery, serve as historic reference points and exhibition spaces for more than 23,000 artifacts that document life in Houston from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. For more information about Houston history tours and venue rentals, please see www.heritagesociety.org or call 713-655-1912, ext. 114.