Archive for September, 2009

Texas Auctioneers Association President Buddy Thomas presents the 2007 TAA Leadership Award to Mike Jones

Mike Jones, CAI, GPPA, President of Classic Auctioneers, Dallas, TX, United Country Auction Services, Kansas City, MO. and the Texas Auction Academy in Dallas was presented with the 2007 Leadership Award by the Texas Auctioneers Association at their 50th Anniversary Convention, held Saturday, June 16th in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Jones was recognized for his “leadership, untiring efforts, dedication and donations given to the association for the betterment of the professional auctioneer and the auction industry.” Mr. Jones is a Past President, Life Member and 1995 Texas State Champion Auctioneer. He was elected into the Texas Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame in 2005.

Mike and Lori Jones and Roger Staubach

On Sunday, March 25th, hundreds of patrons gathered in Dallas to help senior citizens in need. The event was the VNA’s (Visiting Nurses Association) inaugural event, “Wheels for Meals and More”.

Co-chaired by Dallas philanthropist’ Marianne and Roger Staubach, the event was presented by Bank of America. The evening which included a social hour and dinner, was highlighted by the Live Auction which included a “Fund-A-Cause” which raised over $100,000 to fund “Meals On Wheels” service for hungry seniors in Dallas County.

The gala had a NASCAR theme and was held in the Park Place Porsche Dealership garage. The Texas Instruments DLP Number 96 NASCAR which is owned by Hall of Fame Racing, a joint venture between former Dallas Cowboy Quarterbacks and NFL Super Bowl Hall of Famers, Staubach and Troy Aikman was on hand for the event.When it was time for the Live Auction to begin, Professional Auctioneer and President of United Country Auction Services announced “Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Bidding!” at which time the Number 96 Chevrolet was cranked up and the crowd jumped to attention.

Highlights of the auction included an autographed Talladega 2006 Nextel-Sprint Race Day Autographed Helmet for $5500, Infineon Raceway NASCAR Package in Sonoma for $6500, Cartier Ladies Watch, bought by Staubach for $6000, Texas Motor Speedway Package complete with helicopter arrival, $5000 and a Meal-A-Month for a year at Dallas’ finest restaurants brought in $5,000.

Robert P. Carpenter, President and Chief Executive Officer said that “Due to the support of Mike Jones, his team and United Country Auction Services, the VNA’s inaugural event, Wheels for Meals and More…exceeded our expectations and we are deeply grateful to you for enabling us to be the community’s provider for 3,200 men and women who count on VNA volunteers to help them maintain their health and independence.”

He added, “It is truly a life-essential program,” Mr. Carpenter said.

2007 Cattle Baron’s Ball

They may not be playing on the field at Texas Stadium anymore, but former Dallas Cowboys and NFL Super Bowl MVP Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith and Fullback turned Fox broadcaster Daryl “Moose” Johnston can still command royalty status in Dallas and it was never more apparent than on Saturday night, September 29th as dinner for 15 with the Cowboy greats at Del Frisco Double Eagle Steak House followed by an evening of No Limit Texas Hold-em fetched a whopping $100,000 at the 34th Annual Dallas Cattle Baron’s Ball held at the famed Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas just north of Dallas.

Several thousand of Dallas most prominent citizens and business leaders gathered wearing their finest alligator boots and Stetson hats at the former J.R. Ewing TV ranch to raise money to fight cancer and party hard. Super Model and Omega Watch Company spokesperson Cindy Crawford joined Auctioneer Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services, on the Bank of America Live Auction Stage to help energize the bidding on a 50th Anniversary Omega Speedmaster watch which included a personal tour of the Johnson Space Center given by General Tom Stafford, commander of the Apollo 10 and Apollo-Soyuz missions. Final bid $17,000.

This year’s event was headlined by the 2007 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley and supported by the loud and raucous sounds of part country duo-part circus act Big & Rich which features Dallas area native Country Rapper-Cowboy Troy. Country heart throb Paisley donated an on-stage serenade to the Live Auction that raised an additional $12,000 to the evenings cause.

Other highlights of the Live Auction included a 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL63, $140,000, Monaco trip $39,500, Celebrity Chef’s Napa wine package via private jet $60,000, Masters Golf trip, $35,000, autographed Brad Paisley hat and Big & Rich guitar, $8000 and a pair of Berretta 687 EELL Gallery Shotguns with Argentine hunt for $33,500. Lucky bidders also purchased over $100,000 in fine jewels from the likes of Harry Winston, Sue Gragg, Bova Diamonds, Noble Boutique, Gregg Ruth and Bachendorf’s.

This year’s event Chairman, Dallas attorney Gina Betts remarked, “This was our biggest and best year ever with the Live and Silent Auctions grossing over $2.1 million.” Adding,“Mike Jones our Auctioneer and his entire team were amazing as always!” All in all, the event grossed over $5.5 million. The event is the world’s largest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society with over $31 million being distributed to cancer research projects in Dallas County alone.

Mike Jones and Cindy Crawford

Auctioneer Mike Jones, CAI, GPPA, President, United Country Auction Services returned for his sixth year to conduct the “Live Auction”.

Mike Jones and Charlie Daniels raise money for St. Jude

Back in 2002 an auction of a few items to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at a party held in a North Dallas backyard brought in about $7000. Fast forward to late 2007 and the little party has become a major fundraising event for the Memphis based hospital which now includes a celebrity golf tournament, big name entertainment and an auction that has become the focal point of the party. The weeklong festivities were highlighted by the annual St. Jude “Evening Under The Stars” party held October 25th at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel resulting in total proceeds topping $917,000.

“It was the best we’ve ever had” said Joe Haggar, patriarch of the Haggar Clothing Company who has been involved since the start and helped organize the first event. Haggar, a member of the original St. Jude Hospital board which entertainer Danny Thomas helped form, is still a member today. Whatever I can do to help these kids is what we are all about and I receive far more from it than I what I give”, Adding, “We are so fortunate to have good people like Charlie Daniels, Event Chairman Michael Gruber, golf Chairman Derek Harper and Auctioneer Mike Jones helping us to make this such a huge success.

This year’s featured entertainment was Country Music and Southern Rock Star Charlie Daniels who flew in from Nashville to perform at Mr. Haggar’s request. Daniels, on a tight time line, performed and immediately headed back to Love Field for a private plane ride back to Nashville to record a new album the next morning. Backstage, Haggar thanked Daniels for traveling to Dallas, Daniels was quick to respond said “you don’t need to thank me, I should be thanking you for getting me involved with St. Jude.” Daniels, the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry and best known for his country hits like The Devil Went Down To Georgia, The South’s Gonna Do It Again and Uneasy Rider also serves on the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Professional Advisory Board.

Professional Auctioneer and Dallas area resident Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services and his team returned again to conduct the Live Auction. There is no way I would miss this one Jones said. Anytime Mr. Haggar calls you to do something, you don’t turn him down, he is one of my favorite people” he added. This year’s Live Auction highlights included a golf outing described as Golf Heaven for Eight via Private Jet to Kohler, Wisconsin brought in $60,000, Dancing With The Stars California trip $19,000, Private Party for 100 with 22 piece orchestra at the Dallas Arboretum $14,500, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins trip fetched $9,000, Black South Seas Pearl Earrings $9000, Samsung 500 NASCAR Racing Package from Roger Staubach and Hall of Fame Racing $8500, Palm Springs Golf Outing $8500, Crested Butte Ski Accommodations for 20 $7500, Meet Dirk Nowitski Package $5500 and a Football signed by Hall of Fame Quarterbacks signed by Staubach, Montana and Archie and Peyton Manning fetched $5500. All told, the evening festivities brought in over $317,000.

The St. Jude staff and volunteers are already gearing up for another great event in 2008.

United Country Auction Services President, Mike Jones and wife Lori had the great fortune of meeting pastor and #1 New York Times Best Selling author Joel Osteen during his visit to Kansas City.

On February 21, 2008 following the United Country Real Estate open house for affiliates, United Country Auction Services President, Mike Jones and wife Lori had the great fortune of meeting pastor and #1 New York Times Best Selling author Joel Osteen during his visit to Kansas City which coincided with the United Country Convention held at the Westin Crown Center.

As a pastor, Joel Osteen reaches one of the largest audiences in the United States and around world with more than 42,000 attending the Lakewood Church each week in Houston and millions more tune in by television to hear his words of inspiration and wisdom that teach finding a closer connection with God by learning to apply the principles of Scriptures to their everyday lives.

United Country Real Estate and United Country Auction Services kicked off their annual convention Friday, February 22nd with a state of the business address by Real Estate President, Lou Francis and Auction Services President, Mike Jones followed by CEO Dan Duffy’s 2008-2009 company vision. Over 600 United Country franchisees and associates from across America attended the three day event which featured Keynote Speakers Steve Murray, Editor of Real Trends and former major league baseball player, Tom Lundstedt, CCIM known as the funniest investment and tax guy in America.

The two day event featured an industry trade show, educational seminars and training. Topics included UC Auction Services, Technology Update, UC Marketing Services, UC Mortgage and UC Land Finance, Commercial Real Estate, Strategic Partnerships, Ancillary Services and Quality Certification training. The day ended with attendees enjoying a party complete with barbecue and dancing at the historic Union Station train station with the convention wrapping up Saturday night with the annual United Country dinner and awards presentation which featured the company’s top producers. It was announced that Las Vegas will be the site for the 2009 convention.

The Dallas Mavericks found the Ritz-Carlton Hotel to be the perfect place to be on March 21st as the NBA team celebrated by supporting the community at the 4th Annual Dallas Mavericks Foundation Tux & Tennies Gala, presented by Stanford Private Wealth Management. The event was a huge success with over Five Hundred Thousand Dollars being raised for the foundation.

The event was emceed by Dallas Mavericks guard Jason “The Jet Is On the Runway” Terry who showed that there is a network job waiting for him when his career has ended. He was assisted at the microphone by team President and CEO Turdema Ussery. All of the Dallas Mavericks players were in attendance. Also in attendance was Todd Wagner, former Broadcast.com partner of Mark Cuban and head honcho of 2929 Entertainment. Todd is also a philanthropist in his own right through The Todd Wagner Foundation. Also in attendance were former Dallas Mavs Eric Strickland, Rolando Blackman and Popeye Jones.

The Live Auction was the highlight of the night with Professional Auctioneer and President of United Country Auction Services officiating over the hilarious and spirited bidding. Auctioneer Jones, mixed it up with Terry and at times would prompt “The Jet” to encourage his fellow NBA players to “bid it up” to help those who needed help the most. Between the two of them, they were able to bring in over $200,000 with just four items. These were certainly not average items though and the bidding was spirited. One of the most beautiful items ever offered in a fundraising event was a one of a kind full size Swarovski Crystal Basketball autographed by league MVP Dirk Nowitzki which sold for $64,000, an evening with Jerry and Ramira Stackhouse at Dean Fearing’s new restaurant Fearings followed by a night at the Dallas Ritz-Carlton sold for $27,000, a rare collector bottle of Hennessey cognac brought in a whopping $20,000 but the highlight of the Live Auction was an MVP basketball clinic with 2007 NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and assistant coach Joe Prunty which fetched an evening high $100,000.

The night was fun and meaningful for everyone as Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks Foundation was able to make significant contributions to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital- received funding to purchase adapted daily living and mobility equipment., Vogel Alcove-received funding for their play therapy for homeless children, YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth-received funding for their New Lives/New Beginnings Childcare Program, Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center-received funding to purchase adapted daily living and mobility equipment horseback riding lessons and scholarships for children with disabilities, Community Partners of Dallas-received funding to help stock their Rainbow Room which serves more than 6,000 youth annually ages 0-17, The Family Place-received funding with new playground equipment and Kidney Texas-received funding for Camp Reynal at Camp John Marc in Meridian, Texas.