'Dallas' star to address GOP women

The Lexington of Texas Republican Women's President's Day Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Methodist Church Annex, 424 St. Paul Street in Gonzales.

Keynote speaker for the evening will be Susan Howard-Chrane.

Born in Marshall, Susan Howard attended the University of Texas in Austin where she majored in theater arts. After college, she worked with the Los Angeles Reportory Company and landed a contract with Columbia/Screen Gems in the company's new talent program.

While under contract, she was brought to the attention of Tom Miller who was producing a TV movie of the week for Paramount called "Petrocelli." The movie was later turned into a series for NBC and starred Susan Howard, Barry Newman and Albert Salmi. She received both a Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy nomination for her performance as Maggie Petrocelli.

Following various movies and guest appearances, she was cast in the role of Donna Krebs on the TV series "Dallas." She spent nine years on the acclaimed show, garnering such awards as the Telegato from Italy, the Golden Bell from Taiwan, the Governor's Award for Excellence (California), the Kinor David from Israel, the Caritas from the John F. Kennedy Foundation and the Soap Opera Digest Award. As a member of the Writer's Guild of America, she wrote two of the "Dallas" episodes.

After "Dallas," Susan spent a year cohosting the 700 Club in Virginia Beach, Va. She starred in the Billy Graham film "Come the Morning" and was the spokesperson for the oil and gas industry of Oklahoma.

She served a four-year appointment by then-Gov. George W. Bush to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. She is currently serving on the Texas Game Wardens Commission of Operation Game Thief, the Advisory Council of the Parents Television Council and the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness (an appointment by Gov. Rick Perry).

She is the current treasurer of the Republican Party of Texas, and she is on the board of the National Rifle Association where she chairs the Public Affairs Committee. She was awarded the Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award by the National Rifle Association in 2001.

Susan is married to Calvin Chrane, and they have one daughter and two grandchildren. They are members of St. John's Lutheran Church of Boerne where they reside.

"Join the Lexington of Texas Republican Women in giving Ms. Susan Howard-Chrane a warm welcome to beautiful, historic Gonzales County," a member said. "The dinner is the LOTRW's annual fund-raiser, and in addition to Ms. Howard-Chrane's address, the evening will include a delicious meal, a raffle and door prizes. It promises to be a fun-filled evening."

Presale tickets are available through Monday, Feb. 9, for $15 and will be $20 at the door.

For tickets, contact any member of the LOTRW or the Organizational Committee: L. Hernandez, 672-9820; L. Armstrong, 672-2422; C. Kremling, 672-3842; K. Bahlmann, 437-2695; L. Tschappatt, 672-7271; D. Voigt, 672-2578; or M. McLeroy, 672-6265.