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Beaumont Convention and Visitor Bureau
Couples are coming together to serve up laughs, food and a few pointers on marital bliss with the “Not-So Newlywed Game” event, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 9, all to benefit the work of Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas.
The fifth annual Not-So Newlywed Game will feature five local couples vying to outwit their opponents at the Beaumont Event Centre, 700 Crockett St., beginning at 6 p.m. with dinner and drinks as the couples answer questions about their spouses of 10 years or more.
This year’s celebrity couples are Ray Callas, a Beaumont anesthesiologist, and wife Lisa; attorney Brent Coon and wife Lisa; Frank and Katie Celli; 136th District Court Judge Baylor and Lindsay Wortham; and Orange Mayor Larry Spears and wife Trisha.
Serving as this year’s judges are Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick, and his wife Sherrie, and Orange County Judge John Gothia, and his wife Glynis. Emcee duties will be manned by Misty and Brent Goodridge and Mary Ann and Robert Reid.
Proceeds from the event, which will honor Nathan Cross, will provide mental health counseling for women and children who live in Southeast Texas. Cross served as a Beaumont ISD school board member after the Texas Education Agency intervened and appointed him to the group of trusted managers; a position he held until June 2020.
Cross was born in Louisiana in 1942, but still made it to Texas in his formative years. I
mmediately after graduating from French High School in Beaumont, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in various places, and met his wife, Jo Ann, during this time.
Nathan and Jo Ann shared their first date going to the beach for the day with a group of friends.
Nathan, having a way with words, stole the heart of his soon-to-be betrothed with ever-so-romantic:
“Will you go with me to the beach? I’ve called everyone else I know, and they all said no.”
Unable to pass up a chance with such a sweet-talker, Jo Ann took up Nathan on the offer – over 60 years ago, and they’re still together.
Nathan and Jo Ann have no not so new w amassed three children: John Cross, Sr., Cheryl Foster, and Amy Rinando; six grandchildren: John Cross, Jr., Josh Ratcliff, Lizzie Radabaugh, Chase Ratcliff, Anna Rinando and Nick Rinando; and two great-grandchildren: Jack Ratcliff and Sunny Ratcliff.
Over the years, the couple has stuck it out as Nathan transitioned from military life to college life to business life. Shortly after his graduation in 1973 from Lamar, Nathan became partner at the local finance firm to form Edgar, Kiker & Cross.
He retired in 2013 but the firm is still in practice to this day.
Nathan has always enjoyed working in the community and making our city a better place for the future generations, he said, underscoring his life motto: “Leave it better than how you found it.”
Tickets can be purchased at www.tickettailor.com. Prices are $75 per person, $145 for two.
Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible in keeping with the IRS regulation.
For more information, visit www.sccset.org.