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Hi Mike! I just wanted to thank you for the tremendous job you did for the Lamplighter Auction this year. You said you liked challenges, and boy did you ever meet them! It was the first time EVERY Live item sold for ABOVE its fair market value. You somehow managed to make very simple items into huge moneymakers by working the crowd.

I really enjoyed working with you this year, and I’m happy that next year’s team has you signed up to return.
Thanks again for all your hard work! Megan Ratcliff, Lamplighter Auction Chair 2016.

Entertainer Amy Grant has been affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia with both of her parents having this debilitating and life altering disease. Whether she is singing Christian music, Country or Christmas songs, she is so talented, funny and caring. She is the real deal! United Country Auction Services is proud to support Christian organizations dedicated to taking care of our fellow man whether young or old. Our Christian Care Center event Monday, November 17 at the Westin Galleria Dallas was inspiring, raising over $100k for memory technology and services for seniors at the new Allen, Texas facility. We pray you are never affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. God bless everyone who attended and supported CCC.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/dallas-county/2014/11/10/dallas-zoo-giraffe-name-kopano-in-online-vote/18811011/

Group Photo Caption: Doug Bradford, Lori Jones, Auctioneer Mike Jones, NBA Great Spud Webb, Mike Weaster, U.S. REO Partners, Montie Davis, Shaun Roberts and Bonne Whittaker, St. Jude/ALSAC.

September 16, 2014 (KANSAS CITY, MO) – Over $65k was raised Sunday, September 14th for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in a joint fundraising effort by members of U.S. REO Partners – Default and Real Estate Professionals, United Country Auction Services and United Real Estate – Dallas.

“We are ecstatic with the results of this year’s event” said Michael Weaster, representing U.S. REO Partners who helped organize the event. Weaster added “the auction produced twice the total amount raised in 2013 and we are already planning for next year’s event now”. Live Auction highlights included a signed Charlie Daniel’s fiddle, Autographed guitars by country music legends George Jones and Tanya Tucker, Trip to Puerto Plata Dominican Republic, Rare gold coin, Outer Bank, NC beach house, Computers and REO software.

The event included a special appearance by former NBA great and dunk champion Spud Webb and music by the Chris Watson Band. Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services and National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame member conducted the Live Auction and Fund-A-Need portion of the evening which brought in approximately $65,000. Bonne Whittaker with St. Jude/ALSAC spoke on behalf of the hospital and Michael Weaster, a Texas Auction

Academy graduate and U.S. REO Partners member emceed the event. The event took place at the popular Uptown Dallas restaurant Sambuca.

Mike and Lori Jones, TREPAC White Party 2014 Auction, April 24, Goss-Michael Foundation Foundation Building, Dallas Design District, Dallas, TX.

On a beautiful April night in Dallas, the valets ran non-stop as the “Who’s Who” of North Texas real estate arrived for what turned out to be the real estate professions party of the year. Over 300 poured into the Goss-George Foundation building on Turtle Creek Blvd, in the Dallas Design District to party, but along the way, they raised over $75,000 for the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) education.

Dallas Realtor Johnny Mowad and Kimberly Addison Kramer, Vice President of Lathram Pou & Associates, Lawyer’s Title, co-chaired this year’s event. “We are ecstatic with the results of this year’s auction” remarked Kramer, adding “all the funds raised are designated for educating real estate professionals about protecting private property rights”

The evening which included an art exhibition and live and silent auctions was one of the group’s best to date. Noted Dallas auctioneer and real estate broker, Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services and his team oversaw the live auction portion of the evening. “As a Texas real estate broker and educator myself, this is a very important group to me personally, needless to say, it was an amazing night!” adding, “the energy was high and you could tell during the live auction and the fund-a-need portion it was adding up quickly” The group is already preparing for the 2015 TREPAC White Party.

For those who could not attend in person or have not had the opportunity to see it, here is the always eloquent Hall of Fame Florida Auctioneer, Minister and Orator, Benny Fisher inducting Mike Jones into the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame, July 20, 2012 in Spokane, Washington.  Benny’s insight, foresight and compassion made this an induction for the ages.

Photo Caption: The United Classic Auctioneers Team: (L to R) Rich Schur, Shannon Schur, Harry Daffern, Lori Jones, Mike Jones, Phillip Braun and Rob Ruhde.

The United Classic Auction Team returned to Fort Worth August 24 to help Catholic Charities Fort Worth set a new fundraising record. The annual Noche De Fiesta event moved to the new Omni Hotel this year and the difference was noticeable. The look was fresh, the crowd was larger and the results speak for themselves. The event raised almost $700,000 with the “Paddles Up” bringing in over $325,000. Overall, the event raised $160,000 over the groups planned goal.

“I was just asked by another group if I would recommend you and of course I said yes! This was the best year we have EVER had!!! You were beyond amazing-THANK YOU!”

Rachel Roberts, LMSWt
Catholic Charities Fort Worth

Read the full write-up here on CultureMap Houston

Beto Pena Ringing at CBB Houston

Beto Pena Ringing at CBB Houston

Read the full write-up here on CultureMap Houston

$70,000 Pediatric Patients Children’s Hospital Designed Quilt

Mike and Lori at CBB Houston

It was an emotional and giving night as patrons packed the Omni hotel ballroom for the annual St. Jude Evening Under
the Stars Party benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital October 13th in Dallas. The event featured a great live auction, silent auction, Give to Live campaign and spirited performance by country’s John Rich and Kenny Alsphin better known as Big & Rich. The event brought in over $780,000 to benefit the children of St. Jude.

“Sold! $30,000 dollars …bidder number 921!” proclaimed United Country Auctioneer Mike Jones as an exclusive trip to Ireland set the tone for the Live Auction. The impressive trip did not include airfare, but featured exclusive golf outings and unique castle tours. Other auction highlights included a Virgin Islands trip $11,000, Dinner with Air Force pilot and United States patriot Scott McGrady $7000 and show stopping sapphire bracelet $7000.

The event marked the 50th Anniversary of the hospital founded by Danny Thomas and his friends. One of those close friends was a young Joe Haggar, Jr. who met Thomas when he was just 19 years old but was one of St. Jude’s most devoted and loyal supporters. Over $7.4 million dollars has been raised by a golf tournament Haggar started in 1995 and the St. Jude Evening Under The Stars Party added in 2002. Haggar passed away in June at age 87. Historically, it is noted his long tenure on the St. Jude hospital board and his recognition as being the clothier for President Lyndon B. Johnson.

It was obvious to all that attendees wanted it to be a special night of celebration and recognition for Mr. Haggar. Special honorees Mary and Mike Terry and ALSAC/ St. Jude CEO Rick Shadyac each openly expressed their love and appreciation for Mr. Haggar’s mentoring and inspirational lifestyle. Also in attendance, Isabell Haggar, his
wife of over 63 years who will continue the families support of St. Jude. This year’s event co-chairs were daughters Marian Bryan and Lydia Novakov.

Mr. Haggar had a huge impact on one of St. Jude’s corporate partnerships. He sat on the board of Brinker International during the time Chili’s began its partnership with St. Jude. His passion for the hospital inspired the Brinker leadership team and Norman Brinker, Doug Brooks and others that have followed in Mr. Haggar’s footsteps to carry the same love and passion for the hospital as Mr. Haggar always had. This partnership with Brinker and Chili’s has generated more than $41 million for St. Jude’s mission.

“We are very proud to have been involved and contributed to the St. Jude Evening Under the Stars Party event since the beginning and the hospital has become a very important part of our lives. I believe God sends us angels and for me personally, Mr. Joe Haggar, Jr. was one of mine.”

“It has been an honor to know Mr. Haggar and participate in his and Danny Thomas’ dreams.” remarked, Auctioneer Jones. Adding “the world would be a much better place if there were a million more Joe Haggar’s out there. We will miss him but will continue his dream and in time celebrate the elimination of childhood cancer”.

United Country Auction Services is a division of United Country Real Estate, the largest fully integrated network of conventional and auction real estate professionals in the United States and Central America. The company has been an innovator in real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports nearly 550 offices across the U.S., Costa Rica, Panama and resort areas of Mexico, with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes one of the largest portfolios of property marketing websites (more than 3,000 separate sites and traffic of approximately 3 million visitors per month), United Country reaches more than 90 million homes per week. United Country has recently been recognized by Franchise Business Review, AllBusiness.com, The Land Report, Entrepreneur and The Wall Street Journal as one of the top U.S. real estate companies.

Jones is the President of United Country Auction Services and has been an auctioneer for over 33 years conducting over 3000 auctions. He is the only member of the National Auctioneers Association to attain the NAA “Triple Crown”, as the 1998 International Auctioneer Champion, 2004-05 Past President and 2012 NAA Hall of Fame member. Jones is also President of the Texas Auction Academy training school and conducts over 100 charitable auctions per year. Jones clients include the National Football League, Ducks Unlimited, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and others. He has been featured on numerous television programs including the Kathy Griffin Show, FX Breakfast Time, Texas Country Reporter and Fast and Loud. To learn more, go to www.classicauctioneers.com and www.ucauctionservices.com