For The Daily Southerner
RALEIGH —
Robert Walker Hobson, president of the Terpsichorean Club of Raleigh, announced that invitations have been issued to the 84th annual North Carolina Debutante Ball.
The event will be held in Raleigh from Sept. 9-11. The formal presentation of young ladies from across the state will highlight the weekend festivities.
Catherine Clare Mayo of Tarboro has been selected for the 2010 ball. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Coakley Mayo Jr. of Tarboro.
The Terpsichorean Club, comprised of young gentlemen from the Raleigh area, was formed in the 1920s to sponsor an annual state-wide Debutante Ball to present North Carolina's prominent young ladies and to honor their families.
The ball has been given every year since 1923 with the exception of the years during World War II.
Young ladies are selected by over 200 nominators located throughout the state. Final approval of the debutantes are made by the Terpsichorean Club members.
The young ladies' invitations are extended in recognition of the contributions their families have made to the economic, cultural, social and civic life of North Carolina.
The Leader of the Ball is chosen from Wake County's debutantes and 14 young ladies from throughout the state are also honored by being named Assistant Leaders.
During the ball weekend, there will be eight functions held in honor of the debutantes, their families and their escorts.
The formal presentation at Meymandi Concert Hall on Sept. 10, will be a focal point of the weekend.
Marvin Burke Koonce III has been selected as chairman of the 2010 Ball. He will lead a committee of Terpsichorean Club members who supervise all arrangements.
Mrs. George Ragsdale Young is chairwoman of the Girls Committee.
The ladies on the committee plan and coordinate the functions of the ball weekend.
Officers of the Terpsichorean Club, in addition to Koonce and Walker Hobson are: Vice President Thomas Grantham Fisher Jr., Secretary-Treasurer William Ward Allen and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer William Crosswell Bowen III.
