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Don
Gill has is a selfless fundraiser, especially for the PWA Holiday Charities,
an organization
for which he is Executive Director.
A forerunner of this organization was begun in 1987 by Marvin Davis,
aka Lady Victoria Lust.
They worked closely together during the last two years of Marvin's life
and it was only natural
Don took over the charity. And he not only assumed its helm in 1996
but enabled it to grow.
Over the years more and more events have grown in stature, such as the
PWA Holiday Charities
Christmas Show, the Christmas in July Show, the boy of Montrose Contest,
the girl of Montrose,
Night in Black Leather and others.
Originally from Leesville, Louisiana, he moved to Houston in 1970, and
opened his first business
in Montrose, Hair Plus by Don. His business is now called Studio 911
Salon. Like Marvin Davis,
his community work over the years has earned him many titles such as
Daddy of Montrose,
Mr Prime Choice and in 1995 Male Grand Marshal of the Pride Parade.
He was able to build the
PWA Holiday Charities from a charity that raised about $8000 a year
in 1996 to over $50,000
yearly by 2004, and currently over $80,000 per year.
In more years than not Don has been chosen
by readers of OutSmart Magazine as Favorite Male Fundraiser, and his
wall of plaques
somehow conflict with his natural humility.
Clppings
& Photos
This
Page, to 1996
Page 2, 1997+
Page 3 - Photos
Early
citings of Don in the media
1981
 
 
Above,
Don Dowden and Don Gill exchanging rings at first anniversary,
below with Tinker Dowden (Don's sister) at the Ripcord,
on stage cutting hair for the Military Ball the next day
and to the right, Don, 1975, doing Dolly
 
Below,
Mr Venture-N 1989
Above,
with Mark Blacksheer, at Fantasy Ball 1990
Jim
Nichols
1993
 
 
Above,
Mr Venture-N, 1993
Daddy
of Montrose, 1993
 
1994
Prime
Choice
Below,
Mr Prime Choice, 1994
 
Below,
Mr Prime Choice, 1994
 
Below
and Above Right, with Andrew Flores
1995
Pride
Grand Marshal, 1995
 
1996
And,
a Torch is Passed...
See Texas
Obituary Project Page for LVL
Below,
the best photo of them together, as taken just two days before Marvin's
death
On
to Page 2, 1997+
below,
special to Don...it was given to him by Andrew Thompson,
who passed away later that year
the flip image shows Andrew in a gym ad
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