The March class of the America’s Auction Academy in Dallas went all out to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Texas Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital and the National Auctioneers Association Auxiliary on March 4, 2006 by raising a record breaking $17,647.50.
Traditionally, auction school classes conduct an in-house fun auction comprised of items they donate and items donated by the school and the designated charities.
One of the highlights of the auction was an emotional appearance by former auction school graduate Bill Vaughan. His son Will was stricken by cancer just weeks after completing auction school in the late 90’s. Bill had purchased a St. Jude tie during his class auction. Ultimately, with the combined efforts of Children’s Medical Hospital in Dallas and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, his son survived the life threatening disease and thrives today. Donned in his coach’s uniform and arriving straight from the field where he was coaching his son’s baseball team, he auctioned off a stuffed monkey that a student donated for $1,400. The buyer, Terry Fagerstrom, then gave the monkey to Bill to take home. In addressing the students, Bill spoke of the good works that the hospitals do and how much impact even the smallest donation can make.
Other highlights included a St. Jude scarf modeled by school Administrator, Lori Jones, which sold twice for a combined total of $1,600, tickets to two upcoming Houston Texans games for a total of $1,500, a gavel tie sold by Guest Instructor Jim Sample for $425, and NAA Auxiliary prints that brought in $1,275.
The class was comprised of forty seven students representing a cross section of America including Maryland, Michigan, Washington, South Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Known as “America’s Auction Academy”, the America’s Auction Academy was originally opened by nationally recognized auctioneer Mike Jones of Dallas in 1992. The school specializes in auctioneer training and offers a comprehensive 83 hour, nine day class concentrating on the auction method of marketing and bid calling techniques. Instructors cover all areas of auctioneering including real estate, auto auctions, business liquidations, livestock, equipment, government sales, auction technology and fund-raising. The staff is comprised of successful auctioneers from across the United States including international and state champion auctioneers and industry leaders. The America’s Auction Academy is Texas Workforce Commission approved and can be found on the worldwide web at www.texasauctionacademy.com.
