Tau Chi - Hall of Fame



Tau Chi offers a dozen roses to our most honored members






Photo of Peggy and Mel

When Peggy (Rudd) Thorne, Ed.D. encountered her husband’s need for feminine expression, she made her adjustment, then set out to educate Society about this misunderstood group. With her sensitivity, empathy and positive outlook on life, she published the classics “My Husband Wears My Clothes”, “Crossdressing with Dignity”, and “Who’s Really from Venus? “The research on a large number of crossdressers cited in the second book, dramatically furthered the body of knowledge about this poorly understood subject. Although she published those books many years ago, they remain the gold standard for crossdressers who wish to share their feminine needs with their wives and families.

Through the years Melanie and Peggy worked steadfastly to lead crossdressers and their families to self-acceptance and self-esteem. They loved to cruise. Wanting to share that interest with others, they established Dignity Cruises that ranged all over the world. Sailing with them, many went out in public for the first time, and gained needed confidence as a result. Active throughout Tri-Ess, they served on their chapter’s Board of Directors. After Tri-Ess established the Spouses' and Partners’ International Conference for Education (SPICE), Peggy served as Chair of the Planning Committee and Director of SPICE. At the Houston Unity Banquet, Melanie and Peggy donated a scholarship to a worthy transgender person to be used to further knowledge about LGBT people. Far and wide their educational outreach went- to crossdressers and family, helping professionals, and educators. When they retired from Dignity Cruises, they left the name to Tri-Ess. To this day, the Dignity Cruises run annually.

In recognition of their powerful positive impact, they received a Trinity Award from the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) and Tri-Ess’s highest honor, the Leader-Servant Award.

This tribute from Outsmart says it all. Although written about Peggy, it applies to them both:

... knew no prejudice and envisioned a world where there was none, and spent all ... available energies to move closer to that goal. In recognition of these efforts, Houston Mayor Lee Brown declared April 17, 2001” Peggy Thorne Day” for her work in fostering unity in the City of Houston.




Mary Frances Abbott Micheletti (Feb. 13, 1949-Jan.7, 2016)

The eldest of four sisters, Mary grew up in Mission, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. Her luminous intelligence was apparent from an early age, and she was Valedictorian of Mission High. From there, she went to Rice University, where she graduated with a degree in History. It was there, at the Newman Catholic Student Center, that she met the love of her life, Gil. They were married at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Mission. Two sons were born to them, -- Robert Gil and David Paul. They now have four grandchildren, Andrew, Elisa, Mary, and Lillian.

Mary lived to serve God and fellow creatures. Devoted to family, she taught her children kindness, selflessness, and Christian values. Mary loved to glory in God's creation. She enjoyed her garden and was familiar with every flower native to Texas. She had a special bond with animals and enjoyed watching them on their rounds.

When she and Gil were married, Mary was unaware of Gil’s feminine side because he, too, had not discovered it. As soon as he did, he shared it with Mary. A capsule summary of their conversation went like this:

Mary- "If you want to fool around with hormones or become a woman, I’m out of here.”

Gil- "There is no way you will lose your husband to crossdressing.”

Mary- “Does this feminine side of yours have a name?”

Gil-" Yes, it’s Jane.”

Mary- "Then we’ll just make Jane the best lady she can be.”

She was better than her word. Not only was she completely supportive, with sensible boundaries, but she went to work to make the world a happier place for crossdressers and their families. Perceiving that there was little for the wives of crossdressers in Genderland, she set about providing new resources. Together with Jane, she founded the Spouses’ and Partners’ International Conference for Education (SPICE). Starting as a wives’ conference, it evolved into a relationship-building convention for couples. For 12 years, this successful conference saved many marriages, leading to much happiness and fulfillment. While raising her two sons, she spent 60 hours a week for 16 years as editor of the Tri-Ess quarterly journal, the “Mirror”, gathering articles from around the community, encouraging submissions from chapters, and writing under her pen name, Frances Fairfax. In 2006, she was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia, but she continued on as Editor-in-Chief until 2010, when she was unable to publish it, even with help. An indefatigable worker, she got out 64 straight timely issues of the “Mirror”, served as Secretary of the Tri-Ess Board of Governance and worked on the Board of Directors of her local chapter, Tau Chi of Houston. For her many contributions to the community, she was awarded a Trinity accolade by the International Foundation for Gender Education, a Lifetime Service Award by the Houston Transgender Community, and the transgender community’s highest honor, the Virginia Prince Lifetime Service Award.




Lola (spouse of Gail for 52 years) was active Member of Tau Chi Chapter since 1988.

She attended all the chapter meetings and BRU events. She also was a founding member of the wives club meetings to help new members wives come to terms with their husband’s crossdressing. Lola knew of her husband ‘s proclivity for female clothing before they were married in 1971 but still married him because she realized that they loved each other and crossdressing was only a part of his life and he still worked and lived as male most of the time and would not be a transexual. Lola was a loyal member of the Tau Chi Chapter, and attended all the meetings that Gail went to, and went to conventions such as the Holliday Enfemme, Spice, the Tea Party (seven times) and all the unity banquets. She was also the stylist for Gail where she would help her present her best female appearance.

She would buy him female clothing and makeup that she thought would look good on him so we wouldn’t be embarrassed at the meetings. She passed away on September 28, 2023, after long illness. She will be missed


Photo of Robyn

Robyn (Bob) Berry and wife Pat both passed away in 2021. They were members of Tau Chi chapter since 1990-2021. Robyn (aka Bob) graduated from University of Houston in 1969 and joined the army as a captain and went to Vietnam for a year. Returning from Vietnam Robyn joined the Houston Police Department and achieved the position of detective. After 7 years at HPD he joined the railroad and became an engineer.

Robyn became a board member in Tau Chi Chapter and volunteered to publish the Chapter Newsletter.

The Tri-Ess Chapter in Houston was first organized in February of 1981 as Tri-Delta with an initial membership of 14. With the creation of the Gulf Coast Transgender Club, GCTC, in 1986, there was a re-organization and Tau Chi became the Tri-Ess Chapter serving Southeast Texas.

Tau Chi is a non-profit organization focused on providing support, education and outreach to single and married heterophilic crossdressers and their spouses, significant others, families and friends.

We welcome everyone to our internet home. We are NOT an adult site and DO NOT have any links to adult-only sites. Through visiting our home we hope that we can provide information to educate you on the "gender gifted" crossdresser and invite you to join Tau Chi, if you meet our membership requirements.

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