Houston Mortgage Bankers Association welcomed Houston Chronicle columnist and “Drive-thru Gourmet” Ken Hoffman as speaker for their July 13 luncheon meeting at Maggiano’s restaurant.

 HMBA President Greg Burkett introduced Hoffman who regaled the audience with a hilarious, semi-serious account of bodily injuries he had received in the course of his long journalism career. His list of painful encounters included confrontations with singer Rudy Vallee, basketball great Clyde Drexler, tennis champion John McEnroe, and the owner of the famous Lombardi’s Pizza in New York City, among others. At the conclusion of Hoffman’s remarks, Burkett presented him with a check from HMBA for his favorite charity, CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection).

Burkett announced that upcoming HMBA meetings will include a presentation on the city’s finances by 2015 mayoral candidate Bill King on August 10 and a “Distinguished Producers” panel to be held in September.