Catering company a ‘no show’ at Franklin’s military ball; community steps in with food

A local catering company was a ‘no show’ at Franklin High School’s Military Ball, Saturday, organizers said.

Franklin High School’s ROTC program worked all school year to raise hundreds of dollars through bake sales and community service. In February, the students say they met and hired a man representing himself as Chef Anthony Copeland, the owner of “Creative Chefs of El Paso.” They say they met with him at a home, and paid a deposit of $742. Text messages show both parties agreed to see each other again on the day of the military ball in April.On Saturday, students say the company did not show up, leaving the students and at least 130 people in attendance, without food.

“All the numbers he had given us had been disconnected so we were kind of freaking out, panicking,” Franklin High School Air Force JROTC student Jillian Jones said.

“Everytime we callled it, it came back with this number has been deactivated,” JROTC Cadet Commander David Bustamante said.

Though Copeland was a no show, the night wasn’t ruined.

“We weren’t going to let a unfortunate situation ruin our military ball. These kids are taught to learn to adapt,” JROTC Major Todd Parsont said.

And adapt they did. As soon as parents posted the dilemma on Facebook– donations started rolling in. Parents like Dan Bustamente chipped in with 35 Little Caesars Pizzas.

“Everything turned out fine for them, but it could’ve been a lot worse,” Bustamante said.

Family friends Dan and Patti Olivas bought more than $300 worth of Rudy’s Barbecue.

“We got there in t-shirts and jeans but the kids stepped in and took over,” Patti Olivas said.

Together, the Olivas and Bustamante families and students began serving pizza, ribs, salad and cake.

“I’m hoping the takeaway for the kids is this is real life,” Dan Olivas said.

It wasn’t the dinner they paid for…It was better.

“They showed their medal, they showed what they were made of,” Major Parsont said.

“They got the rest of the ball rolling. Instead of ending with zero we got so much more than we could’ve asked for,” Bustamante said.

The school had filed a police report. EPISD Police say they will pursue charges against Copeland. District Spokesman Gustavo Reveles says the district will no longer do business with Creative Chefs of El Paso and will not include it on list of approved businesses for student functions. A phone number for Copeland was disconnected. A Facebook page and website were both deactivated.

Copleland’s LinkedIn profile lists him as owner and executive chef of Downtown restaurant Brehane’s. ABC-7 stopped by the listed address and the restaurant was closed and the site was up for rent. According to a nearby business, Brehane’s stopped operating about three to four months ago.