The King
Mr. Charles Phillip McWane
Reigning over the 58th Beaux Arts Krewe Ball is his Royal Highness Charles Phillip McWane, a native of Birmingham and son of James Ransom McWane and Ada Bowron French McWane. His Majesty has been a member of the Krewe since 1997.
King Phillip is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Auburn University, where he received a degree in Industrial Management. Following graduation, he joined the family business, McWane, Inc. Among Birmingham’s oldest and continuously operating family-owned companies, McWane is a global manufacturer of iron products for water distribution as well as fire suppression products and propane tanks. King Phillip presently serves as Chairman of McWane, Inc. and is the company’s fourth generation of leadership.
Our Monarch is married to Lady Heather Armstrong McWane, and they have three children – Laura Elizabeth McWane, Kathryn McWane Gaston and William Douglas McWane – son-in-law Michael Joseph Gaston and daughter-in-law Kaitlin Lolley McWane. The King and his Lady have five grandchildren, all proudly supporting his Majesty as trainbearers.
King Phillip is a member of St. Lukes Episcopal Church. He serves on the Board of Children’s of Alabama and supports numerous philanthropic efforts, including the Jimmie Hale Mission and Vulcan Park Foundation, the latter of which recently honored his Majesty with a lifetime achievement award. He is also a member of Downtown Rotary, Redstone Club, Mountain Brook Club, and the Country Club of Birmingham. In his personal time, King Phillip enjoys golf, music and wing shooting.
King Phillip would like to thank the Beaux Arts Krewe for the privilege to serve and is honored to share the throne with Queen Emily Browning. His Majesty recognizes with gratitude all those whose tireless efforts make this annual event possible in the continued mission to support the Birmingham Museum of Art.
The Queen
Emily Browning Amason
Queen Emily Browning is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilbert Amason III. Emily Browning graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. She was on the academic High List every semester as well as a member of the Cross Country, Swimming and Track teams. She received the First 48 Award and Scholarship for representing the ideals of spiritual, moral, physical and intellectual leadership. She is a lifelong member of Saint Mary’s on the Highlands and a seventh generation Alabamian. Since elementary school her summers have been spent at Camp Merrie-Woode as a camper, Captain, counselor, and Would-Be Leader. Emily Browning was presented at Holiday Assembly and the Heritage Festival in Nacogdoches, Texas.
She currently attends Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, majoring in Journalism and Business Administration and an active member of the Delta Society serving as a member of the Standards Committee. She participates on the Appalachian Adventure Crew for Orientation and Fancy Dress Committee for the University. Emily Browning is a Desk Anchor for the Rockbridge Report and hosts a weekly radio program called “Emmie Ama(z)on shipping you tunes each Tuesday.”
Emily Browning is the granddaughter of Dr. Arthur Leo Speck of Nacogdoches, Texas, the late Dr. Nancy Carter Speck, and the late Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Gilbert Amason, Junior. The Queen’s sister and brother are here tonight. Edith King Amason is pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Ensign Thomas Gilbert Amason IV is a Submariner currently stationed at Joint Base Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.
Emily Browning is excited to follow in the path of her aunt, Caroline Amason Adams, who served as Queen of the Beaux Arts Krewe Ball in 1994, and grandfather “Papa Tommy” who ruled as King in 2016. Queen Emily Browning is not new to the Krewe having participated in several Balls before tonight. She served as a Train Bearer for her grandfather in 2016 and King William Alfred Bowron, Junior in 2017, as well as being a Royal Page.
Emily Browning is very honored to serve as the 58th Queen for the 2025 Beaux Arts Krewe Ball. She wishes to acknowledge the Krewe’s continued dedication to the Birmingham Museum of Art and expresses her sincere appreciation for all the members and people who have made this evening a success. She is humbled to have a court full of family and close friends celebrating her reign. She is honored to join King Phillip and Lady Heather in marking this momentous occasion.