This is totally plausible. At
http://nol.hu/archivum/archiv-36035-24803 you can read the following story about Virgil Nagy:
``According to the anecdote, it was still dawn when a figure in black tie was climbing upwards on the scaffolding of the Eastern Railway Station under construction. Around seven o'clock, the ``ironminister'', Gábor Baross, also arrived to inspect the construction. He was also surprised to see the fragile figure in black tie in whom he recognized his ministry colleague.
-What are you doing here? - asked.
- Your Excellency, I have come to check the construction.
-Very well! But why in a black tie?
- The technician's ball ended at dawn, and I came straight from there,- the young engineer replied.''
There are a couple reasons, why the anecdote cannot be true in this format, but the article notes that this highlights how scrupulous he was, and, I would add, he would still not miss a ball.