The History of the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis District
The
first Kiwanis Club in what is now the Texas-Oklahoma District, was
officially completed February 10, 1917, at Dallas, Texas, with a
membership of 200. The charter was presented on March 28, 1918.
Records indicate Dr. J. L. Holloway was the first President, with
H. L. Kelley as Secretary. It is not intended to glorify the
Dallas Club (00029), but being the first club west of the Mississippi,
with the exception of St. Louis, its formation was very important event
in Kiwanis history, as subsequent events proved.
The second club in the
District was officially completed on April 25,1918, at Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma (00087), with charter membership of 200. The charter was
presented by Orville Thorpe, of Dallas. First President was
Edward Howell; first Secretary was Howard T. Deupree.
The third club in the
district was Tulsa, Oklahoma (00124), completed June7, 1918, with a
charter membership of 150. The charter was officially presented
to the club January 13, 1919, by Joe A. Garrety, of Dallas. The
first President was John R. Woodward; the first Secretary was W. B.
Miller.
Due to the increasing number
of clubs across the country, and realizing the value of District
organization be set up. In October 1918, the Dallas Club selected
one of its members to serve as interim Governor of the Texas-Oklahoma
District until an organization conference would be arranged. The
first meeting was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and on February 10, 1919, the
Texas-Oklahoma District was organized. Joe Garrety, Kiwanis Club
of Dallas, Texas, who was selected for the interim organization, was
elected Governor.
In his capacity as
International Secretary. Sam Cummings conducted the official
organization meeting. His recommendation that the clubs of the
States of Texas and Oklahoma be combined to form the Texas-Oklahoma
District, was confirmed at this meeting.
The first
District Convention, was held on September 1-2, 1919 at Fort Worth,
Texas. The last convention of the Texas-Oklahoma District was
held in Amarillo, Texas. |
