Organized 1950
Turning back the years of time, in 1949 there was not a Chanter Unit in Alzafar Temple. To the best of our knowledge when the Annual Texas Shrine Association held their convention, several Texas Temples did have an organized Chanter Unit; Ben Hur, Austin, Moslah, Ft. Worth, Arabia, Houston and El Mina, Galveston. On such occasions several of the Nobles from Alzafar's Drum & Bugle Corp, got together for a little sing along sessions and derived pleasure in doing so. One of the Nobles, who now is a Charter member of our unit, took upon himself the task of organizing a singing Unit for Alzafar. Noble Carl "Pop" Herbel, who attained this title for the Noble who sought the assistance of our then Potentate Roy Akers, all credit goes to Carl and Roy for the organization of the AIzafar Shrine Chanters. Potentate Roy Akers who loves to sing, was all out for helping "Pop" Herbel to get things started. They met with opposition for securing funds, so Roy Akers took upon himself to finance from his own personal fund to purchase the the first music repertory. Noble Carl Herbel was able to obtain our first Director Noble Al. J. Pesses, who in the past had conducted a Glee Club in' the United States Navy. Al would only take on the directorship with the understanding, be did not expect or want any salary paid to him by the Temple. Noble Ivan Stenberg, a member of Alzafar's band offered his services as accompanist and was readily accepted. Noble Charles A. "Sonny" Blevins was elected as the first president and Noble Henry Omura as secretary. We cannot express enough praise for the above mentioned Nobles in the way they deserve credit for the many hours they contributed in the organization of our Unit. This all happened in the year of 1950, they began rehearsals and making public appearances under the name of Alzafar Choral Group. Later they joined the Texas Shrine Chanters. Association and became known as the Alzafar Shrine Chanters. The original chartered membership consisted of twenty singing Nobles who were Nobles Carl "Pop" Herbel, Dr. H. E. Weiser, Fred C. Wagner, Gilbert Meir, 0. Z. Gulledge, Charles A. "Sonny" Blevins, Rex Logan, Otto Hilgers, William V. Beckman, W. R. Scruggs, Floyd L. Kelley, Henry F. Omura, A. L. Kull, Harry Becher, I. A. Bentley, Win. H. Rockman, L. T. Cushing, W. H. "Bill" LeMay, Ivan Stenberg and Al J. Pesses. Today Alzafar Chanters membership consists of forty-five members, five of which are associate members. Certainly this start and growth could not have been accomplished without the cheerful and willing assistance given to us, at the origin by then Potentate Roy Akers and the hard work of Noble Carl "Pop" Herbel, may Allah bless you for all your time and effort to get us organized.
Alzafar Chanters have had four Directors to serve us, Nobles Al J. Pesses, Artells Dickson, John Buchanan and our present Director Dr. Ivan F.. Horne. The following Nobles have served as Presidents,
1950 - Charles A. "Sonny" Blevins
1951 - W. R. Scruggs
1952 - Dr. Win. D. Harper
1953 - George L. Bishop
1954 - Jack Carlile
1955 - Jack Reynolds, Sr.
1956 - Cliff Barnes and
1967 - Edgar E. Pace
1958 - Wm. W. Rutledge
1959 - Cameron B. Sherry
1960 - Jess L. Essex
1961 - Louis Cindy
1962 - Joe Burg
1963 - William A. Werderman
1964 - Wallace J. McKenna
1965 - Gene S. Olson
1966 - C. Ray Davis
The Alzafar Shrine Chanters have appeared and sang for many occasions and organizations such as our Masonic Blue Lodges, Scottish Rite, Knights Templar, Daughters of the Nile, Eastern Star, De Molay, Rainbow Girls, various churches, Home for the Aged, State Hospital, Orphans Home and during the Christmas Holidays at the Robert B. Green and Santa Rosa Hospitals in the children's ward, we distributed gifts and candy to the children and we had our very own Santa Claus, who also has played the part of Santa at all our Children's Christmas Parties held at the Temple, he has done this for many, many years our own Noble George D. Talley, in doing this with the aid of Santa Claus we have brought many smiles to the little sick patients at these hospitals.
In the heart of each Chanter there is deeply rooted, as all the other Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the sincere desire, in what ever we do to help aid and assist the staff and patients at our many Children's Hospital and Burn Institutes throughout North America, in any way possible. They are always in our prayers and hearts to get well soon and learn to SMILE again.
R. E. RUDY HUNKE
Reporter
