Organized 1959
Way back in 1956 Alzafar Temple went to an All State in Fort Worth. While all the Units of all the Temples were lining up for the Big Saturday All State Parade, the Drum Corp also was standing in line waiting for the parade, a group of newly formed clowns from another Temple was playing around and entertaining people on the side lines. Four men from the Drum Corp decided to start a clown unit. After several meetings, they couldn't get off the ground, so things fell by the wayside; but one fellow kept on trying by gathering all the necessary gear and performing at parades along with the Drum Corp-in street parades. Then one Drum Corp meeting night in 1958 this clown was sitting in the back of the room talking to a new member of the Drum Corp. As things got along in the meeting Bill Coffey started telling Red Ferguson all about how and what a Clown should be and do. They were asked to keep quiet or step outside in the hall and talk. They stepped outside and decided to start making the plans for getting a new unit approved and organized. Recruiting started then and there by getting Hubert Cotton and Morris Miller, Raymond Clarke, and K. J. Smith came next. Then the ball started rolling. Bill Cauvel, George Reed and Frank Barneet joined. All that was needed was the good graces of the high office of Floyd Griffen, Potentate. This was obtained and Floyd Griffin helped make us the greatest Unit. During our first year we had more than our share of help from one of our best friends, Henry Eitt, Jr. Potentate. Coming into the Clown fold later were such good clowns as Buddy Parker, Lucky Box, Hugh Conaughty, Don Fix, Tom O'Leary, Carl Dorman, Ed Travis, Harvey Harper, George Vanderhule, Charlie Nichols, George McClaugherty, John Pletz, Jess Renfrou and our one social member and big supporter Clarence Miller.
