The gavel for Chapter 37 was presented to President Ferd Switzer by Henry de Puyjalon, Real Estate Agent, Gatineau Power Company, Hull Quebec, in behalf of C. Alton Locke, President of the retiring baby chapter, Quebec Chapter 34.
Master of Ceremonies Rosencrans then took the opportunity to introduce the Visiting Pilgrims (who made the meeting a tremendous success).
The Visiting Pilgrims were: Dan W. Rosencrans, National Chairman; Gene L. Land, National Director, Chapter 5; Henry de Puyjalon, National Director, Quebec Chapter 34; W.W. Shaw, President, Chapter 5; Roy A. Strobeck, Regional Chairman, Region 5; Fred A. Crane, Past National Chairman; Charles T. Davies, President, Chapter 33; William L. Blake, Chairman, National Educational Committee; Sam Houston, Past National Chairman; Dexter D. MacBride, National Secretary; Marvin J. Evans, Past Regional Chairman, Region 5; Charles A. Morill, National Director, Chapter 33; and Robert J. Gordon, National Director, Chapter 5.
W.W. Shaw, President of the Heart of America Chapter 5, then spoke to the assembly and bade a fond farewell to the former members of Chapter 5, now members of Chapter 37 and welcomed the new chapter and all its new members into the fellowship of the American Right of Way Association.
Roy A. Strobeck, Regional Chairman, Region 5 and Past President of Illinois Chapter 12 also welcomed the new chapter in the Association.
A descriptive presentation of the Purposes and Aims and Code of Ethics was made by Past National Chairman, Fred A. Crane. Mr. Crane pointed out that members or prospective members who do not or have no intention of living up to the requirements of the Purposes and Aims and Code of Ethics have no place in our organization.
Mr. William L. Blake, Chairman of the National Education Committee, then gave an inside view of the workings of this committee and what its goals are. His talk was titled, "Education, One of the Prime Purposes of our Association."
"Operations of our national and chapter Liaison Committees" was the topic of an address made by past National Chairman and currently Chairman of the National Liaison Committee, Sam Houston. Sam's remarks were certainly up to date as he had held a liaison session all day the day preceding the Charter Meeting. Several of the local companies and governmental agencies were represented at the meeting.
James L. Mummey from the United States Bureau of Public Roads was present to advise on federal participation and to answer questions.
The highlight of the evening came when the 'old pro" (an' he ain't so old) at speaking at these functions, our National Secretary, Dexter D. MacBride, spoke to the group. Dexter gave the native Missourians a wealth of little known history of the state in as short a time as it took most of them to read the program for the evening.
Through his historic treatment, Dexter went on to prove that Missouri, even before statehood, is and has been an important link in the development of the nation where rights of way are concerned. Some important points that he brought out were: the Cherokee Trail of Tears; the tow paths along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to permit the development of commerce by water; the Pony Express which started in St. Joseph, Missouri; the many stage lines, later the railroads, highways, pipelines and communication lines that cross the state and serve to link the nation together.
After Dexter's warmly received address, National Chairman Rosencrans made a few closing remarks and thanked the Visiting Pilgrims and many guests for helping launch Chapter 37.
The meeting was then turned over to President Switzer for a few closing remarks.
Following the close of the meeting a large segment of the attendees adjourned to the Zodiac Lounge, adjacent to the Starlight Room, for dancing.
In spite of the fact that St. Louis was in midst of a snowstorm approximately 135 members, friends and guests were in attendance.
George L. Horton served as Chapter 37's second President from 1962 to 1963. This article was printed in the January/February 1996 edition of "Right of Way" magazine published by the International Right of Way Association. By 1980, the American Right of Way Association had expanded into an international professional organization; thus, the name was changed to the International Right of Way Association to reflect this global role.
