Texas Voyageur News (TVN) Volume 62, Issue 2

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND du TEXAS WINNER OF THE ARTHUR MCDOWELL AWARD 1991 – 1992 – 1993 – 1994 – 1995 – 1996 BEST GRAND VOITURE PUBLICATION IN THE NATION WITHOUT ADVERTISING AND WINNER OF THE ROBERT KASEMAN AWARD 2018

Summer 2019

Welcome Back Potter County Voiture 689 In a time when we too often see charters surrendered the Voyageurs Militaire of Amarillo made proper application for the reinstatement of their charter. Grand Chef de Gare Renny Keagle installed the new officers of V-689 on June 15, 2019.

Volume 62 Issue 2 A great Thanks to Grand Chef de Gare Renny Keagle who has encouraged and worked with those who got Voiture 689 back on the map.

Potter County Voiture 689, Amarillo, Texas originally chartered on April 9, 1924. R. P. Parcells of Voiture 689 was elected as Grand Commissaire Intendant at the Grand Promenade held September 2, 1925 in Fort Worth, Texas. Amarillo hosted the Grand Promenade September 8-9-10, 1926 and has had several distinguished members who have held high office in the Grand Voiture du Texas. The home of the locale is American Legion Hanson Post 54 and still displays many years of 40 & 8 accomplishments of V-689.

Congratulations to the new officers of Voiture 689: Chef de Gare Justin Ford Chef de Train Carl Barfoot Correspondant Don Sherman Conducteur Josh Tillerson Avocat Chad Lepp Aumonier Anthony Milbach Guarde de La Port Sandra Dunn Cheminot Lewis Field

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

2019 Final Membership Report

From the Grand Promenade Your 2020 Grand Officers

August 7, 2019 Division / Locale

Location

Current

Goal

Percentage

1st Division 689 1185 1601 Total

Amarillo Ft Worth Lake Dallas

12 10 1 23

0 15 4 19

100% 67% 25%

2nd Division 163 266 312 980 1031 Total

Houston Copperas Cove Beaumont Willis Killeen

21 32 14 19 25 111

32 29 13 22 35 134

66% 110% 108% 86% 71% 83%

3rd Division 175 231 542 1134 Total 4th Division 605 1055

Austin La Feria San Antonio Kingsville

15 6 22 12 55

17 11 25 13 66

88% 55% 88% 92% 83%

Chef de Gare Renslar Keagle V-605 Chef de Train John Rodgers V-1031 Cheminot Nationale Roger Folmar V-605 Alt. Cheminot Nationale Lowell Mix V-542 Commissaire Intendant Roger Folmar V-605 Conducteur Jack Winslow V-1185 Aumonier J. Sean Habina V-542 Avocat Al Banzer V-175 Historien David Knutson V-175 Garde de LaPorte Doug Pendleton V-266 Drapeau Bell Condra V-1601 Lampiste Lanny Givens V-1601 Medicine Mark Stephenson Appointments: Correspondant Publiciste

Milton Chatham V-312 David Knutson V-175

Note: A complete list of Officers, Directeurs, etc. will be posted on the Grand du Texas website at www.texasboxcar.org

Locale Officer Listings 49 17

42 14

117%

Total

66

56

118%

Grand Total

255

272

93.75%

El Paso Kerrville

121%

A re-instated Locale and some last-minute renewals put us up to 93.75% and in 25th place nationwide. Thanks to all who renewed their membership and hope we can grow in the upcoming year.

Please provide the Grand Correspondant with a copy of your new officer list as soon as possible after you hold your Locale elections.

Send the list to Grand Correspondant Milton Chatham: ccsam@sbcglobal.net

The new 2020 membership year started August 1, 2019.

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas FROM THE GRAND CHEF DE GARE This is my last letter for the 2019 membership year. We have had some successes and failures. But first I want to thank the many Voyageurs Militaire who have supported me this past year to help with those successes – there are many of you. I want to specifically mention Dave Knutson, John Rodgers and Roger Folmar and Milton Chatham. I want to thank ALL of my officers for hanging in there with me to try and make this a successful year.

Our biggest failure is of course goal. Some made or exceeded goal, others got close, some not so well. We did not do a very good job of getting in reports – this reflects on us at the Nationale level who see us as not doing anything for our programs.

And I understand there are many reasons for all this – we are now a large state with a small declining membership. A decline that has got to stop – look at our numbers.

As of this letter we have only eight days left in our membership year – so I’m going to assume this is as close as we are going to get for 2019. That -29 would be a lot worse if we had not started back up V-689 in Amarillo – one of our successes. I take some blame for this decline – I look back at my year and think about what I failed to do or could have done better to at least make our goal of 272. I now ask you to do the same.

I want to discuss reports briefly. I have talked to some Directeurs and most have received reports from only two locales – few Grand reports have made it to Nationale. Not a success story at all. Even though the deadline for Grand reports to Nationale has expired, I would still like you all to take the time to get your Locale reports to the appropriate Directeur so we can make a better assessment on Grand awards instead of most awards going to the two Locales that submitted them. Grand awards will now be at the Merci Boxcar – so take the time to go over your reports and get them in so Directeurs can see the appropriate Locale gets recognized. I think

September 1st is more than fair to get those late reports in – please make the effort.

I want to thank Kerrville for a great Grand Promenade, they were wonderful hosts – as well are their Cabane for their hard work and effort – and one of the best banquets I have ever attended. It was an honor to wear a white jacket rather than gold and be installed

by Chef de Chemin de Fer Passe Jerry Brady. No one has stepped forward for Grand Promenade 2020 – let’s have that settled by Merci Boxcar.

It looks like this will be the largest group from Texas to go to a Nationale Promenade in a long time – it should be fun. I’m hoping we can all sit together at the banquet and show some Texas spirit. I’m sure we will be getting some awards – we’ve had some hard-working officers and Directeurs. Texas was the recipient of the City of the Year. I’m also hopeful on some appointments and maybe this year our submission for the National Password will make it (STAFF – Support the American Flag Forever).

So now we approach membership year 2020 – All Locale Correspondants should have their cards. If not, you should contact our Grand Correspondant Milton Chatham immediately.

Directeurs should be contacting the Nationale Directeurs to secure pins. As POW/MIA Directeur, I already have my pins. I received 125 and 40 are already spoken for. Milton only has 50 Americanism pins so get in contact with him ASAP. As far as I know, we have no Nurses Training Directeur – someone please step forward

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so we can get pins – same for Boxcar. I am willing to get those pins at National in Myrtle Beach, but it should not be my responsibility.

Between Roger and myself, at Nationale, we ensure we have at least 30 pins or more from each program to sell for our members as well as 50 Boxcar cards.

BTW – at Merci Boxcar the Garde de la Port will once again be checking at the door for current 2020 cards AND Boxcar cards. Boxcar cards are only a dollar, the fine will be the same.

For 2020 – All Correspondants need to get their certification of officers to the Grand Correspondant as soon as possible if not done already. This must include at least the Chef de Gare and Correspondant with phone numbers and email.

So – we can build on and learn from the successes and failures of 2019. Each of you knows what yours are. None of us can do everything – but we can all do something. My motto has always been “Strength in Numbers” – but we grow weaker as those numbers diminish.

God bless you all – let’s work hard this year, support our Grand Chef de Train on membership and all our officers and Directeurs.

Regards,

Renslar “Renny” Keagle Grand Chef de Gare du Texas

PRIVATE COLLECTOR BUYS OLD TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR COAT OF ARMS SHIELDS! The Coat of Arms shields that adorned the Texas Meri Boxcar for many years was sold to a private collector in Auburn, Alabama.

June P. Cutchins was a small girl when the French Gratitude Train came and her mother, who was a schoolteacher in Florida, was one of the most fortunate recipients of some of the gifts from the Florida Merci Boxcar. A set of sketches by a French artist were eventually passed down to June from her mother and she has always been fascinated with the Gratitude Train. June was able to spend time in France as a student and has a great deal of appreciation for the gifts given in friendship between the people of France and the people of the United States.

The decision to sell the plaques was made in 2017 when the replica plaques that had been on our boxcar were updated and replaced.

Many of our plaques were not historically correct and what happened to the original plaques from our boxcar is a mystery. There is no historical information given, but Grand Historien David Knutson believes that most were given away or sold when the replica plaques were made. Some were lost in the early years when the boxcar came

in and was at Camp Mabry.

The loss of these plaques, only a few, was documented in the 1960s historical records. Much of our historical documentation from those days was destroyed by water when the storage room of American Legion Post 76 became flooded and had to be thrown out.

Records indicate that Grand du Texas tried to figure out which communities the missing plaques came from and had very limited resources from which to dray.

When artifacts from the Texas Merci Boxcar went on display in 2017 at the Capitol Visitor Center in Austin, high quality photographs of our boxcar were shared by the Fort Worth Star Telegram. In these photos Grand Historian David Knutson was able to confirm the shields on our boxcar matched drawings of the boxcars seen in the Drew Pearson files at the LBJ Library in Austin. At last we were able to confirm what Coat of Arms were on our boxcar and their exact location.

Since Merci Boxcar 2017 our boxcar has been updated and has very wellmade replica plaques on it.

These are the plaques on our boxcar still today.

Funds from the sale of the plaques to Mrs. June Cutchins have been specifically flagged for an interactive educational information station at the Texas Merci Boxcar.

This is being coordinated with the Texas Military Forces Museum and should be done in 2020 or 2021. Photos of the collection are shown right.

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

REPORTS We did not do a very good job of completing reports this past summer. There are still issues with the National Voiture Activities Report, but that single report can tell the most about what your locale did over the year. I hope to have a revised worksheet which will in turn help fill out all your reports! We do have some very active Voiture Locales in Texas and even if you only work one program – report it. One single event can reflect on multiple reports.

If you are a Grand Directeur you are asked to work your program or if you cannot work it then advise our Grand Chef de Gare so a replacement can be found. We would love to have more members help out with these programs so if you have a favorite please let someone know. Many of our Grand Directeurs hold multiple positions within Grand so that someone is working the program or assigned to work it. Most anyone can be taught how to be a Grand Directeur and do the Grand Report for the year, but you have to want to give a little time. We cannot keep stacking these duties on the same folks.

We are our own doom. For the old timers out there who can help someone be a Grand Directeur.

We would love to have your help.

PRIVATE COLLECTOR BUYS OLD TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR COAT OF ARMS SHIELDS! Oh my goodness, David!!!! We got back in town this afternoon & found the Merci Train package waiting!!!

I am totally blown away!!! The shields are even more beautiful than I ever imagined PLUS all the wonderful goodies & the citation!!! It was better than Christmas!!!

It actually made me cry because I thought how thrilled my mother would have been to see such an extraordinary collection that she actually gathered in the very beginning!!! It truly takes my breath away!!

Thank you so very, very much for all the beautiful additions that you now have gathered to round it out and make it so fascinating!!! How very kind of you!! I am so grateful for all your help, hard work & all the enthusiasm you bring to this “magical story” as the lady at Archives & History in Montgomery called it. Will be contacting her this week so that she can see the full scope & variety of what has been put together!!

Sending my most sincere thank s & gratitude to you and to La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux for this remarkable treasure that you have entrusted into my care! I am so honored!!

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Very best wishes, June

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas MINUTES OF THE 98th GRAND PROMENADE GRAND DU TEXAS KERRVILLE, TX JUNE 22, 2019 OPENING: The 2019 Grand Promenade was called to order at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the meeting room of the Best Western / Sunday House Inn, Kerrville, TX, by Grand Chef de Gare Renslar Keagle. Promenade was opened in due form and opening prayer given by Grand Aumonier J. Sean Habina. Grand Chef Keagle announced that Grand Chef de Gare Passe David Knutson would be acting Grand Correspondant.

GRAND CALL: Official call read. Credentials received from 7 Voiture Locales and Resolution for Grand Position received from 3 Voyageurs.

ROLL CALL: (See attached roll call list) OFFICERS: 9 present, 3 absent, 3 excused LOCALES: 7 present, 5 absent, 1 excused GRAND CHEFS DE GARE PASSE: 3 present Quorum present READING OF THE MINUTES: Notion to suspend the reading of the minutes from the 2019 Spring Cheminot made

by VM Pendleton, 2nd by VM Winslow. Passed READING OF BULLETINS & CORRESPONDENCE: Two resolutions were received and read: Resolution to Change Committee on Committee Voting Process at Voiture Nationale received from Grand du Georgia. Resolution was read for information and decision to support or oppose resolution reserved for Grand du Texas representatives at Voiture Nationale Resolution for Voiture Nationale to create a Nurse of the Year Award received from Grand du Illinois.

Resolution was read for information and decision to support or oppose resolution reserved for Grand du Texas representatives at Voiture Nationale REPORTS: OFFICERS: Grand Chef de Train: VM Murphy absent. Report given by Grand Chef Keagle announcing new locale, V-689 Grand Commissaire Intendant Folmar: Checking Balance: $10,179.31; Money Market Balance: $12,243.10; Checking Account Total: $22,422.41 CD’s: $23,000; Municipal Funds: $17,000 and Floating Investment: $1,216.56.

Grand Total of All Funds: $63,638.41. Finance report and proposed budget given and accepted Grand Avocat / Constitution: VM Knutson in place of VM Wheeler proposed changes to Grand Constitution. Copies of the draft with markup were passed out and each change discussed. Summary of changes: Change of requirement for a quorum from 7 to 5 Voitures Locale; deletion of divisions within Grand du Texas; deletion of Sous Chefs de Train and Grand Cheminot for each division; reduction of officers to change two Guarde de la Porte to one and two Drapeaux to one; delete Provost Marshall and Sous Avocat; deletion of succession clause with the exception of the Grand Chef de Gare; deletion of restriction of Locale Chef de Gare being unable to hold office of a Grand Directeur at the same time and change in structure of Finance Committee. Notion to approved VM Mix, 2 nd VM Stevenson – approved.

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

Grand Aumonier: Keeping in mind Voyageurs who are unable to attend due to Illness Cheminot Nationale: No Report - VM Murphy excused GRAND DIRECTEURS: Americanism: Report submitted by V605 Boxcar: Per Grand Chef Keagle - VM who did not have a boxcar card were fined $1 each Carville Star: Directeur Folmar – 30 pins sold and $200 raised Child Welfare: Directeur Knutson – report received by V605 Nurses Training: Directeur Pendleton – reports received from V605 and V266 POW/MIA: Directeur Keagle – All pins sold. Reminded about how to do table ceremony at events Public Relations: Directeur Knutson – V-605 doing exceptional work with their activities and publicity Rituals: Directeur Mix – report received by V-605 Voiture Activities: Directeur Knutson – updated report form VAVS: No Report – Directeur Hill absent Youth Sports: No Report – Directeur Smock absent COMMITTEES: Finance – Previously addressed by Grand Commissaire Intendant Nurses Training – One application received and approved for $300 / V-605 / Ruby Maltos Time and Place: Merci Boxcar 2020 proposed to be Feb 21-22-23, 2020 in Austin No offers to host Fall Cheminot / Discussion on upcoming activities Notion made by VM Winslow and 2nd by VM Folmar to eliminate Fall Cheminot and present awards at Merci Boxcar and hold 2020 Grand Promenade in August vs. June.

Notion approved.

VL 542 proposed to host 2020 Grand Promenade if held in August.

Possible dates are Aug 14-15-16, 2020 and Aug 21-22-23, 2020.

OLD BUSINESS: Ad for program at Promenade Nationale – approved not to exceed $100. VM Rodgers, 2 nd VM Habina approved Noted that Articles for Incorporation need to be updated at Merci Boxcar Noted to ensure Charter for V-1601 is pulled at Promenade Nationale NEW BUSINESS: Approval of new Voiture Locale 689 – reinstated charter VM Knutson proposed the sale of the old Merci Boxcar shields to a private collector in Alabama who has offered $1250 for the collection. Shipping fees will be paid from the proceeds and remaining proceeds to be donated to the Texas Military Forces Museum to get electricity and display to the Merci Boxcar. Notion to approve by VM Winslow, 2 nd by VM Mix – approved.

There being no further business to conduct – Grand Elections were held: Note: Revised Grand Constitution will be posted on the Grand du Texas website: www.texasboxcar.org

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas ELECTION RESULTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

CHEMINOT NATIONALE ALT. CHEMINOT NATIONALE GRAND CHEF DE GARE GRAND CHEF DE TRAIN GRAND COMMISSAIRE INTENDANT GRAND CONDUCTEUR COMMIS VOYAGER GRAND GARDE DE LA PORTE GRAND HISTORIEN GRAND AUMONIER GRAND AVOCAT GRAND LAMPISTE GRAND DRAPEAU GRAND MEDICINE

Roger Folmar Lowell Mix Renslar Keagle John Rodgers Roger Folmar Jack Winslow Vacant Doug Pendleton David Knutson J. Sean Habina Al Banzer Lanny Givens Bell Condra Mark Stevenson

Promenade closed and elected officers in attendance were duly installed at the banquet.

GRAND PROMENADE – KERRVILLE, TEXAS

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

Grand Promenade 2019 in Kerrville had representatives from 7 Locales. Some could not attend due to medical reasons and those who did attend were treated very well

by Kerrville Voiture 1055 as usual.

Grand Chef Keagle passed out pins to those who made or were over 100% in membership.

Left: V-1055 Chef de Gare Jerry Brady with their locale at 121%.

Roger Folmar accepts for V-605 for 117%

Correspondant Doug Pendleton of V-266 accepts recognition for 110% membership for their locale.

Locale Nurses Training Directeur for V-605 is Mary Anderson who was selected as the Grand du Texas Voyageur of the Year.

She is also very active in V-605’s Flags for 1st Graders and other programs.

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

IN MEMORY OF GRAND CHEF DE GARE PASSE THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS” AND AT HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRANDEVOITUREDUTEXAS

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas GEORGE MURPHY George Murphy transitioned to his next journey in life on August 24, 2019 at 5:34 pm.

He was born in Caro, Illinois on January 14, 1947, to his parents, George Sr. and Oni Murphy. His grandparents were Alvie and Helen Dixon and Jake and Lora Murphy.

He was the eldest son of 11 children. He has 6 younger brothers: Donald, Daryl, Garry, Dennis, Keith and Dirk; and 4 younger sisters: Sandra, Janice, Lora and Kimberly who all adored him.

He graduated from Douglas High in Mounds, Illinois and enlisted in the US Army shortly after. He was a highly decorated soldier and an honorable Sergeant of the Belton Police Department. After retiring, he became a devoted member with local veteran organizations and served as the Forty & Eight Grand Chef de Gare du Texas in 2018. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW and The American Legion. He was known and loved by the people of the community he served.

George is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mrs. Anne Marie Murphy. Together they have 3 sons, 1 daughter, 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

We will be celebrating this new journey and want it to be a joyous experience. A memorial service will be held at the Heritage Funeral Home, 425 E. Central Texas Expy, Harker Heights, Texas on September 8, 2019 from 11am – 2pm. This will be followed with a Celebration of his Life from 3pm – 5pm at VFW Post 3892, 201 VFW Drive, Harker Heights, Texas.

In lieu of flowers The Murphy Family ask that you donate on behalf of George Murphy.

Please send donations to Forty & Eight Voiture 1031 who will combine the donations and present them to the family. Checks can be made out to “Voiture 1031” for (Murphy Family) and send to: John Rodgers 122 Alamosa Creek Lane Georgetown, TX 78633

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

2020 SPRING CHEMINOT FEB 21-23, 2020 AUSTIN, TEXAS DETAILS WILL BE IN THE NEXT EDITION OF THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

La Grande Voiture du Texas La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux P.O. Box 170074 Austin, Texas 78717

Affix 1st Class Postage Here

Addressee

ADDRESSEE: Please notify sender of name/address correction Grand Chef de Gare – Renslar Keagle Grand Commissaire Intendant – Roger Folmar

Grand Correspondant – Milton Chatham Grand Publiciste – Dave Knutson

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