Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
Encyclopedia
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868. It is one of the leading fraternal orders in the U.S., claiming nearly one million members.
laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. After the death of a member left his wife and children without income, the club took up additional service roles, rituals and a new name. Desiring to adopt "a readily identifiable creature of stature, indigenous to America," fifteen members voted 8-7 in favor of the elk
above the buffalo
. Early members were mostly from theatrical performing troupes in New York City. It has since evolved into a major American fraternal, charitable, and service order with more than a million members, both men and women, throughout the United States and the former territories of the Philippines and the Panama Canal.
Membership was opened to African Americans in the 1970s, although the Winter Haven, Florida
Elks Club was famously segregated
as late as 1985, when Boston Red Sox Coach Tommy Harper protested a Red Sox policy of permitting them into the spring training clubhouse to issue lodge clubroom invitations to white players only. Women were permitted to join in the mid-1990s, but currently atheists are excluded. The opening of membership to women was mandated by the Oregon Public Accommodations Act, which was found by an appeals court to apply to the BPOE, and it has been speculated that the religious restriction might be litigated on the same basis. A year after the national organization changed its policy to allow women to join, the Vermont Supreme Court
ordered punitive damages
of $5,000 for each of seven women whom a local chapter had rejected citing other reasons. Current members are required to be U.S. citizens
over the age of 21 and believe in God
.
, known as the Grand Lodge, is located in the Lincoln Park
neighborhood of Chicago
at the southwest corner of Diversey Pkwy, Sheridan Rd, Lakeview Ave, and Cannon Dr. Local Elks Lodges are located in about 2,100 cities and towns across the United States and its territories (as of 2006). There are several Elks lodges overseas. They must be located in a current or former US territory and only American citizens can be members.
The local lodges are known by their lodge number and the name of the city in which they are located. For example, the first Lodge, located in New York City, is Lodge 1, while the Lodge in Nashville, TN is Lodge 72. When a Lodge is closed, its number is retired, but if re-instituted at a later time, the city name and lodge number can be reinstated by the Grand Lodge.
A Grand Lodge Convention is held each year in a principal city in the United States. It is at this convention that Grand Lodge Members (Current Exalted Ruler or Past Exalted Rules of local lodges) vote on the next years Grand Lodge Officers including Grand Exalted Ruler (GER), BPOE 'Constitution and Statues' proposed amendments and conduct other items of business.
Elks Magazine is published 10 times a year and goes to all members.
Past Exalted Rulers are not considered officers, but rather a valuable advisory resource. A Lodge's Past Exalted Ruler's Association usually meets monthly, and current officers are encouraged to seek counsel from the men and women who have led Lodges in previous years.
Due to the willingness of most Elk Lodges to respond to community needs and events, it is common to turn the BPOE abbreviation into a backronym
for "Best People on Earth."
plots once favored by the group. Often these are marked with impressive statuary.
History
The Elks had modest beginnings in 1868 as a social club (then called the "Jolly Corks") established as a private club to elude New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. After the death of a member left his wife and children without income, the club took up additional service roles, rituals and a new name. Desiring to adopt "a readily identifiable creature of stature, indigenous to America," fifteen members voted 8-7 in favor of the elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
above the buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
. Early members were mostly from theatrical performing troupes in New York City. It has since evolved into a major American fraternal, charitable, and service order with more than a million members, both men and women, throughout the United States and the former territories of the Philippines and the Panama Canal.
Membership was opened to African Americans in the 1970s, although the Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven, Florida
Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,487 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 32,577, making it the second most populated city in Polk County...
Elks Club was famously segregated
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
as late as 1985, when Boston Red Sox Coach Tommy Harper protested a Red Sox policy of permitting them into the spring training clubhouse to issue lodge clubroom invitations to white players only. Women were permitted to join in the mid-1990s, but currently atheists are excluded. The opening of membership to women was mandated by the Oregon Public Accommodations Act, which was found by an appeals court to apply to the BPOE, and it has been speculated that the religious restriction might be litigated on the same basis. A year after the national organization changed its policy to allow women to join, the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
ordered punitive damages
Punitive damages
Punitive damages or exemplary damages are damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit...
of $5,000 for each of seven women whom a local chapter had rejected citing other reasons. Current members are required to be U.S. citizens
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
over the age of 21 and believe in God
Belief in God
Various theistic positions can involve belief in a God or "gods". They include:* Henotheism, worship of a single god despite recognition of other deities.* Monotheism, belief in a single deity....
.
National organization
The national headquartersElks National Veterans Memorial
The Elks National Veterans Memorial is a Beaux Arts-style domed building at 2750 North Lakeview Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The structure was planned by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, who wished to honor members of their order who had served in World War I. They turned to architect...
, known as the Grand Lodge, is located in the Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park, Chicago
Lincoln Park, is one of the 77 community areas on Chicago, Illinois North Side, USA. Named after Lincoln Park, a vast park bordering Lake Michigan, the community area is anchored by the Lincoln Park Zoo and DePaul University...
neighborhood of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at the southwest corner of Diversey Pkwy, Sheridan Rd, Lakeview Ave, and Cannon Dr. Local Elks Lodges are located in about 2,100 cities and towns across the United States and its territories (as of 2006). There are several Elks lodges overseas. They must be located in a current or former US territory and only American citizens can be members.
- Lodge #761 Metro ManilaMetro ManilaMetropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, the Philippines - Lodge #1281 Agana Guam, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
- Lodge #1414 Panama CanalPanama CanalThe Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The... - Lodge #972 San JuanSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
The local lodges are known by their lodge number and the name of the city in which they are located. For example, the first Lodge, located in New York City, is Lodge 1, while the Lodge in Nashville, TN is Lodge 72. When a Lodge is closed, its number is retired, but if re-instituted at a later time, the city name and lodge number can be reinstated by the Grand Lodge.
A Grand Lodge Convention is held each year in a principal city in the United States. It is at this convention that Grand Lodge Members (Current Exalted Ruler or Past Exalted Rules of local lodges) vote on the next years Grand Lodge Officers including Grand Exalted Ruler (GER), BPOE 'Constitution and Statues' proposed amendments and conduct other items of business.
Elks Magazine is published 10 times a year and goes to all members.
Chair officers
- Exalted Ruler
- Esteemed Leading Knight
- Esteemed Loyal Knight
- Esteemed Lecturing Knight
Other lodge officers
- Esquire
- Inner Guard
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Tiler
- Chaplain
- Trustee (5 yr.)
- Trustee (4 yr.)
- Trustee (3 yr.)
- Trustee (2 yr.)
- Trustee (1 yr.)
- Organist
- Justice of the Subordinate Forum
Past Exalted Rulers are not considered officers, but rather a valuable advisory resource. A Lodge's Past Exalted Ruler's Association usually meets monthly, and current officers are encouraged to seek counsel from the men and women who have led Lodges in previous years.
Elks National Foundation
Established in 1928, the Elks National Foundation is the charitable arm of the BPOE. The foundation, with an endowment valued at more than $400 million, has contributed $253.5 million toward Elks' charitable projects nationwide.Due to the willingness of most Elk Lodges to respond to community needs and events, it is common to turn the BPOE abbreviation into a backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
for "Best People on Earth."
The Hour of Recollection
Deceased and otherwise absent lodge members are recalled each evening at 11 p.m. Chimes or sometimes a bell will be rung 11 times and the Lodge Esquire intones, "It is the Hour of Recollection." The Exalted Ruler or a member designated by him gives the 11 o'clock toast, of which this version is the most common:Communal burial
An interesting physical artifact of the order is the number of communal cemeteryCemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
plots once favored by the group. Often these are marked with impressive statuary.
Military
- General James Maurice "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin
- General John Pershing
- Captain Eddie RickenbackerEddie RickenbackerEdward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
Presidents of the United States
- Warren G. HardingWarren G. HardingWarren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
- Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
- Harry S. TrumanHarry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
- John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
- Gerald R. Ford
Governors
- Joseph FloresJoseph Flores (Guamanian politician)Joseph F. Flores was the sixth civilian appointed Governor of Guam, and was the first Chamorro to hold the office. He also founded the island's first locally owned newspaper, the Guam Daily News , which was the only local newspaper until 1966...
- Robert EhrlichRobert EhrlichRobert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
, Towson, Maryland, Lodge No. 469
Members of Congress
- Tip O'NeillTip O'NeillThomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
- Carl AlbertCarl AlbertCarl Bert Albert was a lawyer and a Democratic American politician from Oklahoma.Albert represented the southeastern portion of Oklahoma as a Democrat for 30 years, starting in 1947. He is best known for his service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977...
- William F. KnowlandWilliam F. KnowlandWilliam Fife Knowland was a United States politician, newspaperman, and Republican Party leader. He was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1945 to 1959. He served as Senate Majority Leader from 1953-1955, and as Minority Leader from 1955-1959. He was defeated in his 1958 run for...
Oakland, California # 171 - John McCormickJohn McCormickJohn McCormick is Jean Monnet Chair of European Union Politics at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis , and was department chair from 2001 until 2008. He spent eight years working in the environmental movement before becoming an academic...
- Sam RayburnSam RayburnSamuel Taliaferro Rayburn , often called "Mr. Sam," or "Mr. Democrat," was a Democratic lawmaker from Bonham, Texas, who served as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for seventeen years, the longest tenure in U.S. history.- Background :Rayburn was born in Roane County, Tennessee, and...
- Tom FoleyTom FoleyThomas Stephen Foley was the 57th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1989 to 1995. He represented Washington's 5th congressional district for 30 years as a Democratic member from 1965 to 1995....
- Hale BoggsHale BoggsThomas Hale Boggs Sr. , was an American Democratic politician and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Orleans, Louisiana...
- Arthur H. VandenbergArthur H. VandenbergArthur Hendrick Vandenberg was a Republican Senator from the U.S. state of Michigan who participated in the creation of the United Nations.-Early life and family:...
- Walter Evans EdgeWalter Evans EdgeWalter Evans Edge was an American politician. A Republican, he was twice the Governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947, serving as governor during both World War I and World War II...
, United States SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
representing New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
& United States Ambassador to France
Other politicians
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, FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... - Robert F. Wagner, Jr.Robert F. Wagner, Jr.Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
, Mayor of New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; Past Exalted Ruler of New York Lodge No. 1 - Percy SaintPercy SaintPercy D. Saint was an lawyer and politician who served as the Louisiana attorney general from 1924 until 1932. He was an intraparty Democratic critic of Governor and U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr.-Background:...
, Louisiana State Representative - James RecordJames RecordJames Ralph Record is a former Alabama state senator, a former Chairman of the Madison County Commission, and a noted historical author. He was born in New Market, Alabama, near the Alabama-Tennessee border...
, Alabama State Senator - Charles F. Smith, Jr.Charles F. Smith, Jr.Charles F. Smith, Jr. was a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 29th District from 1963 to 1967.Smith graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in 1941, and a LL.B. in 1948...
, Wisconsin State Senator - Robert GrantRobert Grant (Kansas politician)Robert Grant is a Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 2nd district. He served his first term from 7/18/91 to 1994 and has currently served since 1997....
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, former Louisiana State Senator - J. M. WhortonJ. M. WhortonJ. M. "Jim" Whorton is the owner of an automobile sales business and a former Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives. He resides with his wife, Beverly, in Trenton, Missouri....
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, one of twenty-eight men who founded the Kentucky Republican Party - Ryan KieselRyan KieselRyan Dean Kiesel is a Democratic Party member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing District 28 since his election in 2004.-Early life and career:...
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in the famous civil rights case of the 1960s - Frank W. ParkerFrank W. ParkerFrank Wilson Parker was an American judge who served on the New Mexico Supreme Court for 35 years, from its territorial period to after statehood....
, American judge who served on the New Mexico Supreme CourtNew Mexico Supreme CourtThe New Mexico Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution...
for 35 years - David RobertsDavid Roberts (mayor)David Roberts was the 36th mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, serving from 2001 to 2009. Roberts declined to seek re-election in 2009, retiring from a political career of 25 years.-Early life:...
, Mayor of HobokenHobokenHoboken may refer to:*Hoboken, New Jersey, United States*Hoboken, Antwerp, a district of Antwerp, Belgium*Hoboken, Georgia, United States*Hoboken, Alabama, United States*"Hoboken", a song on Operation Ivy's 1988 album Hectic-See also:...
, New Jersey - James KellerJames Keller (Minnesota politician)James "Jim" or "J.R." Keller was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate from southeastern Minnesota.-Service in the Minnesota House and Senate:...
, member of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesMinnesota House of RepresentativesThe Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
and the Minnesota SenateMinnesota SenateThe Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House... - Joe FineJoe FineJoseph "Joe" Fine was a well known businessman and politician in Marquette, Michigan. Born in Lithuania, Fine became a citizen of the United States and lived most of his life in Marquette. In the 1960s he was active in city politics. Offices he held included mayor, city commissioner, and member of...
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, Missouri SenateMissouri SenateThe Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000... - Ron RichardRon RichardRonald F. Richard is a Missouri politician who was elected as a state senator in 2010 and was previously the Speaker...
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, Mayor of San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay... - Joseph PoindexterJoseph PoindexterJoseph Boyd Poindexter was the eighth Territorial Governor of Hawai'i and served from 1934 to 1942.-Early life:...
, Territorial Governor of HawaiiGovernor of HawaiiThe Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state... - Robert A. CostaRobert A. Costa-Background:Robert A. Costa is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving District 33B, which is located in Anne Arundel County. He defeated Democrat Mike Shay in the 2006 election. In 2002 he defeated Democrat Dotty Chaney to initially capture the seat of this newly created...
, Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis... - James W. NewmanJames W. NewmanJames W. Newman was a Democratic politician in the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate, and was Ohio Secretary of State from 1883 to 1885.-Biography:...
, Ohio House of RepresentativesOhio House of RepresentativesThe Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, Ohio SenateOhio SenateThe Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, and was Ohio Secretary of StateOhio Secretary of StateThe Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public... - Philip Willkie, Indiana House of RepresentativesIndiana House of RepresentativesThe Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
- Lloyal RandolphLloyal RandolphLloyal Randolph was an American politician who represented the 4th, then 40th legislative districts in the Maryland House of Delegates. Randolph was the second person to serve as chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.-Background:Randolph was born in Keyser, West Virginia on April 6,...
, Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis... - Charles W. LyonCharles W. LyonCharles W. Lyon was an American attorney from California who served as a Republican in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Lyon was Assembly Speaker from 1943 to 1946. Lyon was admitted to the Bar in 1910 and was first elected to the Assembly in 1914...
, California State SenateCalifornia State SenateThe California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote... - Richard A. SossiRichard A. SossiRichard Sossi is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, serving District 36, which covers Caroline, Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties.-Education:Sossi graduated from the University of Colorado in 1965 with a B.A. in Asian Studies.-Career:...
, Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis... - Percy SaintPercy SaintPercy D. Saint was an lawyer and politician who served as the Louisiana attorney general from 1924 until 1932. He was an intraparty Democratic critic of Governor and U.S. Senator Huey Pierce Long, Jr.-Background:...
, Louisiana House of RepresentativesLouisiana House of RepresentativesThe Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of... - Parley P. ChristensenParley P. ChristensenParley Parker Christensen was an American politician and nominee of the Farmer-Labor Party for President of the United States in 1920. He was member of the Utah House of Representatives and of the Los Angeles, California, City Council...
, Utah and California politician, Esperantist
Businesspeople
- Caleb BradhamCaleb BradhamCaleb Davis Bradham invented the soft drink Pepsi-Cola. He was a pharmacist, born in Chinquapin, Duplin County, North Carolina, May 27, 1867...
, Inventor Pepsi Cola, Past Exalted Ruler New Bern, NC #764 - Jack ChristianJack ChristianJohn "Jack" Christian was a businessman who served from 1957-1964 as the Mayor/President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.-Background:Christian was born to John C...
, Automobile dealer, former MayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
/President of Baton RougeBaton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... - Jim Cramer
- Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr.Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr.Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr. was an American businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of J.C. Lewis Enterprises, Lewis Broadcasting Corporation, J.C. Lewis Investment Company, and Island Investments...
- Gordon L. ParkGordon L. ParkGordon Lesley Park was a petroleum engineer and geologist for the Chevron Oil Company, who served from 1993-1996 as a Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from District 49 in Uinta County....
, Chevron Oil Company manager and former member of the Wyoming House of RepresentativesWyoming House of RepresentativesThe Wyoming House of Representatives is the lower house of the Wyoming State Legislature. There are 60 Representatives in the House, representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state, each with a population of at least 9,000. The House convenes at the Wyoming... - Andrew QuerbesAndrew QuerbesAndrew C. Querbes, Sr. , was a banker, planter, and civic figure who served as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1902 to 1906.-Biography:...
, ShreveportShreveport, LouisianaShreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
mayor and banker/planter - Samuel Lapham VISamuel Lapham VISamuel Lapham VI was born on 23 September 1892 in Charleston, South Carolina to Samuel Lapham V and Annie Grey Soule...
, The architectural firm of Simons & Lapham was influential in creating the first historic preservation ordinance in Charleston, South Carolina in 1930 - Edward Everett CoxEdward Everett CoxEdward Everett Cox was an American newspaper publisher who started Blackford County’s first daily newspaper in Hartford City, Indiana. He is “considered one of the most influential forces in journalism” in Blackford County, and was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party...
, newspaper publisher - Henry FrankHenry FrankBorn in Ohio, USA in 1851 of French parents, Henry L. Frank was an important business and political figure in the state of Montana, USA. A self-made entrepreneur who invested in liquor distribution, real estate and mining, he also founded the Silver Bow Electric Light Company, was president of the...
, early MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
businessman and political figure - Andrew Jackson ZilkerAndrew Jackson ZilkerAndrew Jackson Zilker was a political figure and philanthropist in Austin, Texas, after whom Zilker Park was named. He was the last private owner of Barton Springs....
, political figure and philanthropistPhilanthropistA philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
in Austin, Texas
Entertainers
- Lawrence WelkLawrence WelkLawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
- Will RogersWill RogersWilliam "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
- Jack BennyJack BennyJack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
- Edward ArnoldEdward Arnold (actor)Edward Arnold was an American actor. He was born on the Lower East Side of New York City as Gunther Edward Arnold Schneider, the son of German immigrants Carl Schneider and Elizabeth Ohse.-Acting career:...
- Andy DevineAndy DevineAndrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...
, Past Exalted Ruler of San Fernando, California, Lodge No. 1539 - Clint EastwoodClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, Monterey, California, Lodge No. 1285 - Gene AutryGene AutryOrvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, Burbank, CA Lodge No. 1497 - William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill)
- Donald O'ConnorDonald O'ConnorDonald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
- Billy BartyBilly BartyBilly Barty was an American film actor.-Biography:Barty, an Italian American, was born William John Bertanzetti in Millsboro, Pennsylvania...
- Richard MollRichard MollCharles Richard Moll is an American actor and voice artist,best known for playing Bull Shannon, the bailiff on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1983 to 1992...
- Tim MooreTim MooreTim Moore may refer to:* Tim Moore , American actor, vaudeville and television comedian* Tim Moore , British travel writer and humorist* Tim Moore , songwriter who released five solo albums on Elektra Records...
(Comedian) - Nathaniel Carl GoodwinNathaniel Carl GoodwinNathaniel Carl Goodwin was an American actor and vaudevillian born in Boston. While clerk in a large shop he studied for the stage and made his first appearance in 1874 at the Howard Athenaeum in Boston in Stuart Robson's company as the newsboy in Joseph Bradford's Law in New York...
, vaudeville entertainer - Nat M. WillsNat M. WillsNat M. Wills , was a popular stage star, vaudeville entertainer, and recording artist at the beginning of the 20th century...
, vaudeville entertainer - Randall ParrishRandall ParrishRandall Parrish was an American author of dime novels, including Wolves of the Sea .-Early life:Parrish was born in the city of Kewanee, the only son of Rufus Parker and Frances Adeline...
, author - Charles Hale HoytCharles Hale HoytCharles Hale Hoyt was an American dramatist.-Biography:Hoyt was born in Concord, New Hampshire. He had a difficult childhood, as his mother died when he was nine years old. He graduated at the Boston Latin School and, after being engaged in the cattle business in Colorado for a time, took up...
, dramatist - Daniel SullyDaniel SullyDaniel Sully , born Daniel Sullivan, was an American circus performer, stage actor and playwright, who gained popularity during the latter years of the nineteenth century.-Life and career:...
actor and playwright
Sports figures
- Honus WagnerHonus Wagner-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
- Vince LombardiVince LombardiVincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
- Casey StengelCasey StengelCharles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
- Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
- Whitey FordWhitey FordEdward Charles "Whitey" Ford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.-Early life and career:...
- Zack WheatZack WheatWheat played his first full season in . He played every game for the Superbas that season as the regular left fielder, leading the league in games played. He batted .284 that season, the second-lowest average of his career, which led the team, and was among the league leaders in hits, doubles, and...
- Petros PapadakisPetros PapadakisPetros Papadakis is an American television personality and radio co-host of the Petros and Money Show on Fox Sports Radio. He is a former tailback and American football team captain for the University of Southern California Trojans football team. He is also known as "The P."Papadakis's family...
, San Pedro, California, Lodge No. 966 - Joe Glenn (American football)Joe Glenn (American Football)Joe Glenn was the 30th head coach at the University of Wyoming since the school began playing football in 1893. Glenn took over Wyoming's football program in December 2002 after Wyoming fired the previous coach, Vic Koenning...
- Jim FinksJim FinksJames Edward Finks was an American sports executive, primarily for American Professional Football.-Biography:...
- King KellyKing KellyMichael Joseph "King" Kelly was an American right fielder, catcher, and manager in various professional American baseball leagues including the National League, International Association, Players' League, and the American Association. He spent the majority of his 16-season playing career with the...
- Katy EasterdayKaty EasterdayRoy Alexander "Katy" Easterday was an American football and basketball player, track and field athlete, coach, college athletics administrator, and dentist. He played at the halfback position for the Pittsburgh Panthers football teams from 1917 to 1918 and was selected as an All-American in 1918...
- Eddie BlairEddie BlairDr. James Edward Blair was an early professional football player with the Latrobe Athletic Association. He was also a skilled surgeon. He later relocated to Burlington, New Jersey, where he became active in He took a prominent part in the city council for a time and was a surgeon for the Third...
, early professional football player with the Latrobe Athletic AssociationLatrobe Athletic AssociationThe Latrobe Athletic Association was a professional football team located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, from 1895 until 1909. The team is best known for being the first football club to play a full season while composed entirely of professional players... - Willis GlassgowWillis GlassgowWillis Allen "Bill" Glasgow was an American football player and attorney. He played halfback for the University of Iowa from 1927 to 1929, was selected as a first-team All-American in 1929, and received the 1929 Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the best football player in the Big Ten Conference...
, early professional football player
In popular culture
- Classical composer Ferde GrofeFerde GroféFerde Grofé was a prominent American composer, arranger and pianist. During the 1920s and 1930s, he went by the name Ferdie Grofé.-Early life:...
won his first major commission courtesy of the Elks. He composed "The Grand Reunion March" for the 1909 Elks Club Convention in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... - In Fibber McGee and MollyFibber McGee and MollyFibber McGee and Molly was an American radio comedy series which maintained its popularity over decades. It premiered on NBC in 1935 and continued until its demise in 1959, long after radio had ceased to be the dominant form of entertainment in American popular culture.-Husband and wife in real...
, Fibber was member of the Elks. McGee is often referred to as being in charge of the Elks' pool table committee, ostensibly because he is usually the person responsible for tearing the felt on the table. McGee was also perpetually behind in his dues. During the show's 1949 season, a new character, Ollie the Elks' janitor, was introduced. - In The HoneymoonersThe HoneymoonersThe Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
, Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton are members of the Raccoon Lodge and in one episode they are both candidates to be voted the Raccoons' "Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler". This is likely a parody of the Elks and the ShrinersShrinersThe Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
as well as The MikadoThe MikadoThe Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
. - In The FlintstonesThe FlintstonesThe Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
, which takes much of its inspiration from The HoneymoonersThe HoneymoonersThe Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
, Fred, Barney, Mr. Slate and some less frequently shown characters belong to the male-only Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes Lodge No. 26 with a "Grand Pooh-bah". - In Stephen KingStephen KingStephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, Roland and Susannah come across a skeleton that is wearing a ring that identifies him as an Elk. - In Scene Nine of the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
, during the act "Brotherhood of Man", with the lyrics "Now, you may join the Elks, my friend, and I may join the Shriners". - In Song of Solomon by Toni MorrisonToni MorrisonToni Morrison is a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved...
, the protagonist Milkman Dead III proclaims, "If this bath and this woman... are all that come out of this trip, I will rest easy and do my duty to God, country, and the Brotherhood of Elks for the rest of my life." Page 285. - In Hunter S. ThompsonHunter S. ThompsonHunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
's short 1990 essay "Tarred and Feathered at the Jersey Shore", included in his book Songs of the DoomedSongs of the DoomedGonzo Papers, Vol. 3: Songs of the Doomed: More Notes on the Death of the American Dream is a book by the American writer and journalist Hunter S. Thompson, originally published in 1990...
, he recalls of his time living in the abandoned coal miningCoal miningThe goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
town of Jersey Shore, PennsylvaniaJersey Shore, PennsylvaniaJersey Shore is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is on the West Branch Susquehanna River, west by south of Williamsport. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the past, Jersey Shore held farms, railroad shops, cigar factories, a...
: "I had to join the goddamn Elks Club in order to get a drink there on weekends." - In Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
's novel Their Eyes Were Watching GodTheir Eyes Were Watching GodTheir Eyes Were Watching God is a 1937 novel and the best-known work by African American writer Zora Neale Hurston. Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century, the novel garnered attention and controversy at the time of its publication, and has come to be regarded as a seminal...
, it is made apparent that Joe (Jody) Starks is a member of the Elks when 'the Elks band ranked at the church door playing "Safe in the Arms of Jesus"' at his funeral.
- In The West Wing episode "The Women of QumarThe Women of Qumar"The Women of Qumar" is the 53rd episode of The West Wing. This episode marks the first appearance of Amy Gardner, played by Mary-Louise Parker, who guests stars in every following season of The West Wing....
", Rob LoweRob LoweRobert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
's character Sam SeabornSam SeabornSamuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
mentions that his father was an Elk. - In Curb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
, Larry DavidLarry DavidLawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
lies about being "a moose and an elk" when trying to get a membership in a Protestant golf club. - In "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", 1948. Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett.
- "It's strictly USA" (reprise) Lyrics and music by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Roger Edens
- "Like the annual Elks convention.... They're really here to stay; Cause it's strictly USA."
- Frank Barone in Everyone Loves Raymond was a member of the Caribou Lodge (a fictional organization that appears to be inspired by the Elks), although he left the lodge after being named man of the year.
- In BabbitBabbitt (novel)Babbitt, first published in 1922, is a novel by Sinclair Lewis. Largely a satire of American culture, society, and behavior, it critiques the vacuity of middle-class American life and its pressure on individuals toward conformity....
, by Sinclair Lewis, the main character, George Babbit, is an active member of the Elks. - Canadian indie rock group The WeakerthansThe WeakerthansThe Weakerthans are a four-piece Canadian indie rock band.-History:The band was formed in 1997 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by John K. Samson, after he left the punk band Propagandhi to start a publishing company. Samson joined forces with bassist John P...
have a song entitled "Psalm for the Elks Lodge Last Call". - Members of the Elks Lodge are served reinvented American culinary classics in Bravo TV's Top ChefTop ChefTop Chef is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which chefs compete against each other in culinary challenges. They are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other notables from the food and wine industry with one or more contestants...
. - In Chapter 37 of John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, Adam Trask considers joining the Elks.
- In the Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
episode "Helpless", it is revealed that Captain Don Cragen is an active member of the Elks. - In Sister CarrieSister CarrieSister Carrie is a novel by Theodore Dreiser about a young country girl who moves to the big city where she starts realizing her own American Dream by first becoming a mistress to men that she perceives as superior and later as a famous actress...
by Theodore DreiserTheodore DreiserTheodore Herman Albert Dreiser was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalist school. His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives despite a lack of a firm moral code, and literary situations that more closely resemble studies of nature than tales of...
two of the protagonists, George Hurstwood and Charly Drouet are members of the BPOE.
National Convention sites & presiding Grand Exalted Rulers
The first Grand Lodge meeting was held on February 12th, 1871 at 114-116 East 13th Street New York City, NY. The Grand Lodge Officers were, George J. Green elected to preside, E.G. Browne as Secretary and Hugh P. O'Neil, Fernando Pastor, J. C. Pinckney, S.K. Spencer, Claude Goldie, Henry P. O'Neil, A.H. Mulligan and Antonio "Tony" Pastor in other offices.| Year: Convention Site, Grand Exalted Ruler | Year: Convention Site, Grand Exalted Ruler | Year: Convention Site, Grand Exalted Ruler | Year: Convention Site, Grand Exalted Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890: Cleveland OH, Simon Quinlin | 1891: Louisville KY, Edwin B. Hay | 1892: Buffalo NY, Edwin B. Hay | 1893 :Detroit MI, Astley Apperly |
| 1894: Atlantic City NJ, Edwin B. Hay | 1895: Atlantic City NJ, William G. Meyers | 1896: Cincinnati OH, Meade D. Detweiler | 1897: Minneapolis MN, Meade D. Detweiler |
| 1898: New Orleans LA, John Galvin | 1899: St. Louis MO, B.M. Allen | 1900: Atlantic City NJ, Jerome B. Fisher | 1901: Milwaukee WI, Charles E. Pickett |
| 1902: Salt Lake City UT, George P. Cronk | 1903: Baltimore MD, Joseph T. Fanning | 1904: Cincinnati OH, Wm. J. O'Brien, Jr. | 1905: Buffalo NY, Robert W. Brown |
| 1906: Denver CO, Henry A. Melvin | 1907: Philadelphia PA, John K. Tener | 1908: Dallas TX, Rush L. Holland | 1909: Los Angeles CA, J.U. Sammis |
| 1910: Detroit MI, Aug. Herrmann | 1911: Atlantic City NJ, John P. Sullivan | 1912: Portland OR, Thomas B. Mills | 1913: Rochester NY, Edward Leach |
| 1914: Denver CO, Raymond Benjamin | 1915: Los Angeles CA, James R. Nicholson | 1916: Baltimore MD, Edward Rightor | 1917: Boston MA, Fred Harper |
| 1918: Atlantic City NJ, Bruce A. Campbell | 1919: Atlantic City NJ, Frank L. Rain | 1920: Chicago IL, Wm. M. Abbott | 1921: Los Angeles CA, W. W. Mountain |
| 1922: Atlantic City NJ, J.E. Masters | 1923: Atlanta GA, James G. McFarland | 1924: Boston MA, John G. Price | 1925: Portland OR, William H. Atwell |
| 1926: Chicago IL, Charles H. Grakelow | 1927: Cincinnati OH, John F. Malley | 1928: Miami FL, Murray Hulbert | 1929: Los Angeles CA, Walter P. Andrews |
| 1930: Atlantic City NJ, Lawrence H. Rupp | 1931: Seattle WA, John R. Coen | 1932: Birmingham AL, Floyd E. Thompson | 1933: Milwaukee WI, Walter F. Meier |
| 1934: Kansas City MO, Michael F. Shannon | 1935: Columbus OH, James T. Hallinan | 1936: Los Angeles CA, David Sholtz | 1937: Denver CO, Charles Spencer Hart |
| 1938: Atlantic City NJ, Edward J. McCormick | 1939: St. Louis MO, Henry C. Warner | 1940: Houston TX, Joseph G. Buch | 1941: Philadelphia PA, John S. McClelland |
| 1942: Omaha NE, E. Mark Sullivan | 1943: Boston MA, Frank J. Lonergan | 1944: Chicago IL, Robert S. Barrett | 1945: New York NY, Wade H. Kepner |
| 1946: New York NY, Charles E. Broughton | 1947: Portland OR, L. A. Lewis | 1948: Philadelphia PA, George I. Hall | 1950: Miami FL, Joseph B. Kyle |
| 1951: Chicago IL, Howard R. Davis | 1952: New York NY, Sam Stern | 1953: St. Louis MO, Earl E. James | 1954: Los Angeles CA, William J. Jernick |
| 1955: Philadelphia PA, John L. Walker | 1956: Chicago IL, Fred L. Bohn | 1957: San Francisco CA, H. K. Blackledge | 1958: New York NY, Horace R. Wisely |
| 1959: Chicago IL, W. S. Hawkins | 1960: Dallas TX, John E. Fenton | 1961: Miami Beach FL, William A. Wall | 1962: Chicago IL, Lee A. Donaldson |
| 1963: San Francisco CA, Ronald J. Dunn | 1964: New York NY, Robert G. Pruitt | 1965: Miami Beach FL, R. Leonard Bush | 1966: Dallas TX, Raymond C. Dobson |
| 1967: Chicago IL, Robert E. Boney | 1968: New York NY, Edward W. McCabe | 1969: Dallas TX, Frank Hise | 1970: San Francisco CA, Glenn Miller |
| 1971: New Orleans LA, E. Gene Fournace | 1972: Atlantic City NJ, Francis Smith | 1973: Chicago IL, Robert Yothers | 1974: Miami Beach FL, Gerald Strohm |
| 1975: Dallas TX, Willis McDonald | 1976: Chicago IL, George Klein | 1977: New Orleans LA, Homer Huhn, Jr. | 1978: San Diego CA, Leonard Bristol |
| 1979: Dallas TX, Robert Grafton | 1980: New Orleans LA, H. Foster Sears | 1981: Las Vegas NV, Raymond Arnold | 1982: Chicago IL, Marvin Lewis |
| 1983: Honolulu HI, Kenneth Cantoli | 1984: Houston TX, Frank Garland | 1985: Seattle WA, Jack Traynor | 1986: Denver CO, Peter Affatato |
| 1987: Atlanta GA, Ted Callicott | 1988: Las Vegas NV, Robert Sabin | 1989: New Orleans LA, Donald Dapelo | 1990: Las Vegas NV, James Damon |
| 1991: St. Louis MO, Lester Hess, Jr. | 1992: Dallas TX, Vincent Collura | 1993: Portland OR, Charles Williams | 1994: Chicago IL, Kenneth Moore |
| 1995: New Orleans LA, Edward Mahan | 1996: Las Vegas NV, Gerald Coates | 1997: Chicago IL, Carlon O'Malley | 1998: Anaheim CA, C. Valentine Bates |
| 1999: Kansas City MO, James C. Varenhorst | 2000: Dallas TX, Dwayne E. Rumney | 2001: Philadelphia PA, Arthur Mayer, Jr. | 2002: Reno NV, Roger R. True |
| 2003: St. Louis MO, Amos A. McCallum | 2004: Minneapolis MN, James M. McQuillan | 2005: Reno NV, Louis James Grillo | 2006: Orlando FL, Arthur H. Frost III |
| 2007: Charlotte NC, F. Louis Sulsberger | 2008: Anaheim CA, Paul D. Helsel | 2009: Portland OR, James L. Nichelson | 2010: Orlando FL, Michael F. Smith |
| 2011: Phoenix AZ, David R. Carr | 2012: Austin TX | 2013: Reno NV | 2014: New Orleans LA |
| 2015: Indianapolis IN | 2016: Houston TX | 2017: Reno NV | 2018: TBA |