Additional BOM information
on August 23, 2025
There is a need for 2 to 4 Volunteers each day depending upon the activity.
Members and their wives may volunteer at the Link in the previous Post. The number of volunteers needed can be viewed there.
Note: The need for Hosts for the Meals is only on Saturday the 18th. On Sunday, the 19th, there are only two positions needed to be filled.
We thank those members who have
already signed up.
Members needed to assist with the Board of Managers Meeting (BOM) in October. See the Link
on August 22, 2025
Carl recently sent the following email. "Our Alexander Hodge SAR chapter along with the Paul Carrington are hosting the Fall Board of Managers meeting October 17, 18 and 19th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Sugar Land".
Volunteers are needed to fill time slots for a variety of activities such as Registration, Silent Auction, Lobby Host/Information, General Volunteer, Meeting Room Monitor, Hospitality Room, Luncheon Host, and Dinner Host.
"I invite you to sign up for "SAR Volunteers for 2025 Fall Board of Managers Meeting" at SignUpGenius!"
The link for volunteering is as follows:
Chapter Business Meeting at 1pm on Tuesday August 26th at Spring Creek Barbeque.
From our President
"Just a friendly reminder of our Chapter business meeting on Tuesday August 26th at Spring Creek Barbeque. We will meet at 1:00 p.m.
We will need to discuss the upcoming Fall Board of Managers meeting that we are hosting.
member, Robert Rhodes III will serve as the Scouting Awards Chairman
on August 6, 2025
Many thanks to Robert for volunteering to work with the Scout Troops in our Chapter's service area. The area covers Richmond, Stafford, Sugarland, and Missouri City.
Welcome New Members - Dr Thomas and Jack Cool
on August 3, 2025
At our last meeting, Dr Thomas McCool and his son Jack Cool were sworn in.
Put on your Calendar - Aug 13th Grand Opening of the T2T Veterans Village in Tomball
on August 1, 2025
At 11:00 am on August 13th, the new Tunnels to Towers Veterans Village Comfort Tower will have a Grand Opening. It is located at 18818 Tomball Parkway, Houston TX 77070.
The SAR Color Guard from the Texas SAR Freed Chapter and the Alexander Hodge DAR Chapter will be present and handing out gift bags to attending veterans.
The actor, Ben Stiller is expected to be there also to assist in handing out gift bags.
To help us with planning, please send your RSVPs to GrandOpening@t2t.org.
Kindly provide us with the following information to confirm attendance:
Kindly provide us with the following information to confirm attendance:
- How many guests will be in your party. Please note:
- Parking for this event will be available at Prince of Peace Catholic Community, located at 19222 Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX 77070. Shuttle buses will run continuously throughout the event. Although the parking lot is only about two minutes from the event site, we recommend that guests allow at least 15 minutes to arrive and orient themselves.
- If you or anyone in your party needs ADA parking accommodations
Kim De Lorenzo
Manager, Development - Texas
Manager, Development - Texas
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
ps. Unfortunately, I will be out of town. However, encourage members to attend. Meeting and talking to the Veterans is a great opportunity.
July 29th Meetings Minutes (includes Chapter member Questionaire)
Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49
Chapter Meeting Minutes
July 29th, 2025
The members of the Alexander Hodge #49, Sons of the
American Revolution, gathered at Spring Creek Barbeque
located at 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City, TX. In the private meeting room,
Carl Hill called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with an Invocation given by
Phil Whitley followed by pledges to the United States flag, to the Texas flag
and to the SAR flag.
16-Attending
Chapter Members: Carl Hill (President &
Treasure), Don Burns (Vice President) Steven Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt.
of Arms), Phil Whitley (Chaplain),), Jim Penny (Webmaster & Newsletter), Lovell
Aldrich, Rick Giuffre, John Lucey, Robert C. Rhodes, Phil (Jack) Cool, Dr.
Thomas (Tom) Cool, Kevin Buford, Nate Lewis, Bob Walzel and Rich Colwell.
8-Other Guests:
Ms. Eron Tynes, Mrs.
Sharon Rollins, Mrs. Bernice Mistriot, Mrs. Sherry Burns, Mrs. Sandy Barber, Mrs.
Cheryl Bufford, Mr. Michael Bishop (perspective new member), and Mr. Robert
Cotton (perspective new member) and
2- Guest of
Honor: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur (District 7 VP) and Susan Byram.
Guest
Speaker: Cathy O’ Byran, “A Child of
the Cold War”
Sworn In
Ceremony: Dr. Thomas Cool and his
son Jack (Phil) Cool were sworn in to the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter by the Carl
Hill President of Alexander Hodge Chapter and Art Byram, SAR District 7 VP.
Each new member was presented with his Certificate of SAR Membership.
Carl also announced that the SAR Memorial Application for
Gayle E. Barber, Carl Hill also presented a SAR Memorial Certificate of
Membership for Gayle E, Barber, deceased father of Steven Barber and grandfather
of Matthew Barber. Memorial Applications for membership in the SAR are given to
deceased individuals who can be proven in the patriot’s line. Gayle E Barber
served as an officer in the US Navy for 17 years.
Treasurer’s
Report: Carl Hill presented the Treasurer’s Report. The
Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of $9,776.00 Just one $500.00 JROTC checks is still
outstanding. The chapter has been reimbursed from the State for all JROTC
metals and certificates awarded. There is one JROTC check from 2017 that is
still being held for lack of contact information for that recipient.
Secretary
Report: Steven Barber reviewed the May 27th 2025 Chapter
Meeting minutes and the June 24 ,2 025 Business Meeting Chapter Meeting minutes.
Those minutes were voted on and 2nd for acceptance.
Web
Master and Newsletter Report: Jim
Penny reported that the July Newsletter was published and delivered to all
registered members. He is working on late summer newsletter to be out late
August. He encouraged any member vacationing and traveling to any historical
site, to report to him about the visit with any pictures of the visit and he
will publish that on the Blog. He also reported continued research being
reported on the blog on Continental uniforms worn, by colony or by military
unit in the Revolutionary War. Use this information to search out Revolutionary
uniform styles and type you may want to pursue to participate in a Chapter color
guard. Known members that presently have Continental Uniforms are Carl, Hill,
Lovell Aldrich, Mike Green, Don Rollins and Steve Barber. Feel free to reach
out any of these gentlemen on where you can procure such costumes. Steve Barber
recently was happy with what he procured from a company out of Indiana called “Samson
Historical, A Colonial Outfitter.” (SamonHistorical.com - telephone
(756)-481-2662.” This company offers colonial wear for children, women and men,
including Regimental Continental Army wear. There are other companies that you
can shop at just for Revolutionary War Uniforms. G. Gedney Godwin Inc (Valley Forge,
Pennsylvanian-telephone: 610-783-0670), or Townsends (www.townsends.us-
telephone: (800)-338-1665)
Registrar’s
Report: Micheal and Gerald Bishops are still at State waiting for another
birth certificate for Micheal. We are also waiting on National Sar to process the
application for Thomas Whitenton, 2-year-old grandson of Tim Britcher.
Still working on applications
for Brandon Draper, Richard Laughlin, Douglas Thorpe and Mike McGee. On
McGees’s application we are having some issues with SAR organization “Redling” some
applications submitted that are based upon previously approved applications
that were not properly vetted or the linage used has conflicting information at
the time of the submittal. These applications have to be proven by better
documentation than what was previously submitted.
Unfinished
Business:
Membership Certificates from
2017 were found in a previous Chapter President’s files and were sent out to
the Taylor and DeVault families
There is a new opportunity to
attend the Tunnels to Towers celebration, August 13th at 11:00 a.m.,
of the grand opening of the T2T Veteran Village Comfort Tower facility located
at 18818 Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX 77070. Ben Stiller will be there along
with an SAR Color Guard from the Texas SAR Freedom Chapter and the Alexander
Hodge DAR Chapter will be present, handing out gift bags to attending veterans.
Carl Hill handed out 250 SAR
Anniversary Commentary Label Pins to any Chapter Member who had not received
these pins in the past.
May. 31st, 2024,
Carl Hill sent out to all Chapter members two document. One was a detailed
document discussing the new “New Member Mentoring” program and then a document
entitled “The Alexander Hodge
SAR Member Questionnaire.”
This questionnaire was for the purpose of understanding members areas of
strengths and talents and areas where members would be interested in
contributing to the Alexander Hodge Chapter activities and functions. Please
complete this questionnaire and email or deliver this to the President of
Alexander Hodge Chapter, Carl Hill.
Robert
Rhodes has volunteered managed the Chapters Boy/Girl Scout programs that
include arranging for the Chapter Flag Presentations programs to scout groups
and facilitating the Eagle Scout Program.
New
Business:
It was reminded that the Alexander Hodge and
Carrington Chapters are co-hosting the 2025 Fall SAR State Board of Managers
Meeting. (BOM Meeting) This meeting date has changed to Friday October 17 to Sunday
the 19thh, 2025 here in Sugarland TX, at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel.
Hotel Information:
Hilton Garden Inn located at 722 Bonaventure Way, Sugar Land, TX 77478-
Telephone #888-615-8098. Rooms available for this event AT $119.00 per night
plus taxes. This is hotel is located off HW 6 and the University exit off of HW
6 on the left side as you travel northwest of HW 6,
Working together with
Alexander Hodge Chapter’s President, Carl Hill is David Pevey and Curt Brown
with the Carrington SAR Chapter. An organization called Helms-Briscoe,
represented by Dennis Brunson is doing much of the organizing and arrangements
for this conference. Helms-Briscoe is paid by the hotel chains and reports through
David who is the SAR Chairman of the State Meetings Committee. All SAR members
should be getting notification from Ray Cox, the SAR State Communications
representative giving details of this meeting that SAR members are invited to
attend.
Much is still being organized
and will need Chapter volunteers to assist in organizing and facilitating this
event. We are looking for a speaker for the Saturday night banquet. We will
need people to man the Registration Desk Friday and Saturday (October 17th
and 18th) until noon on 2-to-4-hour shifts. Will be registering
attendees and handing out package on the events. There is a” Open-Raffle “to be
organized where the funds will be donated to the Alexander Hodge and Carrington
Chapters. There is also a “Silent Auction” to be managed that funds will go to
the Patriots Fund. Addition volunteers will be needed to guide attendees to
where various facilities and events are occurring during this BOM meeting.
Evening
Speaker: Catherine M. O’Bryan- “A Child of the Cold War”
Very interesting presentation
of Catherine and her sister growing up with both parents working for the
Central Intelligence Agency of the US Government. Discussed events with
attempted kidnapping and attempt attacks on the family from adversaries and how
protected she had to be throughout her childhood. She offered several different
fictional books she has published based upon these real-life experiences. Her
books can be purchased on Amazon or at CathyO’Bryan-Author@EmeraldMistMcCormick.
Closing
Remarks:
The next Alexander Hodge
Chapter #49 meeting is scheduled for September 30th, 2025 at 7:00
P.M. at the Spring Creek Barbeque restaurant on Highway 6 in Missouri City, TX.
The next Chapter Business Meeting will be held at this same restaurant
August26th, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. All chapter members are invited to attend the
Business Meetings.
Recessional: The SAR recessional was recited by all
present.
Benediction: Closing
benediction was given by Phil Whitley, Chaplain.
Meeting
Adjourned: President Carl Hill
Prepared by Steven J. Barber,
Secretary- Alexander Hodge Chapter #49
The
Alexander Hodge SAR Member Questionaire
Please respond to this questionnaire so we may improve
the Alexander Hodge Chapter
- The
Chapter is interested in finding out what committee(s) that you would like
to participate on, so please check any committee(s) which interest you.
School /
Community Outreach
American History Teacher Awards Program1 Chapter Officer, Veteran Outreach
Knight Essay Awards Program1 Chapter Officer, Chapter History
Oration Awards Program1 New Member Mentor
Eagle Scout Awards Program1 Color Guard
JROTC/ROTC Awards Program1 Genealogy/Chapter Registrar Committee
Video Contest Awards Program1 State Meetings Planning2
Police/EMS/Fire Recognition Program Chapter Officer, Publicity/Media Relations
Chapter Social Chairperson
DAR/CAR Liaison
1A
component of Chapter/State/Natl Youth Recognition & Awards Programs
2Needed occasionally when Chapter is asked to host or
assist in an Event.
- What
professional skills, interests, or talents do you possess that might be
useful to the Chapter? Please check any areas which correspond to
your professional or personal skills, talents, or interests. Please Check all that applies.
Attorney Financial Planning Boy Scouting CPA/Accountant Meeting Planning
Web Site Design Military Veteran Genealogy Photography Computer Skills
Public Speaking Writing/Media Teacher/Professor Artist Other
- Do
you have ny suggestions on what we can do to improve the Alexander Hodge
Chapter, and make your membership rewarding and enjoyable?
Thank you for your time in filing out
and emailing this questionnaire to our Chapter President, Carl Hill or in
bringing to a Chapter Meeting to give to him in person.
Name:
_________________________________________
Email:
__________________________________________
Phone: __________________
Future Newsletters topics
on July 29, 2025
I would like to establish several reoccurring Segments in future newsletters.
1. Any reminisce of a special Chapter gathering, event, or person.
2. Any involvement in a Youth Program that promotes participation in the SAR Contest/Scholarships.
3. Any story which highlights a trip taken for SAR purposes. Such, Natl Convention, visit Patriot's grave, visit a Revolutionary War Site or even to a Battle Reenactment. Etc.
4. Any topic suggestions too.
You can write the Story yourself or just send me the details. Any pictures are also wanted.
Members and former members who were active in Chapter 2006-2025 Bios submitted for Vol3
The Following have had a Biography submitted for inclusion in Volume 3 of the SAR History currently under-development.
I believe there is still a short about of time to get your Biography in!
Carl V. Hill Missing
Steve Barber Lovell Adrich
Jim Penny Don Burns
Nathan Lewis Don Rollins
Robert Rhodes Phil Whatley
Ron Brown
Mike Green
Tom McCormick
Tom Meineke
Robert B. Lewis Jr.
Speaker for July Meeting, Catherine M. O'Bryan
on June 27, 2025
Catherine M O’Bryan (Cathy)
Born in Panama in May of 1952, Cathy traveled back with her mom to Quito, Ecuador where her parents were assigned to the embassy. In her young life she moved many times living in Peru, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maryland, and Washington DC.
She graduated from Towson Catholic in Towson Maryland and while in high school there she attended Loyola College and John Hopkins University. Her main college experience was at the University of Houston Main campus. While there she pledged Phi Mu Fraternity, was a senator for the college of Education and the Cougar Mascot in 1976.
After graduation with a BS in Art Education she started as a teacher with Fort Bend ISD. While working for Fort Bend, she was offered the opportunity to go back to school where she added to her all-level Art Ed degree with an all level Speech, all level Theatre, Math, Geography and self-contained 1-8 certificates. Thirty years and five school districts later she retired to enjoy life with her family.
Cathy has always painted but writing was something she accidently fell into in 2019. On a road trip out west, she stopped with a group of writer friends at a writing workshop where she was afforded an opportunity to present a five-page story to a publisher. As a former nationally ranked speech coach, this felt to her like a fun opportunity to pursue. T
That small event produced the publishing, of book one “A Child of the Cold War…Code Name Kitten” with the second book “Growing Up in the Cold War…Code Name Kitten” a short four months later.
The third book in the series “Leaving the Cold War Behind” published a year later. She is also working with a consortium of other writers on a project that is called The Twin Creek Series. The projects commitment includes four books from each author.
Her first published book in the series is “Escape to Texas”. Cathy is currently working on book two in the Twin Creeks Series and has just complete the Prequel to the Cold War Series. This prequel, “A Chance Encounter” is the story about the main characters’ parents and their involvement with the CIA. The Cold War series is based on a true story of the authors childhood.
Cathy is currently living in Tomball Texas, close to her daughter, Laura, who is a teacher/coach at Doerre Intermediate in Klein ISD, where Cathy has the privilege of subbing in her daughters’ school. Her son, Daniel, works with the Costa Rican agricultural department and until November 2023, Cathy was living in Playa del Coco, Costa Rica with her son and his family. Her oldest child, Miwa, was adopted and resides in Montreal, Canada, she is a linguist speaking six languages and is also an artist.
Members of Chapter's Color Guard participates in celebration of 130th Anniversary of Galveston's DAR Chapter
on June 24, 2025
On June 14th, two members of the Alexander Hodge Chapter Color Guard gathered to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of the DAR Chapter in Galveston. The Bernado de Galvez SAR Chapter in Galveston also attended the ceremony. The joint Color Guard of both Chapters performed the presentation of the Colors at the ceremony.
The George Washington DAR Chapter in Galveston is the oldest DAR Chapter in Texas. It was organized on June 17, 1895.
The ceremony was held at the Artillery Club in Galveston. The Galveston Artillery Club is the oldest private club West of the Mississippi River.
Note: The Bernado de Galvez Chapter in Gaveston is the oldest SAR Chapter in Texas with the first meeting occured in 1896. The Texas SAR in 1923 evolved to having Chapters. Bernado de Galvez became Chapter #1.
Pictured L-R
Billy Mayo - Galvez
John Loper - Galvez
Hugh Ferguson - Galvez
Sandra Johnston, the DAR Regent in Texas
Carl Hill - Alexander Hodge
Steve Barber - Alexander Hodge
Matthew Hewitt - Galvez
JROTC Chapter Scholarship Awardees
on May 28, 2025
The Following Cadets were awarded Scholarships from the Chapter this year. The Chapter awarded two $500 Scholarships and three $300 Scholarships.
Navy Cadet Grayson Machmer - FBISD Clements High School
Air Force Cadet Logan Mace - FBISD Dulles High School
Army Cadet Sky Gibbs - SMSD Stafford High School
Air Force Cadet Ayda Abbsyan - LCISD Foster High School
Air Force Cadet Nathalee Coria - LCISD Lamar High School
Note: Skye Gibbs was the only one to submit a photo and her and family attended our Chapter Meeting last night. She also sent Carl a letter of Appreciation.
______________________________________________________________
previously posted on May 12, the following 18 cadets received a medal and a certificate of appreciation.
In recognition of outstanding leadership qualities, military bearing, and excellence,
thus exemplifying the high ideals and principles which motivated and
sustained our patriot ancestors.
SCHOOL DISTRICT Unit CADET
1. Austin H S FBISD Navy Tyler Cho
2. Bush H S FBISD Navy Oliver Nguyen
3. Clements H S FBISD Navy Blake Wang
4. Dulles H S FBISD Air Force Sayana Alvarado
5. Elkins H S FBISD Air Force Ayaan Arora
6. Hightower H S FBISD Army Josue Escobar
7. Kempner H S FBISD Air Force Christian Valencia
8. Lamar Consolidated H S LCISD Air Force Yeith Guardiola
9. Marshall H S FBISD Air Force Kezia Gyamfuaa
10. Ridge Point H S FBISD Marine Corps Boo Le
11. Stafford H S SMSD Army Fernando Alvarez
12. Terry H S LCISD Air Force X
13. Travis H S FBISD Marine Corps Wesson Stewart
14. Willowridge H S FBISD Marine Corps Myron Avery
15. Fulshear H S LCISD Air Force Hadley Intriago
16. George Ranch H S LCISD Air Force Traylynn Clay
17. Randle H S LCISD Air Force X
18. Foster HS LCISD Air Force Alexander Tran
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