Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49 Chapter Meeting Minutes
May 26th, 2026
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.
13-Attending Chapter Members: Carl Hill (President & Treasure), Steven Barber (Secretary), Micheal Bishop (Registrar), Phil Whitley (Chaplain),), Jim Penny (Webmaster & Newsletter), Don Rollins (Sgt. At Arms), Don Burns (Vice President), Rick Giuffre, Dennis Giuffre, Josh Evans, Robert Rhodes, Lovell Aldrich, and Ray Mullins.
2-Honorary Guest: Mr. and Mrs. Art and Susan Byran, our Chapter District 7 Vice President.
2-Prospective New members: Eddie R Tipton and Alan Pettibone
6-Other Guests: Mrs. Bernice Mistriot, Mrs. Sandy Barber, Mrs. Sherry Burns, Mrs. Sharon Rollins, John Moncrief (tonight’s speaker) and his wife Debrah Moncrief.
Speaker: Mr. John Moncrief – “The America Wild West- Westward Growth of the U.S. in the 1800’s.”
New Member Recognition and Swearing In: Ray Mullins were sworn into the chapter by Carl Hill, Chapter President. He was presented with his new membership certificate. Ray Mullins explained his efforts and timing to achieve their application completion and shared that his patriot he came in under, was Patriot John Blair, who was Irish and fought at the Battle of King Mountain and was part of the group called,” Over the mountain men.”
Treasurer’s Report: Carl Hill presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of $10,440.13. This includes a $480.00 reimbursement from the State SAR for JROTC medals. 16 medals were awarded to JROTC cadets in various high schools in the area.
This also includes expenditures of $175.00 for the stone monument to be placed where the chaptersponsored Liberty Tree is to be planted and $375.88 for the tree. We want to thank Jose Evans for heading up this project and for donations for this project received by the chapter from Micheal Bishop, Don and Sharon Rollins and Robert Rhodes. The Liberty Tree Project was a nation-wide project of planting tree in recognition of the Liberty Tree in Boston, MA were American Patriots gathered to protest British actions, hanging effigies of the King of England, which the British eventually cut down. The Chapter was allowed to plant the tree at the Fort Bend Courthouse.
Secretary Report: The March 31st, 2025 Chapter Meeting minutes and April 28th, 2026 Business Meeting Chapter Meeting minutes were published in the Chapter Newsletter for review by members.
Those minutes were voted on and 2nd for acceptance by Chapter members.
Registrar’s Report: Micheal Bishop
Our New registrar, Micheal Bishop announced that 6 new applications have been approved with four candidates ready to be inducted into the chapter. Raymond Mullins was inducted at this meeting, and certificates are ready to be presented to Donald Lieske III, Marc Draper and Richard Laughlin at future meetings. Ted Exline and Brian Bishops applications have also been approved, but waiting for certificates to be received by the chapter.
Following are active applications that are completed and at National SAR that should be approved in the next 2-4 weeks
Jody Murillo Alan Pettibone
Wynn Pettibone Mark Grayson
Working on applications for the following potential members:
William Startz Eddis Tipton
Steven Hupp Kevin Krysinger
Several for the Grayson family
In recognition, of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, in July 2026, National SAR is offering a reduced National fee to $76 for new applications for a total cost of $189.50 for a new applicant. Standard regular application costs are now $263.50.
To qualify a new application received by National must be postmarked in the month of July.
Micheal Bishop asked that any new applicant to not wait until July to get this process started.
John McMahan is applying to move his SAR membership from North Carolina to our Alexander Hodge Chapter here in Texas.
Web Site and Newsletter Report: Jim Penny
The web site and blog (www.hodgesar.org) has been down for service and will be re-established within the next week.
April 2026 Newsletter was published and distributed to all members. A July Newsletter is planned to be published.
Chapter Awards:
Art Byran, our Vice President of the 7 th District, made several certificate awards to the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 at the Chapter meeting.
A) The Roth Shipman Award was presented by the State for the most outstanding electronic newsletter. Presented to Carl Hill President and Jim Penny Web Master.
B) Certificate for the Flag Presentation given by the Alexander Hodge Chapter. Presented to Carl Hill.
Unfinished Old Business:
1) 250 Anniversary Continental Lapel Pins were offered to all Chapter members that have not received this pin.
2) Robert Rhodes presented the new design for an Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter Challenge Coin.
The coin acknowledges the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the US this year and signifies from the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter. It was requested that 100 of these coins at $7.00 a piece be ordered for fund raising for the Chapter and used as accomplishment awards. Recommend sale price to be $10.00 to $15.00 per coin. The Chapter members all voted and approved for this purchase.
3) The Liberty Tree project has been almost fully completed. The tree was planted and a concrete base was poured to mount the monument. This Chapter 250th project was managed and arranged by our Chapter member Jose Evans, with donations made by the chapter and by three-chapter members: Micheal Bishop, Don and Sharon Rollins and Robert Rhodes.
We thank all for their donations to this worthy project. This Liberty Tree Monument recognizes the 250th Anniversary of American Independence and that the tree was planted by this Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 of Sons of the American Revolution. A dedication ceremony is being planned later in the summer when the monument is installed at the tree. Date and time to be announced.
4) The other 250th Anniversary Project that this SAR Chapter is involved, with the Alexander Hodge DAR Chapter, along with a 3rd party, is the installation of two flag poles with solar lighting to be placed at the Pleasant Green Cemetery in Richmond, Texas, displaying an American and a Texas Flag. The Saint Lawerance Scout organization is installing the two flag poles.
A dedication ceremony is planned for June 14th, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. at the cemetery with SAR Chapter providing a Color guard for the ceremony. Pleasant Green Cemetery is located in the Aliana development inside the Twin Lakes area which is directly behind Micheals Custom Framing and Craft Store. The address is Madden Road that is just off West Alaina Trace Drive which goes right by the cemetery. The cemetery is directly east of the large shopping area off of the Grand Parkway. Exit Airport Road off the Grand Parkway and drive east on Airport Road to the West Alaina Trace Drive and turn left to go to the cemetery. Pleasant Green Cemetery is on your right side. All are welcome to attend this dedication ceremony.
New Business:
1) On July 11th, 2026, The Alexander Hodge SAR and DAR chapters ae coming together to provide a display for the day at the George Memoria Library in Richmond, Texas in recognition of the 250th American Revolution. Members that have uniforms are encouraged to be available for this event, where tables will be setup to display artifacts from the Revolutionary War along with several of the flags from the SAR chapter historical American flag collection. Event is open to the public and all members with their families are encouraged to attend this event.
Evening Speaker: John Moncrief – “The American Wild West- Westward Growth of the U.S. in the 1800’s”
John Moncrief reviewed the history of American migration past the Allegheny Mountains and growth out of the original 13 colonies that made up the United States of America in 1800’s.
At the beginning of this time period, the shape of the 13 colonies at the time, had three states western boundaries extended out to the Mississippi river area. (Georgia, South and North Carolinas). The lands west of the mountain range was all consider Indian Territories with some 347 different Indian tribes with 300 different languages spoken.
This discussion revealed what and why this massive migration occurred in the 1800’s.
1) First there were significant lands acquired by the US government, starting in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase for $15 million dollars. Additional land was procured from Mexico after the Mexican Revolution of Independence in 1821, expanding the United States to the Pacific Ocean. The Lewis and Clark expedition from 1804-1806 paved the way and exposed the many opportunities that laid out in the west.
2) The population growth of the America was huge. In 1750 there was a population in the colonies of about one million people. (Not including the indigenous Indian Population) By the year 1775, this increased to two and half million people. That was just the beginning of massive migration to the new free United States of America with this new country, where oppressed people from all over the world migrated to escape bad economies, wars, political and religious prosecution.
3) The new United States government promoted and encouraged migration past the Allegheny Mountains with the passing of legislation that gave away free land. The 1850 Oregan Act and 1862 Homestead Act and the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush, opened up vast amounts of land that people could migrate too with free land to establish businesses, farms and ranches.
4) The discovery of gold and silver in California, Colorado and Alaska drew more people westward to seek their fortunes.
5) Further development that made this expansion easier was the building of railroads and the telegraph throughout the west. Continental railroad was completed in 1869,
This expansion did come with many hardships on the people migrating and the people (Indian Tribes) that were being displaced by this mass migration.
1) The vast Indian population was estimated to decrease from 600,00 to 240,000 due to sickliness bought on by exposure to the immigrants. (Yellow Feaver, Small Pox, etc.)
1860
2) Many Indian Wars occurred against the new immigrants along with Indian tribes waring against each other.
3) The entry of Texas into the United States was reviewed starting with the 1820’s Austin Colony formed offing free land in Texas, to the Independence of Texas 1836 and then 10 years in 1845 as a State of the United States. The Indian Wars in Texas extended until 1875 with the last Comanche Raid in Texas and the final battle in 1880 with Germino.
4) The Indian population was driven into less desirable areas like Oklahoma and Arizona and New Mexico. In the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush where 50,000 settlers rushed for free land in Oklahoma, 43% of Oklahoma was still consider Indian Territory.
5) The various trails to the west were described where wagon trains with 50-1000 wagons traveled for 4-6 months to reach lands in the far west. This 2000-mile trip, with moving 12-15 miles per day was very difficult with the hardships of the trail in forging new roads, Indian attacks, sickness and bad weather.
6) The hardships continued when reaching the new destinations. Building of towns and infrastructure was a slow process. Homestead towns were fairly peaceful, but mining and cattle towns were very violent.
This great migration was driven by many things but can be summarized by recognizing it was driven by the American Dream of new opportunity and prosperity.
Closing Remarks:
The next Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 meeting is scheduled for July28th, 2026 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 June30th, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. All chapter members are invited to attend the Business Meetings.
Benediction: Closing benediction was given by Phil Whitley, Chaplain
Recessional: The SAR recessional was recited by all present.
Meeting Adjourned: President Carl Hill
Prepared by Steven J. Barber, Secretary- Alexander Hodge Chapter #49