Speaker for Sept 24, 2024 Regular Meeting - Justice Ken Wise, "Indian Raiders tried in Civilian Courts".

 

Our Speaker will be Justice Ken Wise, of the 14^th Court of Appeals. His topic will be "Indian Raiders tried in Civilian Courts".  

Justice Wise is frequent speaker on historical subjects.  He can be found on a YouTube Program called Galveston Unscripted.

Justice Ken Wise was appointed to the 14th Court of Appeals by Governor Rick Perry in October 2013. Prior to his appointment, Justice Wise served as the judge of the 334th Judicial District Court, administrative judge of Harris County, and an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Justice Wise is also a former judge of the 152nd Judicial District Court in Harris County. Justice Wise is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, life fellow of the Texas and Houston Bar foundations, and a member and past president of the Executives Association of Houston. He is also a director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation .

Justice Wise received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Meeting Notice - Alexander Hodge Chapter Meeting, Tuesday Sept 24th at 6:30pm

 Please plan on attending our upcoming SAR Chapter Dinner Meeting, Tuesday September 24th, at Spring Creek Barbeque. The address is 4895 Hwy 6, in Missouri City.

We will start to gather at 6:30 and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The featured speaker will be Justice Ken Wise, of the 14^th Court of Appeals. His topic will be "Indian Raiders tried in Civilian Courts".

I believe you will enjoy the evening, so let's have a good turnout.

I look forward to seeing each of you at the meeting.

Carl V. Hill Jr.

President

Alexander Hodge Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

281 773 1739

In Memorium - Gene Richard Briggs May 23, 2023

 

Gene Richard Briggs passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2023. He was 87 years old. 

He was born on the family farm in Noble County, Ohio to Richard B. and Mary Cleo Briggs, the youngest of their six sons. He graduated from Ohio University with a geology degree, and on being drafted served two years in the U.S. Army as a tank gunner, stationed in West Germany. His career as an oil and gas exploration geophysicist took him to many states before he settled in Texas in 1965.

Gene is survived by his loving wife and friend, Marian; it would have been their sixtieth wedding anniversary this year. He is also survived by three fine sons: Tom (Claudia), Philip (Kathleen), Jonathan and his partner, Sara, and his five grandsons- Preston, Griffin, Braeden, Evan and Henry.

To his great pleasure he kept in touch with his many nieces and nephews. Blessed with good colleagues and friends and a happy family life, Gene was a good and kind man.

Private cremation will be followed by a graveside service at Crooked Tree Cemetery, now called the Mary Reid Memorial Church, in Noble County Ohio – the final resting place of his parents .

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.settegastkopf.com for the Briggs family.

Minutes of Business Meeting on August 27th 2024

                                                    SAR Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 

                                                BUSINESS MEETING – August 27, 2024, 1:00 p.m. 

                                       Location: Spring Creek BBQ on Hwy 6 South, Missouri City, Texas

Attended: Carl Hill, Mike Green, Don Rollins, Steve Barber and Jim Penny.

Treasury Report: Balance $10,318.41- All outstanding bills paid. One JROTC check for
$500.00 not paid. There are two outstanding JRPTC checks outstanding from 2023 for
$300.00 and $500.00. These 2023 checks will need to be canceled by the end of 2024.

Registrar Report: Carl Hill and Mike Green reported three new applications have been
submitted for membership into the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 SAR.
1) Randal Glenn – Retired Dentist
2) Robert Rhodes
3) Richard Loughlin

Richard Loughlin’s application had many issues that had to be resolved due to family
history with adoptions and references to family bible. Most of the delay time in
applications, once they are submitted are at the National SAR office, is primarily due to
the high turnover rate of the Registrar at National level and budget restraints at National
SAR. 

For some reason National SAR has also been bypassing the State SAR in the
processing of new members, Applications are submitted to National, who is to send an
accepted applicant to State SAR, and then the Chapter is notified of the approved
applicant.

We have 6-7 applicants in the process of completing applications or have contacted and
shown interest in joining SAR.

Newsletter and Blog and Facebook page:
On the Web Site, the Memorial section was not working with linking up the posted
obituaries. This has been fixed.
Need more pictures for the Chapter history.

New Business:

1) Carl Hill recognized the passing of Lovell Aldrich’s wife Sharon Aldrich. Sharon
died this last week after a long fight with illness. There is a Memorial Service for
her this Wednesday, August 28 th ,2024 at 0:200 P.M. at the St. Martin Episcopal
Church located at 717 Sage Road, Houston, Texas 77506. 

Carl recognized that Sharon made significant contributions to the Chapter while Lovell was Chapter
president and as Social Chairperson. 

Besides hosting Christmas Parties and SAR meetings at their home, Sharon arranged many social gatherings for the Chapter including dinners, plays, sporting events and visiting the George Bush
Library. 

In lieu of flowers, the Alexzander Hodge Chapter voted to give $100.00 contributions to two organizations that the Aldrich’s supported, Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church and Texas A &M University Corps of Cadets.

2) It was proposed by Carl Hill that we should have a memorial service with a tolling ringing of a bell for each passing member of the year at the last Chapter meeting of the year in November. This was seconded and passed by a unanimous vote.

3) It was brought up with all the new members and some less frequently attending members that all the pledges given at the beginning and end of the Chapter meetings are not known. Of course, all know the Pledge to the American Flag, but the pledge to the Texas, SAR flag and the SAR pledge at the end are not well known. It was suggested that this should be available in a plastic laminate for each attending member to learn and recite all the pledges. 

These would be turned in for each meeting or could be incorporated into the name tag system
being used. This was voted on and passed by a unanimous vote.

4) New Flag Certificates are being prepared to present to the Sugarland Police and Fire Fighting Stations. No flag retirement programs are planned for this date.

5) Planning needs to start for the State SAR Business Meeting in Houston in the fall of 2025 that the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 and the Carrington Chapter are to host. The meeting is being planned to be help at Houston Christian College Independence Hall. WE will need a chairperson to head up the planning for this important event.

6) There is a project proposed to give a Gray Granite Bench for the 2026 anniversary from the SAR to Houston Community College to sit outside Independence Hall of the HCC campus. This $3,000.00+ will require some fund raising and multiple Houston SAR Chapters contributing.

Service Events Opportunities:

1) It was announced that there is another “Honor Flight” occurring at Hobby Airport, Delta Terminal on September 21 st at 7:00 P.M. This event happens about once a quarter where a plane full of US Veterans are flown to Washington DC to visit the Was Memorials. When the Veterans return home
to Houston, they are greeted by various patriotic groups including SAR, DAR, CAR, Boy and Girl Scouts, VFW, American Legion, etc. at the Delta terminal. There is usually an orchestra playing patriotic music during the flag waving followed by a short service with awards and recognitions.

2) We have been approached by the Boy Scout Girl Scout and Cub Scout unit associated with Saint Lawerance Church in Sugar Land to come in and present a program on the SAR or a flag ceremony. Jacob Counts is the Scout Master at phone 832-541-2789

3) The DAR Alexander Hodge Chapter has invited the Alexander Hodge Chapter to have a table presentation this fall at the Del Web Retirement community to promote the groups and solicit new members.

4) The DAR group will be having their annual Wreaths Across America Drive as their primary fund raiser. With the fund raising there will be ceremonies at the Alexander Hodge Cemetery and at the Needville, TX. historic cemetery to lay wreaths on Veterans graves. The SAR Alexander Hodge Chapter has been asked to provide a Color Guard for ceremonies at these two sites.

Dates to be announced.

5) The Alexander Hodge Cemetery in Sugar Land has put out a call for help to clean up the cemetery after the hurricane damage that occurred there in July. If we can set a date before the Wreaths Across America ceremonies and have a sign-up sheet at the next Chapter meeting to help with that
clean up at some date before the ceremonies, that would be a great service project.

Other News:

The next Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 meeting will be held at the Spring Creek BBQ restaurant on HW6 south in Sugarland, TX on September 24 th , 2024 at 07:00. Come early to eat some great BBQ and get a good seat. Carl Hill announced the speaker for the night will be Justice Ken Wyeth on Indian Raids in Civilian Courts.

End of Business Report

Prepared by Steven Barber, Secretary

Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 

Minutes from Regular Meeting on July 30, 2024

 Sons of the American Revolution

Chapter President     Carl Hill                                                    Treasurer       Carl Hill

Vice President           Don Burns                                                Registrar        Mike Green / Carl Hill

Secretary                   Steven Barber                    `                     Newsletter      Mike Green

Sgt. At Arms             Don Rollins                                             Web Master     Jim Penny

Color Guard              Shane Steele

                                                        Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49

                                                        Minutes     July 30th, 2024

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.

14-Attending Chapter Members: Carl Hill (President & Treasurer), Don Burns (Vice President), Steven
Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt. of Arms), Phil Whitley (Chaplain), Jim G. Penny (Web Master),
Dennis Giuffre, Rick Giuffre, John Lucey, Nate Lewis, Scott Burton, John Thompson, Bob Walzel and
Chester Barnes.

Honorary Guest: Art Byram - Our New District #7 Vice President

6-Other Guests: Mrs. Susan Byram, Mrs. Bernice Mistriot, Mrs. Sherry Burns, Mrs. Sandra Barber, Mrs.
Sharon Rollins, Mrs. Mary Thompson.

1-Prospective Members: Emmanual Banan.

Memorial Given for the Passing of Former Member Tom Bruce Green III.- President Carl Hill
presented a memorial on the passing of the very active member of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49,
Thomas B. Green. Tom was born July17, 1939 in Athens, Texas, graduated from Mabank, Texas High
School. In1961 he was awarded a degree in business from North Texas University in Denton, Texas.
He then married his college sweetheart Margo I. Green. He was then commissioned as an Ensign at the
US Naval Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I. Tom served in the Navy from 1961 through 1966 as a Deep-Sea Salvage Engineer Diving Officer, receiving hazardous duty pay during his entire naval career.

Tom completed his naval career in Key West Florida at the Naval Underwater Swimmers School as an
Executive Officer in charge of training hundreds of military divers who served in Vietnam, including UDT.  EOD and some of the first Navy SEALS.

After his Naval career, Tom had a businessmen career in retail and eventually owned his own insurance
company and ended his working career as a Receiver for the Texas Department of insurance, retiring in
1999.

In retirement Tom dedicated his time to three organizations. Son of the American Revolution (SAR), the
Sons of the Republic of Texas (STR) and the 1812 Society. He was awarded the highest honor by the
STR being designated a Knight of San Jacinto (KSJ) and awarded the George Washington Distinguished
Service Award and Color Guardsman of the year for 2012 by the SAR. He was also recognized as an
Admiral in the Texas Navy by Governor Perry and received designations as a Colonel in the Texas Army.

In 2022, he received the highest award from SRT, a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tom was a member of the North America Virological Association promoting the history of significant flags in American history. He gave 12-25 Historic Flag Programs each year to the SAR, DRT, STR, 1812
Society, DAR and other historical societies, civic organizations, family and professional associates. His
historical flag program was given to these groups over 500 times and to more than 30,000 Texas school
children over the past 17 years. He was well known for his ability to recall historical facts and trivia
concerning his collection of over 80 historical flags.

Tom B Green was survived by his wife of 63-year, Margo I. Green and his daughter Holly A. Childs, son-in-law Brian A. Childs and granddaughter, Alicia Vancsa Childs. Carl offered a moment of silence to remember our SAR brother Thomas B, Green III.

Other Business: The Hodges Bend Cemetery needs any help that can be provided in cleaning up the
cemetery from the damage from the hurricane.

Our new District VP Art Byram introduced himself and discussed the need to promote the SAR. The best method of advertising is for SAR Color guard to be visible to the community, at SAR events, DAR events, at the Honor Flight events, Color guard at Space Cowboy games, events at Houston Christian College, Independent Hall.

Treasury Report: Carl Hill presented the Treasures Report. The Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of
$10,289.00 We still have 1 outstanding scholarship check that have not cleared. Were reimbursed
$325.00 for JROTC metals.

Registrar’s Report: The Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 has three new membership applications in the
process for new members. We also had four additional people expressing interest in the Alexander
Hodge Chapter #49.

Web Site and Newsletter Report:
Web page for more information. (http://www.hodgesar.org) Jim Penny continues his research into
Virgina Continental Uniforms worn during the Revolutionary War. This Chapter has thirty-one members
that trace their heritage back to Virginia.

Evening Speaker: John Thompson – “Benajmin Franklin”
Mr. Thompson reviewed the life, and many contributions made by Benjamin Franklin in his private,
business and political careers before, during and after the American Revolution. Franklin functioned as a
journalist, a Statesman, an ambassador, an inventor, a business man and most important as a Patriot in
the founding of the United States of America.

Closing Remarks:
President Hill announced that the next Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 meeting will be help September24,
2024, 0:700 P.M., at the Spring Creek Barbeque restaurant on Highway 6 in Missouri City, Texas. 

The next Chapter Business Meeting will be at the same restaurant on August 27, 2024, at 0;1`00 P.M. All

Chapter members are welcome to attend the Business Meeting. All Chapter Officers are required to
attend the Business Meetings.

Recessional: The SAR recessional was recited by all present.

Benediction: Closing benediction was given by Phil Whitney, Chaplain.

Prepared by Steven Barber, Secretary
Alexander Hodge Chapter #49

Business Meeting beginning at 1pm on Tuesday 27th

 We will meet on tis coming Tuesday the 27th for our Regular Bi-Monthly Business Meeting at Spring Hill BBQ on Hwy 6 in Missouri City.  Meeting will begin at 1pm.

All members are invited.  Officers need to attend.

Tribute and Remembrance of Sharon Aldrich wife of member Lovell Aldrich

All Alexander Hodge Chapter members who knew Sharon are saddened to hear of her passing on August 22nd. She attended Chapter meetings along with her husband and member Aldrich. Sharon often filled the role of Chapter photographer and social chairman. she will be missed. The Service for Sharon will be at St. Martin's Episcopal Church on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. A Memorial Service will begin at 2pm. It will also be Livestreamed. The Church is located at 717 Sage Road, Houston, Tx. 77056. The Family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations can be made in her name to St Martin’s Episcopal Church or Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets. As her Obituary states, "She will be remembered by many for her great Christmas parties, her love of Astros Baseball, Aggie Athletics, love of travel, and her kindness to everyone she met. Her greatest joy became watching her six grandchildren be born and attend as activities as she possibly could. Sharon lived her life to the fullest and loved her friends and family with all her heart". "Sharon King Aldrich, 82, of Sugar Land, died peacefully at Methodist Hospital on August 22, 2024, surrounded by her family. Sharon was born on December 4, 1941 in Dallas, Texas to Harley Russell and Barbara Colleen King". "She leaves behind her husband of 58 years, Lovell; her daughter Molly and husband Craig Weynand; her daughter Abby and husband Trent Elliott; her six grandchildren Colleen Hall and husband Louis, Emma and Adam Weynand, Elizabeth, Drew and Wade Elliott; her brother Rusty King and wife Sallie, and many nieces and nephews." "Sharon’s life mission was raising her children to know God, love others, to achieve a college degree, and be happy and successful. Along the way, Sharon helped Lovell become a successful trial lawyer while staying at home to raise their girls. She was president of the elementary school PTA, volunteered with her children’s local swim team and dance companies, organized many of her husband's large family reunions, and was a member of Houston Junior Woman's Club. Later she became an active member in her local Aggie Moms Club where she served as president, and in St. Martin's Episcopal Church where she became involved with bible studies and Daughters of the King. She also loved supporting young Aggie Corps students on the Aldrich scholarships every year". Sharon was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend and she will be missed dearly by everyone who knew and loved her. The Aldrich family would like to thank the community of St Martin’s Episcopal Church for their love and support throughout this difficult time. Thank you god for sharing Sharon with us for so many years. We all loved her so much! Her full Obituary can be found Online at Dignitymemorial.com or Echovita.com.

In Memorium - Frank L. Felcman May 10 2024

 Frank Leslie Felcman passed away on May 10, 2024, two days after his 100th birthday. 

He was born May 8, 1924, to Elsie Ferrell Fuller Felcman and Frank Joe Felcman in Sealy, Texas where his father settled after emigrating from Prague, Czechoslovakia in the early 1900’s.

After his father’s death when Frank was 12, he worked with his mother and three sisters in the family bakery and confectionery. On graduation from Sealy High School Class of 1941, he attended Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College in San Marcos for a year.

 He then worked with his sister, Leah, in Tulsa OK as a file clerk and mimeograph operator in the post office before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in December 1942.

He was called to active duty in June 1943 as an Aviation Cadet. He was based at the University of Texas facilities in Austin where he began ground school, flight training, and physical conditioning. Following earning his Naval Aviator wings (24 Oct 1944), he flew patrol missions over the Atlantic coast for the remainder of World War II. He was commissioned an Ensign, serving a total of 3 years. He also served 9.5 years in the Naval Reserves where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant.

After release from the Navy in December 1945, he attended the University of Texas at Austin graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology in 1949 and began working for a geophysical exploration company. In 1950, he married Shirley Newman, his college sweetheart, and continued his oil exploration work which took him to many small towns in Texas, the swamplands of Louisiana, and as far north as the Badlands in North Dakota.

In 1963, he was transferred to Perth, Western Australia for a period of two years to work for West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (WAPET), a division of Standard Oil of California. He was transferred from Perth back to Texas and resided in Houston until his death. On the return trip to the U.S. in 1965, he and his family toured parts of the Far East, Middle East, Europe, and England over 45 days.

Following an urge to work for himself, Frank researched franchises in various industries and chose to move into the printing industry in 1971 when he purchased Kwik Kopy Printing #47. In 1981, he purchased a second location in Austin. He sold both businesses to his daughters in the mid-1980s, then worked for a variety of other printers until his retirement.

He was a member of Temple Lodge #4 AF & AM and was installed as Worshipful Master on July 13, 1974. In retirement, he became very interested in genealogy tracing several families through several generations.

Frank became a member of the Sons of American Revolution on September 11, 2012.  His Patriot was Robert Gamble who served as a Continental Army soldier in the 2nd Carolina Regiment and was commanded by Lt. Col Francis Marion, the famous Swamp Fox.  Frank was a member of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Leah Mayeaux, Helen Tomlinson (Lloyd), and Doris Nastoupil (Carl Jr.).

He is survived by his wife, Geneva Felcman; 3 children, Kathleen Barkley, Frank L. Felcman Jr. (Katherine), and Leah Linney; grandchildren, Charlotte Felcman Whitaker (Robert) and Kimberly Felcman Hatcher (Adam), and great-grandchildren Emma Whitaker and J.J. Whitaker.

Seeking Comments from Members on Newsletter subjects, etc

 Compatriots,

I would like to hear from you any ideas for Newsletter.  

1.  What subjects would you like included in every Issue. 

      * Such as State & National SAR news.

      * Member's Patriot Profiles

      * Revolutionary War Profile (battles, leaders, etc.)

      * other ideas!

2.  Any suggestions for Title of Newsletter, beyond Alexander Hodges Chapter #49.

3.  Any other suggestions?

Thank you

Notice by Texas SAR of Application Fee Increase beginning Sept 1 2024

 

Compatriots, Received from Bill Watts, Coastal Registrar Texas SAR, bill_watts@att.net "You have probably heard by now that there will be an increase in Application Fees beginning September 1, 2024. The Application Envelope (to National) must be postmarked by/or before August 31, 2024, a Saturday.  This date is from National SAR, not set by me. Therefore, I'm asking that you send applications to me before August 26th to give me time for processing.  Applications received after August 26th may not get processed in time. To help me process your applications as fast as possible, please include a copy of the application for me to use as a mark up copy.  The copy does not have to be on the SAR paper, regular legal sized paper is acceptable for a copy. Check formatting and font size.  If the font is too small to read it makes it harder to process.  The application has to be on one sheet of official SAR legal sized paper front and back. Check to make sure there is not a disconnect between generations and documentation is include to prove the generations. Make sure all signatures are on the application and the check for the application is made payable to Texas SAR. I may have forgotten something but all of you are professionals and know what to do in your roll as Registrar.  Together we can get them to National in time".