Golden Memories Page 106

Golden Memories SWD Chapters

GREATER MONROE, LA.
Cotton Country Chorus
by John Rettenmayer

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The Greater Monroe Chapter was sponsored by the Shreveport chapter and was licensed on November 15, 1969 with 25 members. Six months later they chartered with exacfly the required 35 members. In November 1970 they put on their first annual show at St. Fredericks High School, with no admission charge.
For the first several years the chapter held meetings and rehearsals of the Cotton Country Chorus at the Ramada Inn, which generously gave them the use of whatever convention hall meeting room was unoccupied at the time. When new owners of the Ramada changed the policy, the chapter moved to the First Presbyterian Church for several years, then to St. Paul's Methodist Church for two or three years, and finally to Parkview Baptist Church, where it has been meeting since 1980.
The chapter staged an annual show every year unifi 1987. The 1972 show, with admission at $2, featured the District Champion quartet, The Stage Door Four. In 1973 the featured quartets were Touch of Gold from Jackson, MS, and The Tune Aces, from Houma, LA. The 1974 show brought the Second Generation quartet all the way from Tulsa, OK. No doubt the all-time high point of barbershop shows was the headliners for 1975, the Dealer's Choice, and for 1985, the Side Street

Ramblers. (Also on the 1975 show was Monroe's own Dixie Dans, still active in 1996 with completely different personnel.)
The 1976 Bicentennial Show was an historic joint effort of the Monroe, Shreveport, Longview, and Nacogdoches chapters. They held 3 or 4 joint rehearsals in Shreveport, otherwise learning the music in their own weekly practices. Then they staged the show on different weekends in each of the participating cities. There were 75 men on stage in Monroe!
Music directors of the Cotton Country Chorus have been Dave Eisenbiel, Roger Garner, Joe Bently, Bill Reed, Grayson Zeagler, and John Rettenmayer. Chapter Presidents have been Sam Hartman, Jim Myrick, Keith Leaphart, Charles Johnson, and Dick Morrison.
The Greater Monroe Chapter has kept a fairly low profile in district affairs. One exception was Southern Comfort quartet, who won the District Novice Quartet award in 1979. Also Sam Hartman, one of the charter members, first president, and a perennial workhorse of the chapter, served as Area Counselor for Division VI for two years.
Membership fluctuated in the 27-32 range over the years from 1969 to 1987. Unfortunately, membership has declined drastically since 1987, stabilizing in the 8-10 range.

Table of
Contents

Sections:
How It All Began Chapters Chapter Histories International Quartet Champions Choruses Administration
Contests and Conventions Registered Quartets Publications Recognitions In Conclusion