| Golden Memories |
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Chapters |
| changes in 1984 - Ted Phillipus (T) and Chris Buckirigham
(B) joined Rick Sountag and Mac Huff to continue the heritage of this fine
quartet.
The Mid-Winter Convention of the Society was held in San Antonio in 1985. This was good training ground for the International planned for San Antonio in 1988 as Henry Lutz was groomed for the convention chairman's job. A Reunion party was held at the Pearl Jersey Lilly Room in 1985 to celebrate the 30 years of quartet activity in San Antonio. The event was videotaped with many early day quartets returning to entertain - ESQUIRES, TEXAS CAVALIERS, PLAYBOYS, CHECKMARKS, SMILIN' IRISH, SOUND ASSOCIATION (two versions), and the MARK W among title-holders, plus the comedy group FREELOADERS. Some of these guys hadn't warbled a note in 20 years, but they gave it the good old college try. Ben Yeakley, who had been the catalyst for getting downtown hotel sponsoring of the local High School Barbershop Quartet Contest, passed away from a heart attack in April, 1985. A Ben Yeakley Scholorship Fund was established to continue this work. The Chordsmen placed second at the 1985 District Contest, behind Oklahoma City. We had 74 singers on stage and sang very well. This was a disappointing loss for the Chordsmen, and especially so for Mac Huff. The TEXAS GENTLEMEN came in sDcth in the quartet race. Two new quartets came out in the 1985-86 era - JUKEBOX, Jan Scofield (T), Steve Coon (L), Paul Nichols (B), Brian Telle (Bs) and TEXAS JUBILEE, Ted Phillipus (T), Carl Magee (L), V.J. Lowrance (B), Mac Huff (B s). JUKEBOX finished second and TEXAS JUBILEE took fourth at District. The Chordsmen won their division contest in 1986, and went on to third place at the District behind Oklahoma City and Houston. In April 1987, right after our spring show, Mac Huff resigned as director of the Chordsmen due to job pressures. Mac was amazed that in 10 tries, he had not brought the Chordsmen a tifle, finishing second or third in every District contest, losing some of these by one point or by tie-breakers. Most other observers were mystified that Mac's obvious talents and musicianship could not result in first place musical honors for the Chordsmen. Mac took these losses personally. It was with great sadness and reluctance that the Chordsmen accepted his resignation. The spring show featured our headline quartets of JUKEBOX, TEXAS JUBILEE, and TEXAS GENTLEMEN, but also provided several other entertaining foursomes: RIVER CITY TRANSFER (Mike Langthorpe, B.D. Harrington, Dale Deiser, Mike Mc Cord), MIXED COMPANY (June Deiser, |
Marcy Scofield, Dale Delser, Jan Scofield), ON THE
TOWN (Tom Reifschneider, Ted Smith, Stan Grayson, John Casey). The Chordsmen did not compete in 1987, not because Mac had resigned, but more importanfly because we were getting ready for the 1988 International Convention and Contest Golden Anniversary which we were to host. An advance team led by Henry and Bobbie Lutz went to Hartford to promote San Antonio. Advance sales indicated a large attendance could be expected In '88. Plans were afoot to change things up from the routine ways. Joe Liles, Executive Director of the Society, was elected to the Southwestern District Hall of Fame for the year 1987. Paul Phillipus was appointed interim director while the Search Committee searched. We met all of our show commitments with Paul directing. In November, the Search Committee choice was announced and David Smotzer took over the reins as director. Dave had won a gold medal singing tenor with the RAPSCALLIONS, had directed the SOUTHERN GATEWAY chorus, and had musical training from Bowling Green State in Ohio. 1988 was another banner year for the Chordsmen. Besides putting on a spring show, the Golden Anniversary International came off with nary a hitch. 11,000 barbershoppers descended on San Antonio for this great show. The Chordsmen wives and sweethearts had organized formally and called themselves the E~FENSION CHORDS. Their efforts resulted in the greatest, warmest, and most colorfully decorative Ladies' Hospitality ever! The Parade of Quartets had a vintage auto for each year's championship quartet with the surviving members on board. It was loads of fun for both crowd and quartets, and led by one of our own, Joe Liles. The only dropout was a 1955 Rolls Royce hearse that was planned to carry the FOUR HEARSEMEN. Who can forget the RURAL ROUTE FOUR driving that tractor pulling the float with the INTERSTATE RIVALS and Glenn Howard, 86 years young, aboard? The Rio Cibolo Hoe Down set a new standard for fun, style, and entertainment at the President's Ball. TEQUILA FLATS was revived and was a hit with Joe Barbershopper. Many other functions were handled with skill and finesse by the Chordsmen team headed by Henry Lutz, too many to give everybody credit in this limited historical epic, but thanks, everyone! (Editor's Note - What? No mention of the incredible historical exhibit with all the Harmonizers, barbershop recordings, district booths and quartet championship uniforms?). It was a very good year! The Chordsmen, tired but willing, went to '88 District and finished third with 54 men on stage. Franklin Spears and Ray Anthony were elected to |
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Contents |
Page |
How It All Began Chapters Chapter Histories International Quartet Champions ChorusesAdministration
Contests and Conventions Registered Quartets Publications Recognitions In Conclusion