Golden Memories Page 149

Golden Memories SWD Chapters

SHREVEPORT, LA
River Cities Jubilee Chorus

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Red River Revelaires

The Shreveport Chapter, forerunner of the Northwest Louisiana Chapter, was founded by J. Howell Flournoy, sheriff of Caddo Parish. Flournoy was a bass and a barbershop quartet enthusiast all his life. The story is told that soon after WWI (1919-1920) when he returned from service, Flournoy's quartet almost went professional. One of their first professional engagements was in a Dallas night spot. In spite of their success, the proprietor would not or could not pay the boys and they found themselves stranded, without funds, and a long way from home. As Flournoy told the story, they hopped a freight train to Shreveport, arrived very tired and hungry, and he became a law enforcement officer instead!
It was Flournoy and C. L. Perry, superintendent of Caddo Schools, who were the instigators of Shreveport's original and only beginning. The year was 1948. They held an organization meeting at J& S Music Company in downtown Shreveport. Keith Ford was at that first meeting and remembers six to eight men being present. Besides Flournoy,

Perry and Ford, Leon Grosjean of the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Orval Richards of the Shreveport Police Department and Jack Roupe of J & S Music Company, were present After 2 or 3 meetings at J & S, the new singing club moved to the Shreveport City Hall for more room to accommodate its growing membership. Sometime during this early activity, C. L. Perry was elected president and SPEBSQSA was petitioned for recognition. The Shreveport Chapter charter, signed by 0. C. Cash, was presented to the membership by Tom Crowder, president of the Longview, Texas Chapter on June 30, 1949. By this time, Leon Grosjean was president. According to a newspaper account of that date, the charter showed a membership of 65 and approximately 400 attended the presentation meeting and show. The Shreveport Chapter has been in continuing and active operation since that time. However, to more nearly reflect its area of influence, the chapter name was changed in 1988 to The Northwest Louisiana Chapter of

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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