The roots of this gold medal quartet come from several fine Southwestern District foursomes and include many outstanding singers. The story probably begins in San Antonio in 1962 with Dale Deiser, of the 1960 district champ Playboys, looking for a new quartet. He was able to recruit bari John McCord, bass Mike McCord (no relation) and lead Ben Binford, all fine quartetters. In the spring of 1963 they qualified for International contest at prelims in New Orleans but only placed 40th in Toronto. The contest was a disappointment, however, they had fun at the convention singing with the Chordsmen who placed 4th. Mter the convention Mike left to join the Checkmarks and C. 0. Crawford replaced him in late 1963. The Checkmarks became Southwestern District champs a few months later. The Mark W were alternates to their own" International (held in San Antonio) in 1964. Each worked on the convention committee helping with the auditorium as well as being the official mic testers. They disbanded by the end of the summer. It just so happened that in that 1964 contest was a quartet from the Evergreen District called the

Journeymen with a young lead named Allan Koberstein. On enlisting in the Air Force, Allan was stationed, like many other San Antonio members, at Lackland Air Force base. Meantime the Mark IV re-formed in 1965 with Charley Ward singing tenor and in 1966, for a few weeks, tenor Seth Moore joined them and went to prelims. They attempted to qualiiy but were again alternates. Songwriter and friend Jack Stern asked the Mark IV and the Checkmarks (who often performed together as the Markmen Octet) to record a special song for Lady Bird Johnson. Frank Bloembaum arranged it and some guitars were used. One of Lady Bird's quotes was ~If the Lord be willin' and the creek don't rise". Jack sent it to her in 1962 while still first lady, but he never heard back. In 1966 The Marksmen had the pleasure of singing for Lady Bird Johnson during a dinner to honor her "Keep America Beautiful" project. They told the stoiy and sang the song. It was the first time she had ever heard it and thanked each octet member personally. Left-over from the original Mark IV, Dale and

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