Chapter President Don Roberts saw an opportunity to bring the very popular International Champions of 1961, the Suntones from Miami, to Abilene. "Broadway Melodies" was staged at McMurry's Radford auditorium on November 16, 1975. This also happened to be the first day of "dove season". The chapter lost money on the show but gained much stature in the community. A local banker bought a new sound system for the local chapter, just like the Suntones used.

All the activity plus chorus and quartet involvement in competition and public performances paid off. At the district convention in October of '74 we were awarded the Outstanding Small Chapter Award for our achievements.

Having been involved in district affairs for some lime, Bruce Clark had accepted the post of Division I Vice President. At his urging, Abilene chapter bid and was awarded the 1975 district convention. The key elements were Abilene's central location in the five state district and our new Civic Center The number of entries in the chorus and quartet competitions was high. The convention drew a large audience and was a financial success. We won the small chorus crown held within that chorus contest.

In 1976, Bruce Clark left a long employment with West Texas Utilities and moved his family to San Angelo where he was employed by San Angelo Refrigeration and Equipment Co. The revival of a San Angelo barbershop chapter was assured. By 1979, Clark had attracted enough men to apply for a charter They held their charter show in August of that year with Abilene as sponsor

Danny Hood stayed with the chapter as director through the fall of '77. Abilene qualified at division and made the trip to San Antonio for district. In the spring of '78 a job change came to Hood with an offer from a high school in Carrollton, TX.

Don Roberts took on the task of editing and publishing the SWD Roundup in '77 and '78. The Textones quartet remembers doing the mailing.

In 1978 we acquired one Hugh "Huggy" Davidson, an Air Force Captain, B-52 navigator, and lover of old songs. In January of '79, he took over as publisher of the chapter's bulletin. The "Big Country Clippings", a very professional bulletin, continued punctual monthly publication over two years (Jan '79- Dec '80) even while "Huggy" was on three months T.D.Y. in England where he reported on British barbershop activities.

Hugh introduced many ideas to improve and spur the chapter on. The two most productive and

'The Santa Claus Hustle" started in 1980 with some long range planning. A music direction educator in the larger community was invited to direct six rehearsals and a program of Christmas music for the public. Notice of an all-male chorus to sing this program was posted to the local media. Invitations were mailed to friends, prospective and former members to commit to six rehearsals across October and November The site for the program was selected and announced to the public. Each year, the chapter has gained good community exposure and publicity, and best of all, new chapter members. The program is still being used.

On two occasions, the chapter found a new director at critical periods when it meant revitalizing the chapter. For short periods we enjoyed Milton Pullen of A.C.U. faculty ('85), and Chuck Sims, a music minister at First Baptist Church ('92).

Mter trying a few temporary quarters, the chapter settled in at the Family Life Center of Highland Church of Christ, South 5th at Highland in 1982. The Big Country Chorus, under the direction of Farrel Reeder, launched into a new era of annual shows, and division and district competition.

To honor our quartet that had earned district respect and community popularity from '63 to '75, the chapter voted in 1983 to again change the name of the performing chorus to Abilene's own "Memory Men". A conscious effort was made to secure a chorus director with music training.

Upon the death of P.S. "Phil" Kendrick, Sn on December 16, 1984, men from Abilene chapter were called upon to sing his funeral at Highland Church of Christ. On that Tuesday morning Aubrey Cole, Hugh Davidson, David Herd, Roy Lewis, Andy Maddox, Farrel Reeder, John Townsend, Wally Walston and Chuck Weeth sang the "Old Songs Medley".

Hugh Davidson's second contribution, "Valentine Serenades" came in '86, cribbed from the Beaumont chapter bulletin which had crowed about their own success in '85. Abilene chapter has enjoyed good success in each ensuing year, and now derives most of its finances, and major publicity from this activity.

Mter completing the spring '85 show at the Paramount Theater, the chapter learned that director Pullen of A.C.U., would be leaving at the end of the school year. Milton was the first paid director the chapter had hired. Andy Maddox, an A.C.U. music ministry student and former society