Golden Memories    SWD Chapters


Previous Page		 Ft. Worth, Texas
Cowtown Chorus
by Roe Wiegand
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Fort Worth Cowtown Chorus - Sonny Lipford, Director
 Organized barbershop singing came into being in Fort Worth from several sources, although the founder is considered to be Barney Morris, a former member of the Corpus Christi chapter.
In March 1951, while copy editor of the Fort Worth Press newspaper, Mr. Morris ran various articles inviting men to join a new barbershop chapter. This attracted a nucleus of approximately 35 men to form a temporary local society which included several service men from Carswell AFB, with previous singing experience from their home town chapters.
The officers of this temporary local group were:
 
President  A.C. Austermuehie
Vice President Hawn Kite
Secretary Sgt. Bob Taylor
Director Victor B. Acers

Later in 1951, Bob Taylor resigned as secretary and Jack Gustafson assumed the job. A.C. Austermuehie resigned as president and took over as treasurer. Victor Acers resigned as director; this

  task was assumed by Sonny Lipford. The next official election placed these men in office:
 
 
President Barney Morris
Vice President Joe Scudiero
Secretary Jack Gustafson
Treasurer A. C. Austermuehie
Director Sonny Lipford
 
Barney Morris petitioned the society for a temporary charter. It was issued on July 5, 1951. By this time we had 34 men. During this year, meetings were held each Monday evening at the downtown YMCA, radio station KWBU, and at the City Recreation Hall on Vickery Street.

HELP FROM DALLAS 'BIG D' CHAPTER

The Fort Worth chapter was sponsored by the Dallas 'Big D' chapter. Fort Worth was issued a permanent charter on July 5, 1952 with 48 men on board.

(Continued on Next Page)



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