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A Short History of the San Jacinto Chapter #1

The members of the San Jacinto Chapter have been major contributors and supporters of the objectives of The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT). Many of the men who founded the SRT in 1922 became the charter members of the San Jacinto Chapter. Odin M. Kendall, Lewis R. Bryan and other descendents of early Texans reorganized in Houston on March 30, 1922, the state society of the SRT after many years of dormancy. On October 20, 1934, the state society was chartered by the state of Texas to transact business in Houston and at other locations in Texas with designated subordinate chapters. According to the SRT Year Book (1935-36), the San Jacinto Chapter had officers and 122 members during the 1935-36 period. There were six other active chapters with a total of 75 members. Of the 46 men who became the charter members of the SRT in 1922, 34 became members of the San Jacinto Chapter according to the SRT Year Book. The San Jacinto Chapter officers during the 1935-36 period were: Charles E. Gilbert, President; Charles E. Ashe, First Vice President; William E. Kendall, Second Vice President; Daffan Gilmer, Secretary-Treasurer; Rev. J. H. Ellis, Chaplain; James I. Perkins, Historian. A major goal of the San Jacinto Chapter has been to provide its support of the national society of the SRT in accordance with the SRT constitution. Of a total of 56 men who became presidents general from 1922-97, 27 were members of the San Jacinto Chapter. Of a total of 151 Knights of the Order of San Jacinto inducted from 1941-97, 44 Knights had their membership in the San Jacinto Chapter. The chapter’s membership was 295 in 1977 and 365 in 1997. Some of the major projects sponsored by the SRT that members of the San Jacinto Chapter participated in leadership roles or were otherwise actively involved were: the annual April 21 programs at the San Jacinto Battleground: the Texas Centennial (1936); Stephen F. Austin Day Dinners; Texas Navy Day observances; the original planning of the San Jacinto Monument and San Jacinto Museum of History (1934-36); preservation of the Texas State Archives (1956); David G. Burnet Park (1959); planning of the Star of the Republic Museum (1966-70); the Texas Sesquicentennial (1986); the 155th birthday of Texas (1991); the 25th anniversary program of the Presidio La Bahia Awards (1992). The San Jacinto Chapter meets monthly in Houston. By E.G. Pierson Recent Past Presidents of the San Jacinto Chapter #1 Jack Barbee Jack S. Blanton Joseph Blanton, KSJ Denton Bryant Sam F. Clark, Jr. Leonard G. Cloud, KSJ Alfred Davis IV, KSJ Joe R. Davidson L. Clay Fisher Will Haddock Raymond M. Hill Sam Houston IV, KSJ Tom Houston Robert Kendall Russell Kendall, KSJ Randy Pollard J. Richard Reese, KSJ Madison B. Wright, Jr., KSJ