International Board expands Society's Musical Programs and Services
At the 1969 midwinter convention held in San Antonio in January, the International Board adopted: 1.) A program of additional musical services to the membership to provide two additional Musical Education and Services Department Field Men and necessary support personnel and equipment for the expanded musical program, and 2.) Set up a program to meet added administrative operating costs due to inflation. These programs were to be financed by an international dues increase of $3.75 annually, effective with the membership year commencing April 1, 1969. With the increase, annual dues were set at $12, including the Harmonizer, with the enrollment fee for new members remaining at $3.50. The late renewal fee of $2 did not apply after April 1.
Astronauts land on moon but found the Pioneer District had already been there!
When Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin emitted the first words from the moon "The Eagle has landed" as they set down with Apollo XI and walked onto the moon to plant a U. S. flag, they were surprised to hear a quartet from the Pioneer District already there singing an arrangement of "Get Out and Get Under the Moon". Well, not really, but the district was really beginning to roll with all kinds of events and changes in 1969.
The big innovation was the switching from a single panel of judges to a double panel for the 1969 contest sessions. Pioneer apparently was the only district which hadn't adopted the two-panel system. It must have worked successfully, because it is still in vogue in today's contests.
Activities were rampant throughout the district as chapters prepared for their annual shows, ladies' nights and inter-chapter meetings. The big news around the district was the announcement that the Pioneer District was eligible to send three quartets to the international quartet contest to be held in St. Louis in late June. This was bound to spur more quartets to compete in the upcoming district preliminary contest to be held in Bay City in April. The number of quartets was determined by a formula based primarily on the district population, which meant that membership was on the upswing in Pioneer at the time.
It had been announced earlier in the year that Jim Davenport, the editor of the Troubadour, the district publication, was giving it up as of June of 1969. A search was underway to find a replacement editor during the interim period, and several applications had been received. Dick Van Dyke, of the Oakland County Chapter, was finally selected by the District Board to become editor starting with the September 1969 issue. Jim Davenport had done a tremendous job as editor in reporting the events of the Pioneer District during his editorship. It has become even more evident in recent years when your author of this publication relied very heavily upon the news printed in the Troubadour, finding it very factual and full of district information.
1969 Boyne City "Bush League" huge success
Topping a field of 14 quartets, the largest entry in years, the BEAN TOWN FOUR captured the 1969 Bush League championship at Boyne City on May 3, before a crowd of 1,000. The winners represented the Saginaw-Bay Chapter and included Fred Kienitz, tenor; Noel Carpenter, lead; Doug Beaver, baritone and Bob Deming, bass. The ROYAL COACHMEN from Grand Rapids and the CHORD REPORTERS from Oakland County tied for second place, with the ROYAL COACHMEN taking the second place based on their harmony accuracy score. Fourth and fifth places were won by two new Traverse City quartets, the TIMBRE BARONS and RAGEDY ANDYS.
The road to St. Louis began at Bay City on April 26
 Eversharps
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"St. Louis, here we come!" This was the cry as three Pioneer District quartets celebrated their victories after the Bay City international quartet preliminaries were over, and a large enthusiastic audience joined in the approval of the judges selections as each winner was announced: "The alternate quartet—the HARMONY HOUNDS of Battle Creek. The top three winners in alphabetical order—the EVERSHARPS of Saginaw-Bay, the IN-VOICES of Wayne-Ann Arbor and the VAGABONDS of Oakland County." Other quartets competing included the BEAN TOWN FOUR of Saginaw-Bay, the CHORD REPORTERS from Oakland County, the ROYAL COACHMEN, Grand Rapids and the TREBLESHOOTERS from Detroit-Wayne. Quartets not making the finals included the BURRILL BROTHERS, Battle Creek; the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT, Wayne; the IN CHORD JABLES, Oakland County, and the RAGEDY ANDYS from Traverse City.
 Motor City "69"
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The chorus contest too, was highly competitive, as eleven chapters from the district vied for the judges favor. After the smoke had cleared, the judges announced the winner as `the new Pioneer District Chorus Champions—the MOTOR CITY Chorus of Detroit, under the direction of Bill Butler.' Running a close second was Wayne's WONDERLAND Chorus, directed by Gordon Limburg. The title of junior chorus champs was ably won by Saginaw-Bay's TIMBERLAND CHORDSMEN, directed by Bob Glover, while the novice honors were bestowed upon the Traverse City Chorus, directed by Al Hubschneider.
On hand to give the keynote address was former Pioneer member Wesly Meier of San Diego, California, the immediate past president of the Society. He was presented with a key to the City of Bay City on behalf of the mayor. Announcements of importance were made when Bill Warner of the Detroit #1 Chapter was chosen as the area counselor of the year for 1968 and an appropriate plaque was presented to him. Dick Van Dyke was selected by the Board as editor of the Troubadour commencing with the September 1969 issue.
Summer activities were bustlin' in Pioneer
Every year, new events seemed to be added to the already long list of `don't miss it' activities. In 1969 the Pontiac Chapter was able to gather some 300 or so barbershop fanatics and campers for their first annual Memorial Day Camp Out at Paradise Lake, near Fenton. Along with the Detroit #1 "Bob-Lo" Moonlight, the Lansing Fish Fry, Harrisville, Boyne City "Bush League" contest, this event was added to the list. Things were really happening in Pioneer!
 Sharplifters
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The SHARPLIFTERS were especially busy after their 11th place finish at the international convention in 1968. They had singing engagements across the country, including appearances on National TV (Joey Bishop Show and an ABC News Special), and locally on Detroit's Channel 7 Morning Show and Dwayne Riley's Feature story on Channel 4. On the 15th of August they took their unique sounds on a 21-day, 17,694 air mile, U.S.O. sponsored trip to entertain troops in the Armed Forces Hospitals in the Far East. The trip, which originated in Detroit (and included Lowell Thomas who took over the bass part when Mike Mudgett was transferred to St. Louis by his business) took them to San Francisco and on to the Orient for stops in Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Guam, and Hawaii. Red carpet treatment greeted them at every stop, because the SHARPLIFTERS were all commissioned "Full Colonels" for the duration of the trip. According to tenor Bill Wickstrom, the hardest part of the trip was arranging their vacations simultaneously, since like most barbershop quartets, their places of employment were widely varied. All in all, it was a very successful trip for the SHARPLIFTERS.
MARK IV captures international trophy at St. Louis
The MARK IV from San Antonio, Texas, continued their march through the international medalist ranks—which started with third place in 1967 in Los Angeles—and sang their way to the international championship for 1969 as well as into the hearts of nearly 6,000 barbershoppers and their families registered for the 31st annual convention and contests.
Eversharps
|  Harmony Hounds
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Of the three Pioneer District representatives, the EVERSHARPS from the Saginaw-Bay Chapter (Frank Bateson, tenor; Jim Gross, lead; Len Johnson, bass and Bob Glover, baritone) finished 34th, having moved up from their 41st finish the year earlier. The HARMONY HOUNDS from the Battle Creek Chapter (Howard Spear, tenor; Roger Lewis, lead; Ron Mell, bass and Larry Swan, baritone) and the INVOICES from the Wayne and Ann Arbor Chapters (Gordon Limburg, baritone; Bob Miller, bass; Dick Webber, tenor and Tom Pollard, lead) finished 39th and 44th, respectively, in their first attempts. The HOUNDS, as the alternate Pioneer District quartet, had replaced the VAGABONDS who were unable to compete due to the transfer of Jack Stephan, the tenor, to Ohio.
 Eversharps
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The Louisville THOROUGHBREDS were declared the chorus champions, winning their third international trophy. Pioneer's entry, the Oakland County WOLVERINE Chorus, finished a disappointing 13th after having finished in tenth place the year before. As a member of that chorus, I can remember the feeling of dismay when the score sheets came out and we were 13th. In my own mind I thought, "How could that be? We sang better, performed better, and lost ground!" I'm sure such is the thought of many competitors in similar situations. Every contest is different, and that's the way it should be.
Pioneer District's entry in the P.R.O.B.E. Booth contest placed a strong third out of the fifteen districts, thanks to an active committee composed of Chairman Bill Warner, Bob McDermott, Bill Pascher, E.E. Pat Ryan, and Del Badgley. John Morris, Pioneer's premiere cartoonist, did all of the art work for the booth.
District Board meeting held in Lansing July 13
A Board of Directors meeting was held at the Inn America, East Lansing, on July 13, 1969. Among various items and programs discussed, the discussion came up as to the upcoming visitation to the Pioneer District by International Music Man Bob Johnson. The itinerary for his visitation was from October 13 through the 19, which included a chorus director's school on the 19th. It was passed that once the locations for his visitations had been firmed, a single-page flier outlining the visit and promoting the chorus director's school would be mailed to each member of the Pioneer District.
AUTO TOWNERS decide to call it a day
 Auto Towners
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It was announced that the former international and Pioneer District champions had decided to break up as a quartet in l969 after almost ten years of singing together. They announced they would honor their show commitments until around the end of 1969, and would sing their "swan song" performance at the Jackson convention. It just happened that Jackson is where the Auto Towners won their first district contest back in 1961. A class act, the AUTO TOWNERS quartet will always be remembered for their fine sound and brilliant arrangements. Hats off to a great Pioneer District quartet!
Early entries in the contests indicated that competition would be keen
The number of chorus and quartet entries was up substantially early in the registration period for the contests, which indicated a heightened interest in the competitions. The Jackson `Chordial' Pioneer District fall chorus and quartet competitions were held in the beautiful Parkside High School. The Hayes Hotel was chosen as the headquarters hotel. In the end, ten choruses and 17 quartets competed.
Wolverines "69"
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The WOLVERINE Chorus, under the direction of Carl Dahlke, ran off with its third consecutive preliminary chorus championship with 1497 points. In second place was the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus with 1393 with the Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus in third with 1346. The balance of the competing choruses included Holland's WINDMILL Chorus, the Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus, Niles-Buchanan, Lansing, Jackson, Lakeshore, and Battle Creek.
One of the highlights of the chorus contests not often mentioned is the way the wives and ladies' auxiliaries of the competing chapters would outfit themselves in uniform-type attire to wear during the contests. Dora Vogel, who wrote a `Feminine Observer' column in each edition of the Troubadour described this section as follows: "Detroit MOTOR CITY Chorus wives in their cheering section wore red and white striped capes lined in blue and automobile pins fastened on their capes. Wayne Chapter ladies wore green and beige dresses with print chiffon scarfs, Oakland County ladies wore blue jackets and white pleated skirts." These cheering sections added much to the fun and enthusiasm of the contests themselves, which in many cases, depending upon the master of ceremonies, were not that interesting between choruses.
 Vagabonds
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As stated earlier, seventeen quartets showed up in Jackson to compete for the 1969-70 Pioneer District championship. Eight quartets survived the preliminary eliminations to reach the finals on Saturday night, October 11, 1969. The VAGABONDS from the Oakland County and Lansing Chapters, composed of Dennis Gore, lead; Norm Thompson, Tony Scooros, baritone, and newly acquired tenor, Kenneth Gibson, were declared the winners with 2783 points and our new district champs. In second place with 2710 points was INVOICES from the Wayne and the Ann Arbor Chapters. The KASUAL D'S from the Muskegon Chapter ended up in third with 2566 points, and the HARMONY HOUNDS in fourth with 2505 points. The remaining finalists included the BEAN TOWN FOUR, the RING MASTERS, the CHORD REPORTERS, and the NILE-LATERS, in that order.
Lou Harrington resigns as district secretary
 Lou Harrington
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It was announced at the Pioneer District House of Delegates meeting on October 10, 1969, that Lou Harrington would be stepping down as the district secretary. A new slate of officers were elected for 1970, including Tom Damm, president; Ron Gillies, executive vice president; Vice Presidents Tom Pollard, Don Funk, Richard Simpson, and Cliff MacLean. Elected as treasurer was E.E. Pat Ryan and as the new Secretary, William Warner. Gene Gillem as the immediate past president was elected to serve on the International Board. A plaque was presented to out-going Secretary Lou Harrington, who had served the district for twenty-two consecutive years as a district officer, 20 years as district secretary and two terms as district president. He also served three one-year terms as an international board member.
Ben Landino, designer of international trophy, passes
Ben Landino, the man responsible for the design of the first international quartet and chorus trophies, passed away in December of 1969. As the Grosse Pointe epitaph so describes him: "He was small in stature, but he had a strong booming voice and we loved him...No man has loved or given more than he...but don't cry for Benny because he is still out there. Our Benny Landino, the creator and builder of our international trophy."
The end of an era
On that note, the 1960's comes to an end. It was an exciting time, and we found many new leaders and music men who would lead us forward into the 1970's. Although we were down in membership from the late Forties and early Fifties, overall the district maintained a membership of approximately 1400 throughout the period. Let's just say the district pretty much held it's own for the period.
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