Two Chapters to celebrate 50-year anniversaries
Two of our Pioneer District chapters celebrated 50th anniversaries in 1989; Detroit-Oakland and Grand Rapids. Detroit #1 (merged with Oakland County in 1986) was chartered July 29, 1939 and Grand Rapids on November 1, 1939. Both chapters have been strong representatives of our district over the years. Cumulatively, including OCC, Detroit-Oakland has represented our district 13 times and Grand Rapids seven times in international chorus competition. Grand Rapids was the first international chorus champion in 1953, the first year of competition. International caliber quartets from these chapters are too numerous to mention, but the HARMONY HALLS from Grand Rapids were our first Society international champions, winning the gold in 1944.
Three other Pioneer chapters celebrated their 45th year anniversaries, including Boyne City, chartered February 1, 1944; Windsor, March 1, 1944; and Wayne, October 12, 1944. Milford celebrated its 40th anniversary, July 25, 1949.
Name change for Bush League
Boyne City has thrived, as a part of the Pioneer District, for 45 years. Among the many great promoters of barbershop singing and the backbone of the Boyne City Chapter was Loton Willson. In recognition of his many years of service to Boyne City, and as founder of the acclaimed "Bush League" quartet contest, the membership of the Boyne City Chapter officially approved the renaming of the contest to the Loton Willson "Bush League" contest.
When Boyne City conceived this contest, they certainly were "in the bushes" but they are still alive and thriving. Renaming the "Bush League" contest was their way of recognizing Loton Willson for his many accomplishments in the Pioneer District.
IVY LEAGUE, SOUNDS OF TIME to Kansas City— Wayne's RENAISSANCE Chorus new District Chorus Champs
The battle of the quartets for the right to represent the Pioneer District in Kansas City in July was finally settled with the IVY LEAGUE taking top honors, followed closely by a new quartet, SOUNDS OF TIME. Fifteen quartets vied for the honor in Battle Creek, and there wasn't a bad quartet among them.
 Renissance Dist89
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The Wayne Chapter RENAISSANCE Chorus won their eighth district chorus championship by outscoring the Macomb County HARMONY HERITAGE Chorus by 17 points. Fifteen choruses competed.
The House of Delegates meeting was well attended with numerous awards presented to the various chapters for logopedics and for achievement. Many chapters received several awards. The Bulletin Editor of the Year Awards were presented to Ernie Marlow of the Milford Chapter (first place) and to Les Miller of the Swan Valley Chapter (second place). Dale Hanson of the Boyne City Chapter was presented the area counselor of the year award for 1988.
Other outstanding events which took place at the spring convention were as follows:
Alpena was given an award for being the only chapter in the district to achieve 100% retention of membership.
The FURNITURE CITY CHORD COMPANY received the Great Lakes Express trophy for the largest contribution to logopedics in 1988—$2,000.
The newly created Monroe North Chapter signed up 22 new barbershoppers and applied for a license on April 10th. They held a licensing show on April 15th aided by their sponsor, the Wayne Chapter, and the Wayne RENAISSANCE Chorus.
Jim Styer awarded "Public Relations Officer of the Year" for second consecutive year
Jim Styer
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For the second straight year, Jim Styer of the Battle Creek Chapter received the international "Public Relations Officer of the Year" Award. The prestigious award was announced and presented to him at the just-concluded convention in Kansas City, during the annual meeting of the Public Relations Officers and Bulletin Editors (P.R.O.B.E.).
Styer, who has been very active in running the public relations for the Pioneer District conventions, was awarded the trophy based on his excellent leadership in directing the PR efforts in celebrating the Society's Golden Anniversary celebration at the 1988 spring convention in Battle Creek. At that time he was instrumental in the promotion of the 50th anniversary birthday cake and the attendant publicity connected with the celebration.
A rumpus in Kansas City
Despite the fact that the attendance was down considerably from past years, the competition raised the excitement to a much higher pitch than usual as the quartets and choruses battled for the top honors. The 51st annual convention and contests held in Kansas City over the fourth of July week pitched the elite against the elite in some extraordinarily fine singing. The Alexandria, Virginia HARMONIZERS Chorus and Louisville, Kentucky's SECOND EDITION quartet emerged as the 1989 international champions of barbershop harmony.
Pioneer's IVY LEAGUE ended up in 34th position, with the SOUNDS OF TIME in 40th position. Both quartets sang exceptionally well. The Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus finished in the 15th position out of 16 choruses. All three of our groups deserved a hearty congratulations in the contests. To give you some idea of the closeness of the quartet competition, IVY LEAGUE was only 81 points from making the top twenty, not that far away.
Hugh Ingraham Memorial Trophy
The new International Quartet Trophy was presented to the winning quartet at the international quartet contest in Kansas City in July 1989. The trophy was the culmination of design ideas from Chuck Sisson, a member of the 1988 International Champion CHIEFS OF STAFF, and Grosse Pointe's Ray Starrette, a separate gold-plated bronze casting of a quartet was yet to be added to the trophy.
 Landino Trophy Retired
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The trophy includes room for quartet names to be inscribed for the next 50 years, and on the back has the names of the past 50-year's champions. The trophy replaces the "Ben Landino" trophy which was filled up and retired to the International Archives display in Kenosha. The Landino trophy was named for its creator, Ben Landino, a member of the Grosse Pointe Chapter. It was first awarded to the MID-STATES FOUR in 1949. Since the Grosse Pointe Chapter had contributed to creating the Landino Trophy, Dick Kingdon, baritone in the CHIEFS OF STAFF, contacted Grosse Pointe in December 1988 and asked whether they would be interested in creating a replacement. Chapter member Ray Starrette, creator of the trophy for the senior quartet champion, was assigned to the task. Chuck Sisson, lead of the CHIEFS OF STAFF and a graphic artist, volunteered to assist Starrette in the design. It was soon decided that a quartet should be part of the design. Jim Lan, original lead of the SIDE STREET RAMBLERS and a sculptor in Albuquerque, was commissioned to create the quartet features. Thanks to the efforts of all concerned, everything was completed in time for a presentation in Kansas City. The Grosse Pointe Chapter is to be congratulated for their efforts as the providers of our new International Quartet Trophy.
We'll miss the "Bear"
Willis D. `Bear' Butler passed from our midst February 13, 1989. We called him "Mr. Barbershopper", having been given the title earlier when the Detroit-Oakland Chapter dedicated its 50th anniversary show to him. Bill, who was 73, attended in a wheelchair to receive the applause of the crowd in what was to be his `last hurrah'.
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| Bill Butler |
Although weakened by cancer, Bill still managed to appear at Detroit-Oakland's chorus rehearsals where he coached. Troubadour Editor Bob McDermott remembers one of the last things Bill said to him, "I wish I had the strength to yell at them (the chorus) one more time". Bill was big and gruff but with the biggest heart of anyone around.
Bill began his barbershopping with the Traverse City Chapter in 1948 directing the CHERRYLAND Chorus for five years and also organizing and singing in the CHIEFTANS quartet. Bill moved to Cadillac in 1954 and, in two years, helped increase chapter membership from 27 to 57 members. He moved to Flint in 1956 and was one of the leaders in resurrecting the defunct Flint Chapter. Bill served as president and chorus director while there. In 1960 Bill helped rebuild the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus where he remained for three years. In 1963 Bill transferred to the Detroit #1 Chapter and directed the MOTOR CITY Chorus for nine years, winning four district championships in addition to taking the chorus to international competition in 1965 and 1967.
In 1976 Bill was appointed chairman of the district Musical Archives Program and served in this position until 1981. At that time, the position of Director of Music Education was created. Bill served as the director of musical education until 1983. During his barbershopping career, Bill was constantly called upon by the Society to teach in various capacities at HEP schools, Harmony College, etc. He also coached several quartets, the most famous being the GREAT LAKES EXPRESS.
POWER PLAY, GREAT LAKES sweep the fall convention
Fourteen quartets, eighteen choruses and eight senior quartets made the Pioneer District convention and contests one of the finest in years. More than a thousand barbershoppers, wives and families were on hand to witness and enjoy the best that Pioneer District had to offer.
 Power Play
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The new district champion quartet POWER PLAY (Jason Oyler, tenor; Michael Slamka, lead; Mark Slamka, bari; and Jack Slamka, bass) from the Macomb County Chapter carried over their fine showing from the Buckeye Invitational in August to prove to the world that this was a quartet to be reckoned with in a contest, and prove it they did.
The second place quartet, CHECKMATE (Bruce LaMarte, tenor; Craig Pollard, lead; Brian Kaufman, bari; and Scott McNutt, bass), representing the Wayne Chapter, put on a tremendous set in the finals, but were unable to overcome the 49 point lead that POWER PLAY had in the semi-finals. Overall, only 20 points separated the two.
The Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus proved to be too much for the rest of the field, wining over the second place Wayne RENAISSANCE Chorus by 46 points. This was the first contest for Grand Rapids with Dale Mattis at the helm.
 Photograph provided by Clay Jones, Huron valley.
PRESIDENTS MEN |
The second running of the district's Seniors Quartet Contest seemed to be a real hit, not only attracting an audience of about 400 but also bringing in a total of eight competing quartets. The winners were the PRESIDENT'S MEN (Bill Wickstrom, tenor; Jim Stephens, lead; Walt Quick, bass; and District President Clay Jones [hence the name], bari). [Unfortunately, when the quartet's name was inscribed on the record books, it was written down as the PRESIDENT'S OWN; and that is how it will probably remain throughout time.]
Harold McAttee—Hall of Famer
The Pioneer District's oldest member, Harold McAttee, was inducted in to the Pioneer District Hall of Fame in Battle Creek on October 21. The award to him was made by District Executive Vice President Mike O'Donnell during the House of Delegates meeting. Harold, a long-time member of the Lansing Chapter, has been a member of the Society for 50 years. He is particularly remembered for singing in the SONGMASTERS, a quartet of great renown during the 1940's. Although the quartet had some changes of personnel, Harold was the mainstay of the quartet all during this period, culminating in a fine fourth place medalist finish at the international convention in Buffalo in 1949.
 Harold McAttee
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We do not have pictures of the individuals named in the blank frames. If you have a picture of any missing individual and are willing to share it, please contact Steve Sutherland
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