Bill P. Jackson *
Illustrious Sir Bill P. Jackson
Potentate - 1981
“Welcome To Our World” was the theme song for the Illustrious Potentate Bill P. Jackson in 1981, the 66th Potentate of Arabia Temple. A gala Inaugural Ball on January 31st, including a champagne breakfast got the year off to a good start.
The Temple units participated in the Conroe GoTexas parade on February 21st and the annual Branham pancake supper on February 27th was well attended. The Blood Bank drive got underway on February 28th and a good turnout was on hand for Artisans Formal Dance.
Potentate Jackson made official visits to the Bayshore/La Porte Club on March 4th and to the Montgomery County on March 5th.
Arabia Temple units were on hand for the annual Columbus parade on March 14th and on March 21st the first hot sands ceremonial of the year was held and was followed by a dance featuring the Arabia Connections. The honored guest on this occasion was Most Worshipful Tom Lamb Grand Master of Masons in Texas. The Rio De Janeiro tour departed on March 27th.
Benefit Day was held on April 11th and produced over a million dollars for the hospitals and on April 13th, Potentate Jackson made his official visit to the San Jacinto Shrine Club. An Easter Family Night was held on April 18th featuring Walter Blaney and Sandy.
An official visit was made to Nasa Shrine Club on April 22nd and the units participated in the annual LaPorte parade on April 25th.
A hospital benefit dinner was held by the Provost Guard and the Greeters on April 25th and featured the U of Houston mime group Theater Under the Stars. A Patrol Spring Formal Dance was held at River Oaks on April 25th. The Chanter and Band sponsored a Hospital Benefit Dance on May 2nd and an official visit was made to the Waller County Shrine Club on May 7th. The Temple units paraded in Brenham on May 8th and was followed by Drum Corps Dance.
An All the Way in One Day cold sands ceremonial was held May 16th, and the First Lady’s Luncheon honoring Lady Trudy Jackson was held on this date at the River Oaks Country Club. In the evening a Shrine Club Dance was held featuring Fred Wakefields Orchestra.
The units paraded on May 17th in preparation for the forthcoming TSA and Imperial meetings.
An official visit was made to the Lake Houston Shrine Club on May 20th and the Provost Guard had a dance on May 23rd, and was followed by the Wrecking Crew dance on May 30, and the month ended with a Temple Family picnic at the Double Eagle Ranch on May 31 with everyone invited.
The third Bingo party of the year was held on June 3.
Arabia Temple suffered one of its greatest losses in the passing of Past Potentate Hirsh N. Schwartz on June 9, 1981 while on a Carribean cruise. The beloved Hirsh was Potentate in the great year of 1970.
The annual Texas Shrine Association meetings were held this year at Dallas from June 11th through June 14th. The Chanters won a second place trophy. Arabia Temple had three clowns in the top ten, the Drum Corps won a third place trophy and the Arabian Knights brought home two trophies.
An All the Way in One Day York Rite festival was held on June 20th and official visits were made to the Lufkin Shrine Club and the Gulf Coast Shrine Club. The Imperial meetings this year were held at New Orleans during July 12th thru July 17th. The Clown Jewels won first and second place trophies and the Drum Corps won a third place trophy in the parade.
It was the 4th Anniversary of the Arabia Squares and it was celebrated on July 25th with a Square Dance.
On August 2nd the units participated in the annual parade at Schulenburg and on August 3rd the Rhine River Country tour departed for Holland, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
A good turnout was on hand for the Artisans dance on August 22nd and official visits were made to the Brenham Shrine Club on August 24th and at Baytown on August 28th. Summer came to an end with the Oriental Band dance on August 29th.
An official visit was made to the Southeast Shrine Club on September 2nd and the Labor Day weekend was the occasion of a trip to Las Vegas and the Bowlers annual tournament at the Palace Lanes.
Activity picked up in September with three dances sponsored by the Motor Corps, Bowlers & Greeters and the Band. A cold sands ceremonial was held on September 26th and an official visit was made to the Wharton County Shrine Club on September 28th.
The 1980 Circus got underway on September 30 with the registration of Circus workers and was followed by the annual Circus kickoff dance. Shrine Circus Funtastic opened on October 8th and continued through October 18th. The Temple units participated in the annual Gulf Coast parade on October 24th and an official visit was made to the Brazos Valley Shrine Club on October 29th. Montgomery County Shrine Club had their annual Deer Hunters Ball on October 30th, and on October 31st the Bowlers had their annual Halloween Costume Dance at the Temple.
A decision having been made to hold the circus in the Spring, the 1982 Circus was kicked off at a meeting held on November 4th and it was announced that the Circus next year would be held from April 29 to May 9, 1982.
A military ball sponsored by the Legion of Honor was held on November 7th and was followed by the Provost Guard formal on November 14th and the Wrecking Crew Directors Ball on November 21st and the Artisans formal on November 28th.
The final Bingo for the year was held on November 25th and a Caribbean Cruise departed on November 28th.
For the first time in Temple history the kickoff meeting for the circus was held in December.
In keeping with tradition, Potentate Jackson made his official visit to the Colorado Valley Shrine Club on December 9th.
A cold sands ceremonial was held on December 12th and was followed by a benefit dance sponsored by all the Temple units.
Fred Wakefield and his great band furnished the music for the annual New Year’s Eve Ball on New Year’s Eve.
Potentate Jackson’s year came to a close with the annual Drum Corps Presidents Ball on January 9th, and Hawaii trip on January 13th and the Patrol Potentates Ball on January 16th.
