Lewis C. Heacker *
Illustrious Sir Lewis C. Heacker
Potentate - 1973
Illustrious Lewis C. Heacker assumed office as Potentate.
More than 1,400 Nobles and ladies attended the Inaugural Ball at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
The Temple mourned the death of Past Potentate John “Jack” Dreaper (Potentate 1939).
Membership was the Potentate’s major focus, and bingo events were renamed “Membo” parties.
Texas Attorney General John Hill was the first candidate initiated in 1973.
Imperial Potentate Henry B. Struby attended a banquet at the Shamrock Hilton during his official visit and visited the children at the hospital.
Improvements to the Temple property included:
Paving of parking areas
New sidewalks
Outdoor lighting
Electronic bingo scoreboard and ball mixer
The Spring Ceremonial on March 24th produced strong membership growth.
Arabia Temple sponsored six Houston Astros preseason games at the Astrodome for the Crippled Children’s Benefit.
At All-State in San Antonio, more than 700 Arabia Nobles and ladies attended and Arabia units again won multiple trophies.
At the Imperial Council in Atlanta Arabia units won numerous awards:
Bill Becker – #1 Drum Major in North America
Sam Morrow – #1 Clown in North America
Rabban Roy W. Bierschwale – President of the Shrine Patrol Association of North America
Patrol – 1st place parade and competition
Drum & Bugle Corps – 2nd place competition
Clown Jewels – 2nd place competition
Motor Corps Escort – 1st place obstacle course
Jacob A. Wingerter of Salaam Temple in Newark was elected Imperial Potentate.
The 37th Annual Shrine Circus featuring Tarzan, Tommy the Tusker, and the Hanneford Horses was a major success.
Potentate Heacker’s year closed with the Temple membership approaching 9,000 and a New Year’s Eve Ball at the Rice Hotel.
