Odell Hyden *
Illustrious Sir Odell Hyden
Potentate – 1982
“You will be seeing the phrase ‘Shrine Mason’ in the Arabian and referred to throughout the year.” Thus, advised Potentate Odell Hyden becoming the 67th Potentate of Arabia Temple in 1982.
A Circus Report meeting on February 3 and a membership meeting on February 10th served notice that these two important activities would be given a lot of attention in 1982.
The Temple units paraded in Conroe on February 13th. Potentate Hyden announced that as of February 15th, Arabia Temple would be the home of the Scottish Rite bodies. A Ball featuring the Ted Weems orchestra was held on February 20th. Bingo got underway, but not on Wednesday nights, and a Blood Bank drive was held on February 27th. Potentate Hyden’s first official visit was made to the Montgomery Shrine Club on March 4th. A good turnout of Masons and their ladies were on hand for Shrine Blue Lodge Night on March 10th. Unit dances got underway with the Wrecking Crew Dance on March 6th and the Provost Guard Dance on March 13th.
A Hot Sands Ceremonial, the first of the new year, was held on March 20th and was followed by the Artisans Benefit Dance.
928 Masons attended Grand Master J. M. “Jimmy” Wilson’s Regional Conference held at the Temple on March 27th and with the first Spring Circus only a month away, another Circus Report meeting was held on March 31st.
Eight TSA mid-winter meetings prevailed in March from Houston to El Paso. An Easter Cantata was presented by the Chanters on April 6th and was followed by a Bingo party on April 7th. The Patrol Spring Formal featuring Ed Sullivan’s orchestra was held on April 27th.
Circus time arrived on April 21st with the registration of nobles and ladies for work at the Circus and the first spring circus for Arabia Temple was kicked off on April 23rd with the Clown Jewels annual dance featuring Buddy Brock and his orchestra.
The Temple units participated in the Bayshore-La Porte parade on April 24th and the 46th Annual Shrine Circus opened on April 29th through May 9th. The dedication of the Houston Unit Shrine Hospital’s $1.7 million addition on May 11th was a complete success with Imperial Potentate Randolf Thomas and Imperial Sirs Voris King and Woody Bennett in attendance and with representatives from all the 13 Texas Shrine Temples.
Official visits were made in May to the Gulf Coast, Lake Houston and the San Jacinto Shrine Clubs.
An All the Way in One Day ceremonial was held on May 22nd.
In June, Potentate Hyden made two official visits. One to the Bayshore La Porte Shrine Club and then to the Lufkin Shrine Club.
The annual circus awards banquet was held on June 4th and the Band and Chanters had a dance on June 5th.
It was then time for the Annual Texas Shrine Association convention at San Antonio from June 9th thru June 12th and was followed by the Imperial Shrine Council Convention at Orlando, Florida, from June 13th to June 18th. As always Arabia’s units did not come home empty-handed. At San Antonio the Bowlers placed 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, the Stage Band won 2nd place, the Clown’s were 1st and 3rd overall, the Motor Escort were No. 1, the Red racers placed 2nd, and so did the Golfers and the Provost Guard placed 2nd in Class B and C and Third in Class A and Class D. Then it was on to Orlando, Florida where the Chanters and the Motor Corps won first place trophies, the Motor Escorts 2nd and the Motor Corps Hondas won 2nd place in the obstacle course.
The Gulf Coast York Rite Association held their 1982 Summer festival at Arabia Temple which was followed by a very successful Cold Sands ceremonial. A Bingo party on June 30th brought to a close the first half of a great year. Summer having arrived, the 1982 Hospital Benefit Drive got underway with the first meeting being held on July 7th. Another Blood Drive was held on July 10th and the ever-popular Bingo Party was enjoyed on July 14th. No less than three unit dances were sponsored by the Golfers, Oriental Band, and the Arabia Squares and the month ended with a Shrine Club Western Dance on July 31st.
The Temple Units paraded in the Annual Schulenburg parade on August 1st, and the Switzerland Tour departed on August 5th. Benefit and Membership meetings were held and official visits were made by the Potentate to Baytown on August 20th and to Brenham on August 23rd.
First Lady Claudia was honored on August 28th with a luncheon held at Vargo’s. The 4th Annual Monte Carlo Night for the Hospital Benefit was held on August 28th.
September 1st opened with a Benefit meeting and was followed on the Labor Day weekend with the Bowlers tournament. An official visit was made to the Southeast Shrine Club on September 8th and by a Bingo Party on September 9th, and a blood drive on September 11th. Another first for the Hospital Benefit was a donation of $3,000.00 donated by the 22nd District American Legion. The Arabia Squares held a High Hopes Square Benefit Dance on September 11th and on September 17th the San Jacinto Shrine Club had a Fish Fry and Shrimp Boil for the Benefit. M.W. Jimmy Wilson, Grand Master of Masons in Texas was the guest speaker at the stated meeting on September 20th.
A cold sands ceremonial was held on September 25th that attracted 155 new nobles while the units paraded in Pearland. An official visit was made on September 28th to Wharton County and the month closed as it was opened with a Benefit meeting.
Potentate Hyden advised that October was here and everyone is ready to participate in our Hospital Benefit Day.
Al Marks, with special entertainment, provided the music for the Wrecking Crew Directors Ball on October 2nd, and the annual Skate-A-Thon for the benefit was held on October 3rd, which netted $11,264.14 for the Benefit. The Golfers had a benefit tournament on October 4th which attracted 216 Golfers at the Sharpstown Country Club and the units participated in the Trinity Valley Shrine Club parade at Livingston on October 9th. $9,529.73 was raised for the benefit on this day. The Band had a benefit dance for the Benefit also on October 9th. Benefit Day arrived on schedule on October 16th with a good turnout of nobles and ladies plus the members of the American Legion who also participated.
Bay City on October 23rd was the occasion of the Gulf Coast parade in which the Temple units participated, and a Country Western Benefit Dance was held for the Benefit. Montgomery County Shrine Club held their annual Deer Hunters Ball on October 29th for the hospital benefit.
Potentate Hyden made his official visit to the Fort Bend Shrine Club on November 2nd, and the 1983 circus was kicked off at a meeting held on November 3rd.
On November 6th the Temple units paraded in League City and the Legion of Honor had their Military Ball that evening.
A blood drive on November 13th was the most successful one held this year and on November 20th the units again paraded and this time at Tomball, and that evening the Artisans sponsored a formal dance.
The Caribbean Cruise departed on November 21st to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Mexico.
Arabia Temple units paraded in Wharton on December 4th, and the Provost Guard had a formal dance that evening. A special Christmas Songfest by the Chanters attracted a good turnout on Sunday December 5th. Potentate Hyden made his last official visit on December 8th to the Colorado Valley Shrine Club.
An All the Way in One Day ceremonial was held on December 11th by the York Rite, Scottish Rite and Arabia Temple. 120 new novices were initiated.
Family Night on December 17th featuring Bill Palmer, as the great Kazam, performing fascinating acts of magic and Denise Dowd, the ventriloquist, and her partner, Clementine was well received by a good crowd of Arabia’s families and children.
An official reception and dinner were held on December 18th honoring M.W. J. D. “Buddy” Baccus, Grand Master of Masons in Texas.
Another great New Year’s Eve gala ball featuring the great music of the Arabian Connections, Arabia’s own Band.
Potentate Hyden’s great year of 1982 closed with the Drum & Bugle Corp’s Presidents Ball on January 8th and the Patrol’s Potentate Ball on January 15th.
