William E. (Bill) Silber *
Illustrious Sir William E. "Bill" Silber Potentate - 1985
“Come Alive in ’85” was the motto of William E. “Bill” Silber, the 70th Potentate of Arabia Temple.
The nobles of our great temple, along with their ladies, did just that during 1985, beginning with a circus report meeting on January 23rd that filled the room with smiling faces. We journeyed to Columbus for an oyster fry with the great Colorado Valley Shrine Club on the 25th. It was so cold and so rainy on January 31st as we traveled to the T.S.A. Divan Mid-Winter in Beaumont, but with all the fun and fellowship, we soon forgot the bad weather. But, Oriental Guide John Gordon, what did you do with that Ditty Bag?
Arabia Temple and DeMolay Chairman Benny Jones hosted a DeMolay-Rainbow Valentine Dance on February 8th and on the 9th our units participated in the Conroe Go-Texan Parade. Later that night we attended the Scottish Rite Valentine Dance in the ballroom. Assistant Rabban Bill Broussard chaired the first membership meeting for 1985 on February 13th.
Our “Deep in the Heart of Texas” Inaugural Ball was on February 16th. The ballroom was filled with Texas Bluebonnets and yellow roses and a grand time in Texas style was had by all as we danced to the music of Manny Green and his orchestra.
Chief Aide James Wheeler and his staff had lots of prizes for our first bingo night on February 26th.
Clint Faulkner, Jr. and his staff had a very successful blood drive on March 2nd.
The first Shrine Club official visit was to the Nasa Club where we were welcomed by Chief Ambassador Roy Engelbert and members of Nasa in true Texas style.
March 9th was our Fred G. Olde Shrine Ceremonial and on March 13th we made our official visit to Southeast Shrine Club.
On March 16th we participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Houston. The day ended with our very own St. Patrick’s Day Dance in the ballroom. This was a free dance with the music of Manny Green and his orchestra. Another fun bingo, and then on March 30th the Clown Jewels hosted the Annual Circus Dance and a really fun time.
March 31 was Shriners’ Day with the Houston Gambler Football Team.
April was circus time with Workers’ Registration on the 3rd and then on the 8th, under the leadership of General Circus Chairman Gene Stewart, we started moving into the Astroarena. The first show was on the 11th, and the Arabia Temple Shrine Circus was off to a most excellent and successful show. This circus was dedicated to Illustrious Past Potentate Fred Dexter.
Arabia Temple suffered a great loss in the passing of Past Potentate Maurice Elsberry. Maurice had been working circus and had just completed the teardown of the circus on April 21 when he suffered a fatal heart attack. Maurice was Potentate in the year 1983.
April 27th, forty-six nobles and ladies began a two-week vacation to Portugal and Spain.
The units sponsored a Casino Night to help with their T.S.A. expenses on May 11th, and on the 16th, we had an official visit to the Lake Houston Shrine Club. May 18th was the Sam Diamond Ceremonial.
The River Oaks Country Club was the place to be on May 18th as Colonel Lee Elmore’s lady June, along with the ladies of Arabia Temple, hosted the First Lady’s Luncheon and was, indeed, a beautiful luncheon.
The Montgomery County Shrine Club entertained us with a delicious dinner and a belly dancer on May 23rd.
The Artisans held a Benefit Dance on May 25th.
The Drum Corps began June for us with a Hawaiian dance on the 1st. We were treated to dinner and a talk about the Texas Army when we were with San Jacinto Shrine Club on the 6th. The 8th took us to Lufkin Shrine Club and a delicious fish fry.
On June 9th, we were so pleased as our nobles participated in our own Units on Parade. They were all number one in our hearts.
June 13th, we traveled to the grand Ole city of San Antonio for T.S.A. A really fun time did we have at our Victory Party celebrating:
#1 Director’s Staff
#1 Legion of Honor Floor
#1 Legion of Honor Parade
#1 Patrol Drill Competition
#1 Provost Guard Overall Top Shooter
#2 Band Concert
#2 Bowlers
#2 Provost Guard A-Team
#2 Provost Guard C-Team
#3 Provost Guard B-Team
That’s the way to “come alive in ’85”.
The Arabia Squares Benefit Dance was June 22nd, and the Wrecking Crew Country Western Dance was the 29th.
The 1985 Imperial Session in Atlanta, Georgia, with Imperial Sir Gene Bracewell, began on July 2nd. Amid all the meetings, there was time for unit competition and our units did us proud again — Patrol won a #1 and a #2 trophy; Motor Corps won a #1 and #2 trophies; Clowns won a #1, #2 and #3 trophy.
And Marshal Fred Loofs and his Staff were #1 with all of us for their great performance. Are we “alive in ’85”!
We visited with Trinity Valley Shrine Club on July 11.
Another free dance. This time to celebrate our T.S.A. and Imperial victories in Texas country western style with the C.C. Express Band.
Our trip to the British Isles was divided into two groups. The first group, along with Past Potentate Ordial Hyden and his lady Claudia, began their 10 day vacation on July 29th.
On August 4th our units traveled to Schulenburg for the annual homecoming festivities. Former first lady Alice Schwartz hosted the Divan and Staff to her lovely home following the parade.
August 6th, Potentate Bill Silber and lady Ruth, Treasurer Bill Lane and lady Barbara, Past Potentate Fred Dexter and lady Dottie, Chief Aide James Wheeler and lady Beverley, and 60 more nobles and ladies flew to London, Scotland and Ireland for 10 days of sightseeing and fellowship. Was there any shopping?
The Bowlers Labor Day Tournament was the weekend of August 30.
The Oriental Band kicked off the Fall season with a lovely dance on September 7. The Clowns “Just Clownin’ Around Hospital Benefit and the Run-a-thon was on September 8th.
The units participated in the Fiestas Patrias Parade on September 21st.
A great temple picnic was September 29th at Double Eagle Ranch.
The Motor Corps and Clown Jewels hosted a dance on October 5, and the Golfers Benefit Tournament was October 7.
High Priest & Prophet Buddy Baccus had every able body helping on Hospital Benefit Day October 12.
We played bingo on October 15th and visited with Gulf Coast Shrine Club on the 19th.
If we could only find out where Chief of Staff Lee Roy Miller and lady Barbara found all those M & M’s and that frog for Illustrious Sir Bill Silber’s birthday on October 22.
Brazos Valley Shrine Club was next on October 24, and our Hospital Benefit Casino Night was October 25. October 26 was Arabia Squares High Hopes Dance and the Scottish Rite Country Western dance. October 29, we were with the Wharton County Shrine Club.
General Circus Chairman Bill Broussard kicked off the 1986 Circus Supreme Advertising Program on October 30.
The Director’s Ball, honoring Director Duke Ryan and lady Trish, was November 2, and the Fort Bend Shrine Club Official Visit was November 5.
The Legion of Honor hosted their Military Ball on November 9, and, as always, was a beautiful dance.
The 1985 Staff honored Potentate Bill Silber and lady Ruth with a fabulous show featuring our very own staff ladies as stars.
November 12 was time for all those turkeys and hams for bingo prizes.
The units paraded in Tomball on November 23, and Potentate Bill Silber and lady Ruth, Past Potentate Fred Dexter and lady Dottie, and forty nobles and ladies cruised to the Caribbean for the Thanksgiving holidays.
Potentate Bill Silber hosted a dinner for all the Past Potentates and their ladies on December 3.
On December 5, first lady Ruth and Chief Potentate’s Aide Tommy Hollingshead’s lady Billie hosted a Christmas luncheon for all of our Widows.
On December 7 the Artisans held their Past Presidents’ Ball and we traveled to Colorado Valley Shrine Club for the annual Christmas Party on December 11. The Wharton County Christmas parade was on the 14th.
The annual party with Santa for the children at the hospital was December 18, followed by the 1985 Staff Christmas Party. The family Christmas party was on December 22.
Cow bells were clanging on December 31st at the free Super Texas Country Western New Year’s Eve Dance. The Texas Brew furnished some good ole Cotton Eyed Joe and Elvira music. Wow!
January brought us the Drum Corps dance on the 11th.
The Memorial Service was on January 12, with the distinguished Legion of Honor performing the Service of Tribute to their deceased brethren.
The Drum Corps Dim-Wits was on the 17th. The Patrol Past Potentate’s Ball was a beautiful reminder of our Inaugural Ball. And, oh that beautiful Past Potentate’s Fez.
The year of 1985 came to a close at the Staff Appreciation Party on January 19th, but all the beautiful memories and great friends will be in our hearts forever. As Recorder Jim Hughes would say, “Glad to be here.”
We did “come alive in ’85”.
