Texas W Club Rally 2007
Wichita Falls
 Wee-Chi-Tah Indians

Wee-Chi-Tah

The town was named when the local indians came to the river and the braves, who were uncertain of a safe crossing, sent a squaw into the water to check the depth.  The squaw waded in and reported that it was Wee-Chi-Tah which translated means waist deep and they could proceed.  Thus  Wichita Falls became the official name.



Pre Rally Tours
     
Trolley RidersOur pre rally tours were accomplished riding "up close and personal" on an authentic trolley. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we made six trips which showcased Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, and Archer City.  This area is so full of history that I doubt we touched but a tiny bit.   Local points of interest that we visited included the North Texas History Museum which houses an outstanding military exhibit along with other displays.  The tour of "Oil Baron's Row" was a drive through residential areas featuring homes listed on the National Historic Registry from the oil boom.  Burkburnett was our first out of town destination.  We were trollied to the Boomtown Trails and Tales visitor center where we viewed a great video telling the history of  how the oil boom transformed the town.  Clark Gable starred in the film "Boomtown" which also chronicled this same era (perhaps with a little more literary license).  

Wichita Falls VisitThe falls shown  are not the original falls that the city was named for (they have disappeared from a spot up the river) but a create a lovely rest stop on a walk/bike trail along the river  (our group provides the beauty in front).  





 Eddie Hill's Speed Shop
After visiting the falls, we headed over to Eddie Hill's Shop.  If you are not familiar with the name, he set land and water speed records in his dragster and racing boat.  Both the car and the boat were displayed at his shop, we also met Eddie himself who spent time chatting with us, showing a video, and having  pictures taken with us.  Note the dragster in the upper portion of the picture, not your everyday street drag machine.




Royal TheaterArcher City, We did not have time to actually tour the town, but it would be worth a trip back.  This was our second out of town destination,  home of the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Larry McMurtry.  "Lonesome Dove", "Terms of Endearment" and "The Last Picture Show" are but a few of his best selling novels.  We visited the reincarnation of the Royal Theater, the 1928  Spur Hotel, and the old jailhouse museum containing relics that were probably in the same place they were when it  closed.



Bill At The ControlsA must see was also the Railroad Museum with trains outfitted from days gone by and set up so we could walk thru after visiting the museum.  Our picture shows Bill Roberts trying his hand as Engineer (he didn't drive far).

Our final tour took our trolley to the Wichita Falls Vineyards nestled between the Wicita River and Buffalo Creek.  The owners took us on a tour of the winery and then to their reception room for a wine tasting.  We tasted a variety of wines and enjoyed the hors d'oeuvre.  As a  post script, some of us naturally also purchased some adult beverages to bring back on the trolley for later imbibing.
Let The Games Begin
Blue Bonnet Team

Texas W loves it's games and there were plenty to participate in at this rally, including a few we've never done (at least not as grown ups).  Our favorite standbys included SkipBo, Joker, Washer Toss, "42", Beanbag Baseball,  and Washer Toss.  The SkipBo winners were  1st Place: Carolyn Roberts and Delilah Parsley and 2nd Place:  Nancy King and Peg Riedel.  Washer Toss Winners were  1st Place: Jim Leggett and George McCormick and 2nd Place: Sharron Bishop and Diana Kimble.  Beanbag Baseball provided the physical prowess, tension, and downright hilarity it always does.  The Bluebonnet chapter was fortunate enough to have enough players to form their own team, appropriately named The Bluebonnets, and went on to win top honors.  The  roster was: Debbie Wade, Bill Roberts, Carolyn Roberts, Nancy King, Jerry Southward, Johnny Holmes, Charlotte Holmes, Delilah Parsley and Tommy Parsley.   The Sluggers were the runners up and were a force to be reckoned with.  Their roster was: Chris Garner, Joan Phillips, Ray Phillips, Bob Kunze, F. M. Hoffman, Carl Russell, Sharron Bishop, John D. Philips and  Marianne Andenoro.

 We all had the opportunity to participate in games that we enjoyed as youths in the 50’s:  Monopoly, Jacks, and Pick Up Sticks.  As of this writing, we only have the Pick Up Stick winners who were 1st Place Sharron Bishop (told us she didn't know how to do it), and  2nd Place Kathie Todd.

Fuel card WinnersGreat Prizes - Several members went home with great prizes.   Four couples who were especially happy, in light of today's fuel costs, to have their names drawn for $50.00 Flying J fuel cards.  The winners  were Bill & Vera Lowrey, Gerald & Joceil Southward, Red & Pam Beers, and Bill & Retha Moulder.  The picture showcases the prettiest better half.  


Our National WIT organization provided two - one year memberships for two more prizes.   Frances & Patricia Carroll and Bill & Jan Crain were the lucky recipients of these certificates.  Texas WIT came through with two - one year memberships for two more happy winners:  Bill & Vera Lowrey and Aaron & Nell Reeves.  Winnebago Industries generously gave us two $50.00 gift certificates for Winnebago merchandise.  Bob & Marian Kunze and Butch & Trish Morris were all smiles when their names were drawn.
And More Contests
Tommy & Delilah
There shouldn't have been any reason, other than our wonderful naps, that everyone could have been involved in the numerous games, contests and drawings.  The Wrangers  certainly kept us busy with fun.

Tommy & Delilah Parsley strut their stuff at the Sock Hop.  Although strut didn't quite describe Tommy's "for fun cane dancing".  All the couples were so 50's cute.  

B. J. Stanley was winner of the sweetest prize offered.  He came closest to guessing how many M & M's were in the jar and now has all the snacks he can eat.  Too bad he doesn't eat sweets anymore.  He was actually overheard explaining that he had counted all the ones he could see?  Each chapter was given a model car kit containing a kajillion pieces to put together a  1957 Chevy.  All entries were well done and original.  The Bluebonnet Travelers won Best of Show and Guy Andenoro "drove" away with the First Place Ribbon.  

Elvis joined  us and performed prior to the Elvis look alike contest.  The audience was then treated to various Elvis look alikes (and they all looked alike).  The Elvis backup singers were very entertaining and had all the right moves.  Bill Roberts even presented to us for the first time on stage  his own rendition of "Are You Lonely Tonight?".  Kay Rollins  seemed to be everyone showing off her pretty yellow money apron, yet another opportunity to walk away with a great prize.

BJ with his M & M's
B. J.  shows off
his very own
chock full
M & M Jar.		 Car Contest
The Bluebonnet Travelers
all worked together
and walked away
with best of show.		 Just Elvis
Our very own Bill Roberts
crooning to us accompanied
by the WIT backup singers.


 Money Apron
Kay Rollins
looking very
domestic.


Special Events
CakeCoke Floatscake & Ice Cream








Trish Morris  cuts the cake to celebrate Texas W's 35th Anniversary.  Tommy and  Carl  get ready to dive into their coke floats and Sharyn and Pam receive the ice cream topping for the celebration cake.  CONGRATULATIONS TO TEXAS W!

Down To Business

2007 Texas W OfficersTexas W 's 2007 Officers are sworn in by Guy Andenoro, our Central Area Representative.

From left:  Mike Todd, President; Mimi Philips, 2nd Vice President; Sandi Strandlie, Secretary; Delilah Parsley, Treasurer; and Les Kimble, 1st Vice President.