Prior
to 1958, the Provost in Ararat Temple was a committee,
which consisted of any law enforcement officer who was
a member of Ararat Temple. This membership was automatic. Each year, The Potentate of the Temple each year
would appoint a Provost Marshal. The committee would police various functions
as assigned by the provost Marshal on request of the Potentate.
In 1958 in the
office of Captain Cecil T. Hastings*, Sheffield Police
Station, 6600 Independence Ave. a conversation was held
between Captain Hastings and Patrolman Bob McGarvey. Captain Hastings asked Officer McGarvey what he thought about forming
a Shrine Club of Provost and opening membership to Ararat
members. McGarvey
agreed that it was an excellent idea.
A group of Provosts were asked to meet a few days later in an office
downtown to discuss the idea. Line officers were elected at that meeting. The following were elected: President,
Lewis F. Moore: Vice President , Morgan Thompson; Secretary, Bob McGarvey; Treasurer, Dan Breeze; Sergeant at arms, Frank Nelson; and Provost Marshal,
Captain C.T. Hastings [ Captain Hastings was appointed
our first Provost Marshal by Potentate William J. Tobler
in 1958] And so started the "ARARAT
PROVOST CLUB."
The By-Laws were drawn up and the membership fee was set. Meeting nights were to be on the third Thursday
of each month at 8.00p.m. Meeting location was the basement
of the Ararat Temple at 11th and Central. By the end of 1958, the Club boasted over
300 paid members.
All the officers agreed to remain in the same office for the first
two years until the Club was well underway. The secretary remained for three years
until the office was functioning smoothly. During the third year, a motion
was made to change the by-laws to read that the secretary
could come from non-law enforcement membership, but would
not serve in any other line office. The motion was passed. This was done to eliminate the transfer of Club
records each year. Raymond Sherrill Culp was elected
in 1961 and remained through 1971, at which time Jess
E. Wingo was elected secretary in 1972 .
Provost membership in 1988 was 701 paid members -- the largest known
Club in all Shrinedom.
The black and white uniform with the gold star was adopted in 1974
and is still the club uniform.
The first patrol car was donated to the Provost club by Eddie Naumanin
in 1980.
The Provost donate many hours of their time providing
security and performing other functions for the Temple at
conventions, ceremonials, jurisdictional parades,
temple parades, operating the first
aid center at all Shrine functions and general security for Ararat
Temple. Provost Club members have competitive shooting teams with both
pistol and shotgun and compete at Central States Shrine
Association every year. |
