The charter was issued to the Pilot Club of Cuero by Pilot International on February 11, 1965. The charter night banquet was held on February 23, 1965 at the Live Oak Club. Shirley Massey was installed as the first president. There were 28 charter members; six are still active members and nine have served as president. The club to date has had 29 presidents with Shirley Massey serving four times, Mildred Martin twice and Lu Webb twice.
The first two years were spent building the club's foundations. Members spent many hours learning their duties and obligations to the club, district, Pilot International and their community. Attending workshops, conventions, and participating in community projects were the order of the day. During the first years "Operation Old Glory" was cosponsored with the local newspaper. Pilots were on their way as 104 flags flew over Cuero.
As we glance through the history of the many areas of service given by the club, we find Pilots established themselves as "go-getters" as they played bingo, trimmed Christmas trees, and flirnished large print books and magazines for the nursing home residents; contributed the the Bluebonnet Youth Ranch, Ronald McDonald House, DeWitt-Lavaca Foster children, Daule School and many others. Pilots assisted in the creation of the Cuero Hospital District, supported the Cancer Crusade, Heart Fund Work Activity Center for the handicapped, Hear Foundation, Hearth Fair, Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and assisted with the free clinic administering Polio vaccines.
In 1967, the first scholarship was awarded to an outstanding Cuero High School student. This scholarship has increased from $75 to $1000. We also present two LVN students with scholarships totaling $500. An award was presented to a VOE student as long as the program was in effect.
When Cuero won the All American City award in 1969, the club assembled materials and nominated a Cuero High School teacher for the Freedoms Foundation Award. Our Pilot nominee received the George Washington Teachers Award.
Pilots have sponsored safety programs which have included cleaning blind corners at intersections, providing ramps at corners in the downtown area for the convenience of the handicapped, and offering defensive driving and CPR courses.
School children of all ages have enjoyed the RIF programs, McGruff programs, fishing derby for the handicapped, and patriotic coloring contests.
Years ago the Pilot Club brought to the attention of the State Highway Department the urgent need for a new river bridge on the Old San Antonio Highway. After hours of hard work, the new bridge became a reality in 1984.
The playscape in the city park was another successful project that is enjoyed by our younger citizens. Pilots have also committed to donating time and labor to the city's current parks improvement project.
The Harvest Ball "spearheaded" the drive for a new Community Civic Center. This was a dream that came forth in 1981 and Pilots are still working hard on this project with the vision of wonderful things to come with the completion of the center.
In the late 1970's, the club sponsored an Anchor Club at the Cuero High School. It was successful for several years, but disbanded by the mid-1980's. In 1996, after several years of work, a new Anchor Club was chartered with 92 members making it the largest Anchor Club to ever charter in the world.
Revised 7/98