Golden Division 23RD Anniversary

Fri. Jan. 1, 2010

Golden Division
Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce
Organization Chartered – May 6, 1987


The Golden Division consists of over 100 residents who are retired, handicapped, or not gainfully employed. Their goal is to assist the Chamber with its activities through volunteer service and to provide the opportunity for its members to serve the community and themselves by the use of their years of experience and expertise. They have monthly meetings at the Chamber office on the first Wednesday of each month.

The Golden Division has come a long way in 23 years as the organization was formed May 6, 1987. The Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors approved the formation of the Golden Division on March 23, 1987. Known as the “Golden Division”, it was strictly for retirees of the community. The Annual dues were approved at $15.00 per year.

In 1987, Elton “Tommy” Thomas was elected Chairman, Dick Fosdick, Vice Chairman; Randy Hunter, Project Chairman; Sol Katz Treasurer; Margaret Bonneau, Secretary and Julia Oliver was Advisor to the Chamber.

In March of 1987, Tommy Thomas, the Texas City Rotary Club and a committee made up of Mayor Emmett Lowry, Ben Levisee and Buster Waugh recommended to Tom Watson, Rotary President, that they assist the Chamber in their activities.

Fifty people attended the organizational meeting. Forty-three became Charter members. Margaret Bonneau spent several hundred hours working with the officers in developing the first Golden Division Guidelines and it was adopted at the June 3rd regular meeting.
The group shared fellowship and supplied personal volunteers to help at most of the activities of the Chamber events such as Ribbon Cuttings, Luncheons, help for the Chamber office, Ambassadors as well as overall promotion of the Chamber programs.

Walt and Louise Sheaffer were appointed historian and reporter. At the August 1987 meeting the officers for 1988 were elected. They included: Chairman, Tommy Thomas; Vice Chairman , Dick Fosdick; Secretary, Margaret McInnis; Treasurer, Hal Moremon; Project Chairman, Tom Watson; Chamber Liaison, Virginia Becker.

Today there are about 120 Golden Division members who continue to assist the Chamber as volunteers for Special Events. (Members work as little or as much as they desire).

Past Chairpersons include:
1997- Elton “Tommy” Thomas
1998- Elton “Tommy” Thomas
1999- Elton “Tommy” Thomas
1990 – Otto Peters
1991 – Ken Wise
1992 – Tony Ozarchuk
1993 – Bill Grady
1994 – Bertie Burgess
1995 – Colleen Nataro
1996 – Troy Moreland
1997 – Dorothy McDermott
1998 - Jim Deslatte
1999 - Dorothy Walker
2000 – Norman Klibert
2001 – Norman Klibert
2002 – Mary Lou Rygaard
2003 – Mary Lou Rygaard
2004 – Ellie Salinas
2005 – Ellie Salinas
2006 – Pete Rygaard/Morgan Holder
2007 – Lou Ringer
2008 - Lou Ringer
2009 - Hazel Surratt
2010 - Hazel Surratt

For more information on becoming a member of the Golden Division, contact Leanne at the Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce office at (409) 935-1408.