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Willcox Elks #2131 celebrates 50th year
By Rick Ragalado & Pat Stark/For the Range News
On Saturday, Aug. 1, Willcox Elks Lodge #2131 will celebrate 50 years of dedication to charitable giving in Willcox. The lodge was chartered on July 7, 1959 and held its first meetings in the Willcox Women's Club, which is now the Community Center. On Jan. 14, 1961, the first lodge building located on the corner of Wasson and Curtis was dedicated and this site remained the home of the lodge until March 10, 1972 when the present building on East Stewart Street was purchased from the VFW. Many improvements have been made through the years and the Elks Lodge has become one of the most popular places to hold weddings, birthday parties, and anniversaries. In 1992, Willcox Lodge added an RV park at the back of the lodge building. This park is for Elks only and to many traveling Elks, Willcox has become a favorite place to stop over, enjoy the lodge, and check out the great places to visit in Willcox and throughout the area.
In 1960, the lodge bulletin was first printed under the direction of Albert (Yakie) Armagnac. He named the publication the "YAK" and it remains to this day. One of the most impressive ceremonies for Elks is the "Initiation Under the Stars," first held in 1976. Each June, lodges from all over the south district join the Willcox Lodge and bring new candidates to be initiated in a beautiful setting in Texas Canyon.
Living charter members of Willcox Wlks #2131 are Gus Arzberger, Kenneth L. Dunlap, Rex Emrick, Claude Kuhn, William M. Riggs, Jr., Floyd Robbs, Cecil J. Smith, George W. Teeling, and Roy L. Young.
The Willcox Elks Lodge, since its beginning, has been a major supporter of the numerous youth activities in Willcox and annually donates the use of the facility and meals to the various sports awards banquets at the end of each of their seasons. The lodge has a very active drug awareness program and joins WASA and the Meth Task Force in providing education material and events to promote the prevention of drug abuse in our community.
Each year the Elks Lodge provides free Thanksgiving Dinner for members of our community who do not have family in town with whom they may celebrate the holiday. Also, the Elks partner with Catholic Community Services to furnish Thanksgiving dinners for the shut-ins in the area.
The Elks nationwide are an extremely patriotic organization and hold our veterans in the highest regard. The motto is: "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them". In keeping with this motto, Willcox Elks deliver many items to the veterans hospital in Tucson, provide lunch for approximately 300 Vietnam veterans on their "Run for the Wall" ride each year to the memorial in Washington D.C., and administer to the needs of local veterans in our area.
As Willcox Lodge #2131 celebrates this landmark in its history, the officers and members say "thanks" to the community for your continued support throughout the years.
In 1960, the lodge bulletin was first printed under the direction of Albert (Yakie) Armagnac. He named the publication the "YAK" and it remains to this day. One of the most impressive ceremonies for Elks is the "Initiation Under the Stars," first held in 1976. Each June, lodges from all over the south district join the Willcox Lodge and bring new candidates to be initiated in a beautiful setting in Texas Canyon.
Living charter members of Willcox Wlks #2131 are Gus Arzberger, Kenneth L. Dunlap, Rex Emrick, Claude Kuhn, William M. Riggs, Jr., Floyd Robbs, Cecil J. Smith, George W. Teeling, and Roy L. Young.
The Willcox Elks Lodge, since its beginning, has been a major supporter of the numerous youth activities in Willcox and annually donates the use of the facility and meals to the various sports awards banquets at the end of each of their seasons. The lodge has a very active drug awareness program and joins WASA and the Meth Task Force in providing education material and events to promote the prevention of drug abuse in our community.
Each year the Elks Lodge provides free Thanksgiving Dinner for members of our community who do not have family in town with whom they may celebrate the holiday. Also, the Elks partner with Catholic Community Services to furnish Thanksgiving dinners for the shut-ins in the area.
The Elks nationwide are an extremely patriotic organization and hold our veterans in the highest regard. The motto is: "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them". In keeping with this motto, Willcox Elks deliver many items to the veterans hospital in Tucson, provide lunch for approximately 300 Vietnam veterans on their "Run for the Wall" ride each year to the memorial in Washington D.C., and administer to the needs of local veterans in our area.
As Willcox Lodge #2131 celebrates this landmark in its history, the officers and members say "thanks" to the community for your continued support throughout the years.
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