HISTORY OF THE C.B. RANGERS INC.
The C B Rangers, Inc. was originated in February 1962. Our first regular meeting was held on March 25th at the YMCA Building in Butler with Charter Membership of 34 members. On April 2l an eleven page edition of our first newspaper "The Transmitter" was mailed out to the members. April 27 was the date of our first Emergency Squad training drill and on April 29 at our second regular monthly meeting, the first officers of the C B Rangers were elected and installed.
In May our Club was honored by the presence of Butler County Civil Defense Director Clinton C. Greenawalt, Butler County Commission James A. Green and Butler County Sheriff Earl "Bud" Walker as observers at our monthly Emergency Squad Drill.
In July the C B Rangers staged a caravan to Cooks Forest for a picnic and outing. At our meeting in August 1962 we had as guest speaker Howard Worley, Jr., Associate Editor of the C B News, who in addition to an interesting talk, did a feature story on the C B Rangers, complete with pictures, that later appeared in the C B News publication. Later in the month the C B Rangers printed our first Call Book and Club Directory.
In September 1962 the Rangers installed signs along the main highways leading into Butler to welcome traveling CB'ers and inform them of our calling channel and later in the month we helped to host the BVC Roundup at Emlenton, Pa. Also, on September 7 the Emergency Squad was called into action to aid in a state-wide manhunt of a convicted killer who had escaped from the Butler County Prison.
October was the month we became the first official REACT (Radio Emergency Associated Citizens Team) Team for Butler County. During the last part of October the C B Rangers Emergency Squad conducted our first annual Childwatch Patrol to give protection to the children out trick or treating.
In the middle of December, the Rangers staged a huge dance called "Winter Wonderland" which featured "Frosty" an 11 foot high snowman made out of 17,000 paper napkins with flashing lights for the eyes and buttons and a walkie talkie for a voice. Also in keeping with the spirit of the holiday season the C B Rangers sent a donation to the Salvation Army.
February started an Auxiliary Police Procedure Class in which 20 of our members were successful in graduating and receiving a Certificate.
In March it was our honor to host a meeting of the Tri-State Area Joint Conference of Citizens Radio Service Clubs, which included representatives of several thousand CB'ers from the Tri-State Area.
The month of April kept the Rangers very busy. The second edition of the C B Rangers Tri-State Area Call Book and Club Directory, containing over l,500 listings was placed on sale. On April 23,1963 the Club became incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are now officially the C B Rangers, Inc.' Also, our Club's official emblem designed by Howard Worley, Jr. of Pittsburgh and an Honorary Member will appear on all publications, cards, correspondence of our Club and on the cover of our Call Books. The figure "9" in our emblem represents our calling channel. Our Club motto "Parati Sumus" which appears on the figure "9" means "We are ready" and has been proven true many times thru the activities of our Emergency Squad. The tower represents our Club newspaper, "The Transmitter". The lightning streak is symbolic of radio communications. The shield stands for the protection that our Club provides to the CBer in our efforts to preserve his rights. April also saw the beginning of a project of providing communications for the many parades in the Butler area. Throughout the entire summer of 1963 the C B Rangers, Inc. helped at various parades and displayed some exhibits also.
In June we were honored by a visit from Ernest Walker, nationally known CBer from New Mexico, who rose to prominence thru his efforts to test the right of the FCC to impose rules and restrictions on the Citizens Radio Service, which he felt unfair. His talk proved to be very interesting and informative. Also in June the Rangers provided communications for a Sports Car Rally which helped demonstrate the various uses of the C B Radio.
All thru the summer the C B Rangers were kept busy with various activities such as wiener roasts and outdoor meetings and high-lighting the summer activities was a hay ride and corn roast held in August. Also, the Rangers acquired the use of a garage donated by Curt Hempfling, for a Club House. It was at this time our Club began its series of "Coffee Breaks" which proved to be about the most popular activity of the Rangers.
The C B Rangers, Inc. was assigned a Radio license with the call of KID7261 on September 6,1963.
October 1963 was the start of a very busy fall and winter season for the members of the C B Rangers. It was in October that we held our second annual dance called "Harvest Hoedown", featuring square dancing and country music. We also began a project of helping the Boy Scouts by providing a demonstration of radio communications and a talk on radio theory. During the last part of the month we conducted our second annual Halloween Child Watch Patrol.
During the month of November we began to sell our Club decals which were of a fluorescent material with the Club's official emblem in five colors, also the Rangers moved its Club House to the basement of Dick and Danna Vernon's home which they had graciously donated for our use. Our Coffee Breaks were now being held every Friday evening. It was in November, also, that the C B Rangers became a member of the Butler Area Chamber of Commerce. Our regular meeting for November was postponed in respect and mourning of the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy. We established our Junior Membership and began selling Bees wax candles in conjunction with the holiday season.
In December 1963 our regular meeting was shortened in order to allow the members to exchange "grab bag" gifts and pass out candy to the children. Once again the Rangers sent a gift to the Salvation Army.
The C B Rangers welcomed in the New Year 1964 at a party held in our Club House in Herman. There were plenty of good food, noise makers, and liquid refreshment to put the Rangers in the spirit of the occasion.
January and February of 1964 was devoted mostly to putting our third edition of the Western Pennsylvania Call Book and Club Directory with more than 3400 listings. We were also busy organizing the Emergency Squad and starting a new class in Civil Defense Auxiliary Police Procedure.
From the outline of the History of the C B Rangers, Inc. it is plain to see that the Rangers are a very active group and eager to provide any assistance to the general public when the opportunity arises. Our past has been successful; our future can be even more promising. We shall continue to strive to put forth our best efforts for a Club that our members will be proud to be a part of.
"Parati Sumus"