Diboll Pilot Club cherished, charitable

Diboll has always been known as a closeknit community where all come together to give a helping hand. Everyone pulls together, whether with monetary contributions or service, or just compassion when others are in need.

This prompted a group of women, headed by Maron Parr, to organize a Pilot Club in Diboll. The organizational work was done by the Lufkin Pilot Club. On March 29, 1965, the club was chartered. The first meeting was held at Boggy Slough Club House. Parr was elected president by 27 members. Two charter members remain in the club today. Aline Stovall and Jessie Conner have been Pilot Club members for 43 years.

Over the years the club has sponsored many community projects. The club presented a check to the then-South Meadows Nursing Home for two wheelchairs. The largest accomplishment was the purchase of a kidney dialysis machine through donations and by collecting books of S&H Green Stamps. People in other clubs, counties and even from out of state contributed. In four months the project was completed. The machine was used by a patient in her home. This was the 1970-71 year when Aline Stovall was president.

The club got permission to clean up the old Boy Scout house by the swimming pool. Members scrubbed and mopped and had a good time doing it. Some club meetings were held there. Since then, meeting places have been the Pine Bough Restaurant at the Fair Acres Community Center, TLL Temple Library, the Nelson House and First United Methodist Church.

Another major project is the Tree of Light, which began in 1974. The original idea came from Ossie Green Thompson, a Pilot and wife of then-Mayor Clyde Thompson. The Christmas tradition of lighting the tree in memory or honor of loved ones was brought to reality by Maron Parr.

This very successful endeavor still is held each year, with the proceeds, from donations, used for needy families, senior citizens and children.

"There is no greater service than investing our lives for others," said member Vivian Holt. "The rewards cannot be expressed in words. Only eternity will reveal the happiness we have made possible for others."

The club hosted parties of citizens and businesses at Lufkin State School in the 1970s. Birthday parties for an adopted dorm were held each month and Christmas parties, complete with Santa Claus, were also enjoyed.

The award-winning Brainminders program that features safety tips for children has been presented to the Diboll Primary School kindergarten, Katheryn Sage Temple Day Care Center and the Diboll Elementary third grade. The program will be presented April 26 at the primary school's Kid Safe Saturday.

The program has featured critical care, stranger danger, fire prevention, computer safety and the Brainminders program, which focuses on preventing childhood head injuries.

"It is good to be part of a group that is involved with people of all ages," said member Mona Smith, recording secretary. "Whether it is the elderly at nursing facilities or teaching local school children about safety, having a small part in helping others is very rewarding."

Volunteers who have helped include Dr. Clifton Cathcart, Police Chief Kent Havard, Sheriff Kent Henson, Constable Eddie Horton, Peace Justice Ester Barger, DPS Trooper Greg Sanchez, Fire Chief Gary Jones, Ruth Oates, Diboll Police Detective Richard Thompson, and DISD Safety Officer Jake Denman.

The program includes goody bags, door prizes, free bike helmets to the first 100 kids to register and several bicycles to be given away. It will be held at the Boys and Girls Club.

Community Service projects are designed to do what they say: help the community.

Early projects included donating U.S. flags to businesses, Meals on Wheels and sending clothes to Mexico to help the needy. The nursing home was provided large-print Guidepost books for the enjoyment of residents. A movie was shown once a month. Residents were remembered with birthday cards and gifts and weekly nail care supplies and services.

Today, Community Service sponsors bingo games at Trinity Mission with gifts of money to the winners. Bedside ministry is performed and on Mother's Day and Father's Day the residents are provided with gifts. Pies are donated at Thanksgiving. Residents in retirement homes are remembered during the Christmas season with bags of fruit and candy.

School supplies are taken to the Boys and Girls Club of Diboll. Non-perishable food items are donated to Christian Outreach. The club helped with the Bezanson Bike-AThon with rest stops in front of the middle school.

The club's first fund-raising event was a ladies' hat sale in the vacant office at the Dixon Furniture Store. More than 200 hats in the latest spring fashions were sold.

Other fund-raising projects have included a back-to-school style show, pizza sales, birthday calendars, grocery raffles, a country dinner, garage sales, once-a-year birthday dinners for the community and participation in Diboll Days activities. All funds raised are used for community projects.

"It's a blessing to be able to do the things we do for others," said President-elect Hellen Schmidt. "The members are very close and try to be there for each other."

Sarah Larson of the Diboll club was elected governor of the Pilot Club Texas District for 1975-76. Geneva Sides Ard served as her secretary. The office is the highest in Texas clubs and governs over all activities and events.

The club's co-Pilots, members' husbands, have been and are part of the organization. They are ready and willing to give a helping hand.

Current members are Geneva Ard, Sue Beatty, Jessie Conner, Johnnye Devereaux, Mozelle Devereaux, Vivian Holt, Billie Lamb, Barbara Nash, Nina Neyland, Brenda Ruussell, Fran Rodriguez, Susan Schinke, Hellen Schmidt, Mona Smith, Aline Stovall, CharlotteWeeks and Billie Willmon.

Pilots enjoy being a part of an international organization that stands for "Friendship and Service." Pilot Club is open to women and men who have time to volunteer to make their community a better place to live.

As current club President Billie Willmon put it, "We are all a different thumb print. But together we do some amazing things."