Council History

Dallas Council Navy League History

The Navy League of the United States was formed in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt as a way to educate the American people and foster their support of our naval and maritime forces. Towards this goal, the Navy League endeavors to awaken the public to the necessity of a vibrant, flexible maritime force. Only with the broad-based support and understanding of the American People can our Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine remain an effective means to guarantee peace and prosperity at home and throughout the world.

The Dallas Council was founded October 25, 1944 and the official charter (rescued from a waste basket at W. E. Greiner Middle School in 2000) can be seen at the main office of the Council in Carrollton.

Monthly meetings were held for decades at the Texas Communities Foundation of Texas offices on Ross Avenue on Thursday afternoons and attendance averaged about 15 persons.  The Dallas Council (which extends to east Texas) now has over 400 members, with approximately 50 attendees at each meeting.

A major activity of the Council was the awarding of Seiko wrist watches and a banquet to three enlisted sailors designated as the Best of the Best for the calendar year at Naval Air Station Dallas. For fifteen years, beginning in 1979, Bill Castner had obtained these watches from Zales Corp. which donated them for the event. Total costs for the annual event averaged $400.00 for the dinner event at the Air Station Officers’ Club.

The same event takes place now at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and it has expanded to 30 Sailors, Marines and Airmen who are designated as the Best of the Best by their commands. They now receive Fossil watches and a banquet for the 30 awardees and their significant others, creating a grand celebration. Costs now exceed $4,000.00, which to date has been provided by the Community of Dallas and Fort Worth and the Councils.

Jack Teschemacher and Nicholas Ricco teamed up to contact the Fossil Watch Corp. which has donated the watches for the last four years.

Another recurring Navy Support event is the Sailor and Marine of the Quarter Awards of regional eight commands. These awards also serve as semi-finals fore the Sailor and Marine of the Year awards. The Dallas Council with the participation of the Fort Worth Council, award 52 One Hundred Dollar Savings Bonds to these personnel at the annual cost of $1,300.00 to each council. This event originally provided only three bonds of $25.00 each quarter at the Naval Air Station Dallas for an annual cost of $150.00.

The Dallas Council adopted the nuclear submarine USS Dallas in 1980 and T. J. Collette, Bob Whitlock and Bill Whitsitt hosted the Sailor of the Year and his spouse annually by flying them in from Groton, Connecticut for a weekend of entertainment. Periodically, the Boat Commander would accompany the SOY. Costs average $1,500.00 for the annual event.

Beginning in 1997, the Dallas Council awarded a $2,000.00 Savings Bond to the family of the Sailor of the Year, creating an enduring award with the total costs reduced to $1,000.00.

Beginning 1999, the Council sponsored select crewman of the USS Dallas in the Veterans’ Day Parade of the City of Dallas. It provided meals, entertainment, lodging and when necessary, air transportation of up to ten crewman and the Skipper for four days. Costs varied from $1,500.00 to $3,000.00, for which the council asked and received financial support from the community at large and the council members. The Sailor of the Year of the USS Dallas is part of this crew.

On other occasions, the Dallas Council hosted the Secretary of the Navy, John Dalton, once at the Lincoln Center in Dallas, once at the Union Station if Dallas, jointly with the Dallas Rotary and in Fort Worth, jointly with the Fort Worth Council

It is anticipated that the Dallas, jointly with Fort Worth will host a National Navy League Convention whereby worldwide representation of Navy League Councils would enjoy our splendid metro-plex. This event is traditionally held in the month of June and requests and planning for such an event requires not less than 18 months lead time. It is an opportunity to awaken our 750 area members and enliven our core message of Navy support. Cost of such an event could be as high as $20,000, but most costs would be shared by community organizations and the convention bureau members.

In October 2003, the Naval Air Station, Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base planned and hosted a Navy Ball. The Dallas and Fort Worth Councils purchased tables and solicited community friends for the success of this Navy event.

Beginning in 2002, the Dallas Council affiliated with the supported the U S Navy Academy Alumni Association for a joint meeting and for the Naval Academy’s foot ball games with SMU and TCU (2003). The Secretary of the Navy and the Academy’s superintendent are guests of the events which are replete with Tailgate parties at the site.

The Dallas Council’s spirit of community support wanes at times, but has never been stronger nor more effective than now.

Our Council has been distinguished by the company it kept and keeps. Be a part of this company.