We have had another good year of meetings, rides, poker runs and rallies.

March: The Wind & Fire Eastern Rally was held in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Our bunch stayed in a New Smyrna KOA. Gary Lovell, Bo Culp & Hoyt Hubell from Dallas were joined by Mike Sekiya from Gallup. A little rain never hurt anyone, but ask Hoyt about his waterbed. They met a good group from all over the East Coast and other places from around the country.

Reid and Rock Russell were riding to the Eastern when the tragic news of Reid’s father and Rock’s grandfather’s death reached them. They turned back to Dallas and were caught in a winter storm. They rode until an ice covered the road forced them to lay over for a night. Thankfully they made it safely home.

April: Several Chapter #8 members made the ride to Loose Wheels in Sherman for a benefit for the brother of member Denny Hagen. There was a poker run, some smokey bbq and a silent auction. It was very well attended by many firemen, MC clubs and friends of the family. Kathleen and Denny really appreciated the turnout and the help.

May: We had a wonderful day for our 6^th Burn Camp Run. We had over 170 bikes signed in and $40,000 was collected for our kids to attend I-Thonka-Chi at Camp John Marc. Chapters #8 and #58 members outdid themselves in hard work and participation in a poker run and another great parade through downtown Dallas. Int’l Board members Gary Lovell and Bruce Reibly and International Vice President John Bergstrom and Honorary Member Rick Fairless were among the riders. We really appreciated the Texas WFMC Chapters and many other clubs that supported our poker run from Willie‘s, the downtown parade and rally at Stroker’s. It all worked well and the rain held off till the last item was auctioned at Rick’s place. Kudos to Dallas Chapter #8 President Richard Jolly and Irving Chapter #58 President Rebel Burkhalter for leading another great run.

June: The 6th Annual WFMC Southern Rally was held at Hanover’s in Pflugerville, Texas. It was well attended with people from the around the country attending “party Texas style.” Chapter 8 had a good group there : Claude & Cyndi Bullard, Gary Freeman, Jerry Rushing, Richard Jolly, Paul Walukas, Robert Russ, Bebo & Judy Pharr, Gary & Mindy Lovell, Hoyt Hubell, Bo Culp, Denny & Kathleen Hagen, David & Debbie Smith, Jimmy & Julia Phillips, Charlie Contreras Rick Gaddis and Mike Multop. We won’t mention the name of the oldest rider at the rally, but he is from Dallas.

July: The WFMC Western Rally. This was to be the big trip! Gary Lovell, Hoyt Hubell and Reid Russell were all set to go west to Hollister CA , north to Haines Alaska then back down thru Calgary Canada to Hill City SD. A nice little 10,000 mile jaunt. Lots of plans were made. Contacts were secured. Gear was packed. Maps were checked. Gary made it all the way to Van Horn TX, about 550 miles before his bike spun the inside cam bearing and that was it. Hoyt and Reid spent the night there out of sympathy, then headed to Hollister for the Western. Hoyt had electrical problems with his bike but made it to the rally. And then…. Reid had carburetor problems. Alaska just wasn’t in the cards. So…. We’ll plan another ride for another day.

August: WFMC National Rally in Hill City, SD had great riding weather and we had a good bunch attend. Chapter #8 members Robert Russ, Jimmy Phillips & David Smith shared a cabin with firemen friends Allen Springer, Tommy Crawford and Allen Beeler. Hoyt Hubell, Charlie Contreras, Reid Russell and Gary & Mindy Lovell, along with Gary’s brother Don and two more friends all saw the sights at Spearfish Canyon, Mt Rushmore and Needles Highway. We got pictures at Sylvan Lake and the Tunnels. We rode the pigtails and stopped to see the buffalo crossing the road at Custer State Park. The actual rally at Rockerville was fun and honored new 4 for 4 riders William Trinkl, Mike Sekiya, Erline Reibly and Dallas’s own Hoyt Hubell.

September: The Ride to Remember in Colorado Springs was awesome. This year Gary Freeman, David Smith, Scott Parsley, Reid Russell, Claude & Cyndi Bullard, Gary & Mindy Lovell, Mike Otto, Bebo & Judy Pharr, Pat Murphy, Jimmy Phillips, Robert Russ, Denny & Kathleen Hagen, Ike & Trina Griffith, James & Kathy Bates made the trip to honor fallen firefighters.

The motorcycle rides were some of the best, organized by the Rocky Mountain Chapter and Aurora Chapter. They included Diesel’s Thursday ride to Fairplay and a great spaghetti dinner cooked by his wife. The Board met Friday which allowed time for a little sightseeing in Denver for Kathy and Mindy.

Saturday’s ride from Denver to Colorado Springs was chilly. Once again the overpasses and streets were full of flags, fire apparatus and spectators. Everyone waved at the sight and sounds as thousands of firefighters on motorcycles thundered into The Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park. . Robert Russ, Mike Otto and Pat Murphy were there with the Dallas Fire Department Pipe and Drum Corps. It was a very moving performance and we were pretty proud to see all the Dallas firemen, whether they rode a motorcycle, flew in or trailered. A good trip all around.

October: Several members headed to Jefferson TX, on the Louisiana border for the Boo Run, another great charity run for burn victims. Rick Gaddis & Shelly, Bo & Linda Culp, Claude & Cyndi Bullard, Gary & Mindy Lovell, Bebo & Judy Pharr attended along with Steve & Sandi Keller and other friends. We had a good poker run then a few went on to Lake Cypress Springs and spent the night at Gary & Mindy’s little cabin. A little washtub fire, hot-dogs, s’mores and Jack & coke…… yummy!

That same week-end the Griffin’s MC annual chili cook-off in Ennis TX was attended by Jerry Rushing and Charlie Contreras representing Chapter #8 in the spirit of reciprocation. We appreciate the Griffin’s MC past support our all our burn runs.

December: The Navarro County Toy Run in Corsicana, the Retired NFL Players Association house, the Ellis County Toy Run in Ennis and The Family Place, a battered women’s shelter in Dallas, were the charities we supported for Christmas.

December 6^th Jerry Rushing, Hoyt Hubbell, Jim Pharr, Gary Freeman and James Bates represented Chapter #8 at the toy run in Corsicana while Mike Multop flew our Colors at the Santa Cop Toy Run in Mesquite.

Our Chapter President, Richard Jolly works hard on the Retired N.F.L. Players Association house every year. Everyone knows he is an artist, because he designs all our chapter tees, but he also is a well-established contractor and painter extraordinaire. And a Fireman.

December 14^th found more W&FMC Members at the Ellis County Toy Run. A very successful annual event hosted by the Griffins MC.

Sixty-eight children at The Family Place needed some Christmas cheer. Gary Freeman brought us the idea and we all dug in with follow-thru. Richard Jolly arranged pizza for the Kids and on December 20^th we all met at Willie’s for the ride to the shelter where we delivered the gifts. We were allowed in this secure facility only because we are firefighters. We were real proud to help.

Chapter #8’s Christmas Party at the Bullard’s party barn was open to members all across Texas and all our friends on Antelope Way who support us yearly at our Burn Run. Lots of food and drink and a wild game of Dirty Santa ended our year. Thanks again to Cindy and Claude for hosting a wonderful party.

For the fifth straight year we managed to send representatives to the Eastern, Southern, Western and National Rallies and the Ride to Remember! This was another great year for our Dallas Firefighters Chapter #8. ML………..