To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.
GARDENA ELKS -- FIRST 25 YEARS
On February 19, 1954, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks instituted Lodge #1919 in the City of Gardena, California, with a total enrollment of 328 members, including 66 transfer dimits and 262 new members. The new lodge was sponsored by Redondo Beach Lodge #1378. The institution was held in the V.F.W. Hall, followed by the initiation of new members. Dinner was held at the Western Club Cafe. After dinner the Charter Officers were installed by a team headed by the late, Past Grand Exalted Ruler L.A. Lewis.
The institution of the lodge was preceded by almost two years of work. Elks from surrounding Lodges started talking of a Lodge in Gardena; the talks grew into impromptu meetings in their homes. As a definite purpose of forming a new Lodge formed, interest grew and meetings were held in the home of Jack Farrell and then for a while in the the American Legion Hall. As the men of the community were asked to join the new Lodge, the meetings were held at the Western Club Hall on a weekly basis.
District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler "Doc" Heller assisted and guided the group until July of 1953 when he was succeeded by the late Roy J. Gordon. He headed the team of Grand Officers at the Institution as Grand Exalted Ruler. The initiation of the charter members was performed by the officers of Redondo Beach Lodge #1378 with William Brunner as Exalted Ruler.
The charter officers were Harold D. Sproule, Exalted Ruler; Nat Harrison, Leading Knight; Robert Shelby, Loyal Knight; David H. Uhrig, Lecturing Knight; Charles Carey, Secretary; Lee T. Portis, Treasurer; and Dale H. Smith, Tiler. Trustees were George Luther, W. T. Long, Maxwell T. Zeigler, T. Ed Scarborough and John J. Farrell. Appointed officers were William Ketchum, Esquire; Samuel Kronberger, Chaplain; Albert Hutton, Inner Guard; and Thomas Ulrich, Organist.
Members of Gardena Lodge and their wives participated in the pageant of Elkdom at the Hollywood Bowl during the Grand Lodge Convention here in Los Angeles, from July 5th to 7th, 1954.
For the first three years meetings and functions were held at the Western Cafe. There were 466 members as of June 1955. There was a proposition to acquire the Western Casino Club as a home but the deal fell through. The Fraternal Holding Corporation was incorporated for the purpose of providing a home for the Lodge. The corporation sold bonds to members of the Lodge in increments of $100.00.
On October 16, 1955, the Lodge voted to purchase property on the corner of Hobart and Market Street (now 162nd) for $20,000.00. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on February 19, 1956. The first meeting in the new home was held in July of 1956. Many dances and other functions were held at the new Lodge.
In 1957, the Gardena Elks spearheaded a drive against narcotics. Other Lodges in the area joined in and petitions were signed. The drive was culminated on May 4, 1961, when Governor Pat Brown signed the Reagan-Dills Anti-Narcotic Bill. A dinner to celebrate the victory was co-sponsored by Torrance and Redondo Beach Elks, with Gardena as host Lodge.
Growth in membership and participation in Elks programs continued through the years. There was also an increase in the number of social functions and attendance at them grew. The kitchen was fully outfitted in 1958. There were many visitations to other Lodges, which in turn visited Gardena. Joint meetings with El Toga Shrine Club were started. A drill team was formed. In November of 1960, P. E. R. Maxwell T. Zeigler was installed as State Vice President of the district. On March 11, 1961, a Mortgage Burning Dinner Dance was held. In September of 1961, Gardena hosted the institution of Hawthorne Elks Lodge #2240. In 1962, the meeting room was rearranged for regular Lodge sessions.
In 1963, the "Gangbusters" was formed to promote activities in the Lodge. They started a Friday night dinner dance which later became the popular Fish Fries. In May of 1963 membership was 805. On September 18, 1963, the membership passed phase one of the building program. This consisted of a ceiling for the main hall, heating, lighting and air conditioning, a storeroom, and the present Jolly Corks Room. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the addition took place in July of 1964. In the same month P. E. R. Nathaniel B. Harrison was appointed District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler.
The first open Installation of Officers was held in April 1966. The Gardena Elks Softball Team was formed. In June 1966, two Fish Fries a month were started. In June 1968, P. E. R. Charles Miller was installed as State Vice President for the South Central Coast District. In February of 1968, Gardena Elks Lodge joined in the Centennial Celebration of the Grand Lodge. A special class of 56 members was initiated. The Gardena Elks 14th Anniversary Dinner was combined with the Centennial Ball on Saturday, February 17, 1968. In June of 1968, the Gardena Elks adopted Sheri Cook as its own Cerebral Palsy Girl. There were many units of old time cars in the Loyalty Day Parade.
In June of 1969 P. E. R. David H. Uhrig was installed as State Vice President for the South Central Coast District. In May 1970, new kitchen equipment was installed along with a walk-in refrigerator. In November 1971, a program for modernization of the Lodge Room and Dining Room, including air conditioning, was passed by the membership. Fortunately, the air conditioning was postponed for a while.
On March 18, 1972, a major fire destroyed the dining room, kitchen and Lodge Room. Water and smoke damage closed down the east side of the building for several months. In May, the office side was opened and work was begun on the west side of the building. In July of 1972, P. E. R. David H. Uhrig was named District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. In November, work was started in full swing. By December 3, 1972, the building was complete enough to hold the annual Elks Memorial Service in the new hall. Work continued at a steady pace during December. Enough work was completed to hold a New Year's Eve party with 250 people in attendance.
While construction was underway, meetings continued at many places, but mainly at Hawthorne Elk Lodge. Social functions were held at Torrance Elks Lodge, V. F. W. Post 3261 Hall, Nisei V. F. W. Hall, and Am Vets Post 30. Finally on January 13, 1973, less than a year after the disastrous fire, a Rededication Dinner Dance was held.
After the rededication, finishing touches were completed and the Lodge resumed its programs of dinners, dances, meetings, and other functions. In May 1974, P. E. R. Clark L. Sanders was named State Vice President for the South Central Coast District. In June of 1974, the Lodge participated in the Culver City Flag Day Parade for the first time. In December further improvements were made in the Lodge with a new kitchen floor, wainscotings in the hall, a new paint and varnish job, and new chairs for the officers.
For the Fourth of July in 1975, a Kick-Off Barbeque was held to start the celebration of America's Bi-centennial year. In August of 1975, the annual Leaders Night was started to honor the leaders of the city and other organizations in the city of Gardena. In May of 1976, Gardena Lodge won the sweepstake trophy in the Gardena Loyalty Day Parade with their entry "Uncle Sam". The same float won a second award in the Culver City Flag Day Parade. In November of 1977, the floor in the main hall was refinished, and as the 25th year celebration approached, the Lodge received another facelift with a new stage, different arrangement for the meetings, and both interior and exterior painting. In July of 1978, P. E. R. Clark Sanders was named District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler. This is the story of 25 years of hard work, pleasant times, and good associations by all the members and officers of Gardena Elks Lodge #1919.
PERs (Past Exalted Rulers)
Harold Sproule 1954-1955 Deceased
Nat B. Harrison 1955-1956 Deceased
Dale Smith 1956-1957 Deceased
Maxwell T. Zeigler 1957-1958 Deceased
Patrick Ditonto 1958-1959 Deceased
Dean Hergenrother 1959-1960 Deceased
Martin Munson 1960-1961 Deceased
David H. Uhrig 1961-1962 Deceased
Morris Fredericks 1961-1962** Deceased
Charles H. Miller 1962-1963 Deceased
Russell J. Moss 1962-1963** Dropped
Clark Sanders 1963-1964
Jerry Brown 1964-1965 Deceased
C. George Keller 1964-1965** Deceased
Marvin Knapp 1965-1966 Deceased
Larry Longton 1965-1966** Dimit
George Haines 1966-1967 Deceased
I. Joseph Camilli 1966-1967** Deceased
Henry Sutcliffe 1967-1968 Deceased
O. W. Lepper 1966-1967** Deceased
Raymond A. Niles 1968-1969 Deceased
Van Ray Botts 1968-1969** Dimit
Marion Clark 1969-1970 Deceased
Carl D’Amico 1969-1970** Deceased
Bob Sands 1970-1971 Deceased
E. M. Johnson 1970-1971** Deceased
Fred Jones 1971-1972 Deceased
James Palmieri 1971-1972**
Leroy Lander 1972-1973 Deceased
Buel Hensley 1972-1973** Dimit
Charles Davidson 1973-1974 Deceased
Jerry Coulter 1974-1975 Deceased
James S. Mason 1974-1975**
Norman Durr 1975-1976
Claude L. Smith 1975-1976**
Stanley Sopher 1976-1977 Dimit
James S. Mason 1976-1977**
Leroy Lander 1977-1978 Deceased
Lou Baldi 1977-1978** Deceased
Ector Espinoza 1978-1979
Frank Diaz 1978-1979** Dropped
Gerald “Jerry” Moore 1979-1980
Eugene Egerer 1980-1981** Deceased
Val Valdez 1981-1982 Dropped
Edward Wells 1981-1982** Deceased
John Sutton 1982-1983
Ray Mason 1982-1983** Deceased
Chuck Turner 1983-1984 Deceased
Harland C. Hill 1983-1984** Deceased
George Glenn 1984-1985 Dimit
Jerold Watkins 1984-1985** Dimit
Roscoe Colclasure 1985-1986 Deceased
James B. Wilson 1985-1986**
Paul Contreras 1986-1987 Dropped
Frank Bolthouse 1986-1987** Dimit
Frank Novack 1987-1988 Deceased
Harland C. Hill 1987-1988** Deceased
Herb Grapin 1988-1989 Deceased
John Dietz 1988-1989** Deceased
Bill Suarez 1989-1990 Deceased
Clyde Thompson 1989-1990** Deceased
Bill Mounday 1990-1991
Roger L. Hoeman 1990-1991** Dimit
John Wise 1991-1992 Dimit
John Dietz 1991-1992** Deceased
Norman Frazer 1992-1993 Dimit
Jack Bonewitz 1993-1994 Dimit
Don C. Dillon 1994-1996 Deceased
George Thompson 1996-1997 Dropped
Ray Oats 1997-1998 Deceased
John Davi 1998-1999
Jack Smith 1999-2000 Deceased
Bill Misner 2000-2001
Jerry Coulter 2001-2002 Deceased
Don Pfenniger 2002-2003
Rod Goff 2003-2004
John Sutton 2004-2006
James B. Wilson 2006-2007
Martin Almaraz 2007-2008
Bill Suarez 2008-2009 Deceased
Judy R. Sutton2009-2010
Rodney Tanaka 2010-2012
Reyne Rocha 2013-2014
Alyssa Santos 2014-2015
Matthew Almaraz 2015-2016
Rodney Tanaka 2010-2013, 2016-2017
Reyne Rocha 2013-2014
Alyssa Santos 2014-2015
Matthew Almaraz 2015-2016
Rodney Tanaka 2010-2013, 2016-2017
P.E.R.’s BY AFFILIATION
Raymond Salcido Jr. 1972-1973
Dennis Peterson 1985-1986 Deceased
Frank Marsh 1963-1964
** P.E.R. from merger with #2240