About Us

Thursday Luncheon Club

 The Thursday Luncheon Club has been meeting at the YMCA for over 60 years.  The Club was organized at the old Spring Street YMCA in 1946, through the efforts of Nelsom Newsom, Director of Adult Activities and Claude Willis, Physical Director.  Mr. Kenneth Morris was the Executive Secretary for the Spring Street YMCA at that time.

The group was patterned after the Luncheon Club at the St. Louis YMCA called The Honorary Club.  It was made up of business men who worked downtown and others who could spare an hour and a half for lunch.  There was no set agenda, consequently, the discussions were centered around current events and a speaker nor and then.

The meals were originally prepared at the Spring Street YMCA in their kitchen by the person in charge.  Thereafter, we had Mr. Cary Bolden who catered our meals for a price of $1.50.  He was the predecessor of our present caterer “Ms. Vicki” Brown.

During the years of its operation, the membership has fluctuated.  We originally had an average of 22 to 25 members.  It dropped to as low as 8 members for a short period of time and was revived after Mr. Bolden became the food preparer.  At the present time the average is approximately 18 to 25 members.

One of the most unusual incidents took place during the 1950s in the Governorship race when Congressman Bender, a republican, was attempting to have a campaign meeting with Mr. Laushe, a democrat.  At that time it was unusual for candidates for major offices to have joint campaign meetings with each other.

Throughout the existence of the Club, we have made contributions to the East Side and the Eldon & Elsie Ward Branch YMCA such as VCRs, videotape players, a kitchen stove, youth memberships and donations for remodeling.

One of the former YMCA secretaries set up a $10.00 per year membership for each of us.  This lasted only one year.  We currently have a membership of $20.00.

Many of our members have been board members and members of the First Mens Club and the Indian Club.  Others have participated in the Camp program, exercise units, swimming, basketball and tennis programs.

On two occasions we have had worship services on Sunday…once at the Woodland Christian Church and also at Union Grove Baptist Church, then pastored by member Reverend Phale D. Hale.

Up until about ten years ago, we used to send a get-well message to sick members in the hospital or at home by all of us signing a paper table napkin or a plain piece of paper.  This was well received and accepted, even though we now sign and send get well cards.

Charter members of the group included A.P. Bentley, Insurance Executive, Walter Hill, Insurance, Bennett Dickenson, Real Estate, and Frank Shearer, Attorney.