Summer 1967
Try to recall where or what you were doing at this moment in your life and your clubs history. Some had even yet to arrive to this Earth. Almost for sure not thinking about a Waco, Texas Corvette Club yet two very young men not much more than boys. Some 60 years past that idea remains alive and every member should know or at the very least be somewhat aware of the clubs history to better appreciate the car and the club. It was not that easy building a solid automotive special interest club from the ground up in Waco in the 1960s. Knowing the clubs history every member should feel a sense of pride knowing their clubs lasting longevity.
 
It was a warm Summer evening in June of 1967 when a chance encounter happened on the old HEB Grocery Store located at 18th and Austin Avenue. For geo hunters the exact spot was N31 32 46.86, W97 08 36.05 where THE idea was conceived by two very young Corvette owners.
In the mid 60's in Waco there were but a few Corvettes and most all owners knew of the others and very few of those were new car purchases.
As many a gear head did in those days many cruised the Austin Avenue (a wonderful era) when drivers could drive side by side from 18th and Austin Avenue to the then Waco jail then go around the jail and then cruise back towards 18th. The city has been gracious enough to place traffic/stop lights (starting lights for many) at several intersections along that path. This strip of pavement back then was affectionately referred to as "The Drag" for reasons totally unknown. Back when gasoline was cheap, time to be wasted and many a muscle car driver wishing to make a statement.
At the time I had a new 1967 GTO as my cruiser. For months I noticed a stunning Silver 1963 split window coupe with red interior.
One evening at a traffic light stopped the two of us side by side. What was two young guys to do sitting in their muscle cars side by side?
It was at that moment I was taught a lesson. The Corvette legend was true. I got spanked pretty darn hard. I remember retreating homeward deep in thought what was I to do after the horrible experience just endured?
Several weeks lapsed deep in thought as what to do. Corvette had always been my passion but never a real consideration due to cost.
I finally decided to make the required commitment to buy a new Corvette. This meant sacrificing everything to afford the commitment.
At the time Waco Chevrolet on 5th street was the Waco Chevrolet dealer and had a less than stellar reputation so off to Dallas in my new GTO to go Corvette shopping. It was a Sunday morning. My first and only stop was at the then Steakley Chevrolet dealer in Garland, Texas. That very day I traded my new  GTO for a new 1967 Marina Blue Stingray Coupe with white interior and drove it home to Waco.  

Very soon afterwards I found myself back on Austin Avenue and executing my HEB parking lot maneuver when I spot the 1963 silver Stingray that had taught me a lesson previously. The Stingray was parked on the HEB parking lot and its owner was standing outside. As I slowly started to pass the driver in my new Stingray he signaled me to stop. I remember thinking to myself where this chance meeting may take me.
As it turned out that was when the owner of a silver 1963 split window coupe (Lewis Ellis) and the owner of a 1967 blue coupe (Randy Todd) met and learned that we shared many common interests.
In that meeting a speculative and hypothetical question was presented. The question being if there might be enough Corvettes and interests in Waco to form a Corvette Club? The conversation concerning the prospect of such an event continued and it was decided the two of us would again meet and continue the discussion.
Further discussions/first meetings were conducted at both the Ellis and Todd parents houses and that led to the formation of a more structured meeting of sorts that included my soon to be wife who was onboard with assisting.
In these meetings the three of us attempted to identify what issue would first have to be addressed as best as the young and inexperienced could.
One of the first items identified was the necessity of establishing a club name. Names first considered were "Heart Of Texas Corvette Club", "Waco Corvette Club" and "The Central Texas Corvette Club". The Cen Tex Corvette Club was decided upon due to  some name conflict with the original incorporation filing that was required by Chevrolet Motor Division to be accepted as a recognized Corvette Club. The founders had but a few months to get organized to be successful having the clubs grand opening on January 1, 1968. Once incorporated distributing the idea of a Corvette Club in Waco was the next priority. No internet or email yet so had to do it the old fashioned way (Flyers and word of mouth). That of course meant some way involving someone in the graphic design world to help with design and printing. Since no club really formally existed of course there was no treasury to draw from so early expenses were covered by the founders until a treasury was created.
A most critical volunteer, Corvette enthusiast and Baylor Graphics graduate offered to help with this challenge. His name was Paul Wadle. Without Paul it could be questioned if the club would have ever got lift off?
The founders now with the help of Paul, had a method of designing and printing flyers but still no way to distribute so the four of us decided to each carry with us in our travels a stack of flyers and whenever we spotted a Corvette we would stop and place a flyer on the Corvette that announced the time and date of the formation of Waco Corvette Club. We had no way to predict how many or if anyone would show up so we just picked a local restaurant that we just happened to know the owner that owned a 1962 Corvette but did not personally know him. His name was Roland Duty and owned a pizza place that was convenient in the old Golden Triangle shopping center.
Surprisingly several potential members came to the meeting and further discussions were conducted addressing coming challenges and asking for volunteers especially handing out more flyers and trying to get some sort of an event planned as soon as possible to start supporting the coffers. After all the founder still had to pay for their Corvettes and could not afford to float a club also. Can anyone imagine todays officers making such a commitment? It was make or break time. As the founders were off doing most of the formalities of setting up incorporation, creating a club constitution, by-laws, finding a sponsor, locating a permanent meeting place, Corvette Club registry, developing a charter member program, official graphic design, etc. these new volunteers were starting to engage in the formation of the future CTCC. One must remember these founders did not have the luxury of having previous forefathers to pave their way as they do today.
Subsequent meetings brought forth many challenging questions and ideas. Both good and bad ideas for the brand new club and its founders to consider and conquer. Of course in retrospect knowing if what is known today back then some of the less popular ideas might possibly had a different decision and vice versa but we all know about hind sight now don't we? 
One idea floated within the first members and founding fathers was the idea of developing  a "Charter Member" program. As with many if not most clubs and organizations this idea for such a program seemed to be a great idea which the founders agreed upon and adopted in the pre-incorporation days in 1967. The idea being perhaps this would encourage interested parties to be the first to join and help the forth coming club to build a treasury to soon allow some sort of an event that could be planned quickly to prove the club was for real.  
Some of the earliest of "Charter" names included but not limited to were Duty, Osburn, Adams, Binner, Voyles, Conder, Dulaney and perhaps a couple of others that came later.
From within the Pre Officer ranks the first year officers were elected.

President - Lewis Ellis *
Vice President - Randy Todd *           
Secretary and Treasury -  Sherry Todd *

From this founding group evolved a club that far exceeded what the forefathers had ever imagined.

January of 1968 brought forth the very first official club meeting and post meeting event.
How many can recall where the first event was and the first postt meeting was and where?                                                      Badly needing club funds and with few to no methods to sponsor an event the idea of trying to raise funds for the club as well as performing a public service was thrown out. It was decided to challenge the few members the club had to go forth where wished and collect recyclable glass containers found along the roadside. Return to base with what they had found to the club. The member with the most recyclables won the the first ever club trophy which was a simple trophy made of various available materials which a wood base, a small plaque that described the event an a stretched Dr. Pepper bottle that a member donated. The club then took all the recyclables for a refund. The small profit is lost to memory but enough was gained to be able to open a club checking account. Being so young and trusting we never thought that anyone would go to a store and purchase recyclables and bring them back for credit The first club event was titled "The CTCC Bottle Run"   and the rest as they say is HISTORY.         Remember HISTORY? The thrust of this site.







Arguably some of the best events ever that were free of ANY oversight of any sanctioning body and free of having to be politically correct. A time when events were conducted on public roadways and every participant was on his or her own to do whatever it took to get to the finish first. CTCC was still unable to afford trophy's just BRAGGING rights which in those days were well recognized.  These stories would make for some VERY interesting reading if someone was so inclined to include some interesting historical reading. 
The founders recognized early on the relevance of developing some club traditions in the event it lasted very long and that would hopefully transcend the test of time and/or the life of the founders themselves as is now coming to pass.
Some of the first traditions that were decided to adopt were -

1.The Annual Club Banquette, now referred to as the new officers installment banquette or whatever the event de jour is today.

2. Develop a "Charter Member Program"

3. As might be expected all officers received a service award. The club President of the time would then award to a member the newly created and named "The Presidents Trophy" not to be confused with the Presidents service award which at that time was awarded to every G.M. nationally recognized Corvette Club. G.M had no conditions attached to this award. The founders decided to make it a part of the first CTCC annual banquet in January, 1969  to the most active club member. To learn more about this now coveted award Click Here.

To receive the G.M. Chevrolet Corvette Trophy every club had to reapply with G.M. Chevrolet Motor Division each year. Not realizing that explains why CTCC did not receive another Chevrolet Corvette Trophy the following year, 1969. If a club failed to reapply annually for the "Chevrolet Corvette Trophy" G.M. would NOT issue this prestigious trophy. Many clubs failed to apply each year, consequently the clubs were not issued a trophy for the club to award to a member. The awarding of the very prestigious trophy that was issued by G.M. each year to every Corvette News Magazine (now also retired) registered Corvette Club. The1968 club members were made aware of this award that was to be presented at the first annual club banquette (January, 1969) and so a set of rules that would determine the winner at year's end was adopted by ALL of the current members . This "Chevrolet Corvette Club Trophy" program was originated by Mr. Zora Duntov in 1959. For those that may not be familiar with that name Click Here. Little did our clubs founders know that the program was to be phased out in 1969 with the last trophies issue dated 1969. The cancellation of this award program by G.M. was not announced until 1969. The news of this long standing G.M. award program was very disappointing to every registered Corvette Club across the nation. As can probably be imagined in the 1950s - 1960s the number of Corvette Clubs were far fewer than the numbers seen today. If only one trophy was issued by G.M. to each club every year might explain why so few are ever seen or still exist. If any club has a history that involves the issue and the awarding of this piece of Corvette history it stands as a testament to time the club has endured as noted by the National Corvette Museum. 
Some have attempted to persuade others that other trophies were awarded. To date, that claim has not be verified or documented. 
By 1970 most all club difficult formative requirements were complete and in place for future generations to enjoy and away she went to become a ONCE premier club of the time.