tidelanders LEADERSHIP HISTORY
1946 - 1959
At first, directing was shared by a committee of four; namely Bliss Mapes, Theodore (T. C.) Blackstone, Walter Jenkins, and Edward Acton. These men, collectively, were the first four Directors. Although several others directed the chorus in one fashion or another, these men are the four most commonly referred to from 1952 through 1955. Afterward, Phil Winston began doing a large part of the directing and continued to do so until 1957.
In 1957, V. L. Hooper moved to Houston and soon began directing the chorus for their first contest performances. Though Houston did not place very high in these first contests, the Chapter was beginning to steadily improve through Hooper’s talents and the hard work of others such as Dick Crockett, Bill Park, Jim Carter, George Stillman, and John Neighbors.