About Us

Our History

During the winter of 1977, Milt and Sirley Cranfill and Harry and Verney Abbott first met at Walter Valley County Park where the couples were attending different RV functions. Each had become aware of the need for an FMCA chapter in west Texas had had done some preliminary work with the FMCA National Office in Cincinnati, Ohio. They scheduled a rally in Snyder, Texas for May 12-14, 1978, to organize a new chapter. As a result of that enthusiastic gathering, 59 FMCA members formed the nucleus of a new chapter. The name “WesTex” was chosen as best delineating the area to be served by the chapter.

The next year on July 25, 1979, the chapter’s official charter was presented at the FMCA National Summer Convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Milt Cranfill was elected chapter president; Shirley Cranfill, secretary-treasurer (then a combined office); and Harry Abbott, national director.

Fees for new members were $12.50 per coach plus $5.00 for each member’s name badge and $10.00 for a pictorial director of chapter members, for a total of $32.50. Membership renewal was $10.00 a year. Fees have since increased to $34.50 for a family and $28.50 for single members, but annual dues remain $10.00.

The majority of members in the early years were near retirement age, although some were younger. Many operated businesses, farms, etc. and others worked, thus weekend rallies were preferable. Today, most members are retired. Then, as now, members lived in all areas of the state.