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Larry Looney |
1998 Past Potentate
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In January 1998, Larry N. Looney, Potentate, began his year with a formal public installation of the Divan, Appointed Divan and club and unit officers. A reception in the large upstairs room was followed with a dance in the ballroom. All events were planned by Entertainment Chairpersons, John and Billie Davis. All the Divan from the other Kentucky Temples attended as well as a huge crowd of Oleika nobility and their wives.
Later that month the new Potentate, Larry, was admitted to the hospital for quadruple heart by-pass surgery. If there was a reason to be thankful for a huge February snow, the Potentate was because during the week of the stated meeting, snow came in such huge amounts that traffic in Kentucky was stopped. The February stated meeting was necessarily called off. As Illuctrious Sir was still in the hospital, he was very relieved.
At the March meeting, the Potentate announced that with the approval of Imperial, three Friday night meetings would be held to encourage the men from long distances to attend the stated meetings. A lesson was learned.
May brought All-State to Oleika Hospital Day weekend. The organizers, J.L. and Valerie Eldridge, had a golf tournament on that Saturday with the proceeds purchasing wonderful gifts for the children in the Lexington Unit Hospital on Sunday. On Saturday night a dinner and dance was held at the Campbell House for the Oleika nobility and the four All-State Divans.
A wonderful Looney Tunes Potentate's Ball came in June with the outside and inside of the Temple adorned with Looney Tune characters, continuously running Looney Tune cartoons and two bands, The Notables in the ballroom and country band upstairs. The head table was treated by the playing of the brass band, a visit by Tweety Bird (Louise Anderson) and an impromptu song and dance by several friends and family members. During the Grand March, all deceased past potentates widows were introduced and escorted in by the Oleika Patrol. All planning and decorations were under the direction of Tim and Joan Morris.
Imperial Session was held at Disney World in Orlando. Kosair and Oleika shared the same hotel and hospital room.
One of the most important Temple events occurred on July 11th at the Annual Family Fish Fry. The celebration of paying off the loan with a burning and establishing of the endowment fund was an especially exciting time. The 90th Anniversity of Oleika Temple was also celebrated.
SESA was held in Marietta, GA and SASA was held in Gatlinburg, TN. Both events were attended by many of the Nobility, especially because of the nearness of the locations.
A spaghetti dinner for van drivers and all temple workers was given and served by Illustrious Sir Larry and Lady Frieda in the latter part of October.
Another highlight of the year was the Mexican Rivera Cruise with 48 people on the new Carnival ship, the Elation, in November. An Oleika Thanksgiving Dinner was held the weekend before Thanksgiving.
The togetherness of the Divan and Nobility was more that outstanding and each one that gave even as much as an hour to the Hospital and Oleika Temple is remembered with love and appreciation. |
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