FORMATION OF
LAKE RAY ROBERTS AREA ELKS
LODGE #2862

In March of 2008, four members of Denton Elks Lodge #2446 who lived in Sanger, thought how neat it would be if there was an Elks Lodge in the Lake Ray Roberts area.

It could draw in potential members from Sanger, Valley View, Gainesville, Aubrey, Krum, Pilot Point and everything in-between.

Ben Huston, Rick Brisco, Jack Richardson and Glenna Krueger met with Texas Elks State Chairman for New Lodge Development Terry Craig and set the first organizational meeting for March 24. Ten attended that first meeting and seven submitted applications.

By word of mouth, newspaper ads and visiting area businesses, there was 15 applications on file by the second organizational meeting. A far cry from the 70 necessary to obtain a charter but progress, never-the-less.

In the meantime, the members carried out two garage sales to raise funds, collected about 300 pounds of food for the local food bank and provided a needy family of five with food and gifts at Christmas and kept obtaining new members.

February 2009 the magic number of 70 was reached and the petition for dispensation was submitted to the Grand Lodge.

Eureka!! On March 5, 2009, almost a year to the day from when the organizational committee decided to form a lodge in the Lake Ray Roberts area, the Lake Ray Roberts Area Elks was granted a dispensation and given the number 2862.

Institution of the Lodge, initiation of new members and installation of officers was set for May 9, 2009 and as they say “the rest is history”.