Blue Knights History
The Blue Knights® International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, is a non-profit fraternal organization consisting of active and retired law enforcement officers who enjoy riding motorcycles. In the Spring of 1974, several law enforcement officers* from the Bangor, Maine (USA) area met and formed a small, local motorcycle club. For more information about the International go to http://blueknights.org/about.html.
Texas Chapter I was chartered in Hurst, Texas in 1985. Co-founders of the chapter were Gene Fuqua and Mort Franklin. Mort was a retired Chicago, Illinois, police officer (retired 1980) who moved to Hurst and became a jailer with the P.D. in 1983. Gene was a sergeant with the Hurst Police Department (retired 2003).
As soon as the two of them discovered that they both enjoyed the sport of motorcycling, Mort, having been a member of the Blue Knights® in Illinois, introduced Gene to the organization. Together they worked to obtain the Texas I Charter.
The membership of Texas Chapter I hovers around 35 members annually. The first annual convention Texas 1 attended was in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1986. The Chapter won the "Roger Ferris" award for the best represented club by membership attending the convention. Texas I has been represented by officers from over 30 different agencies in the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex, as well as long distance members from as far away as Carlsbad, New Mexico; Abilene, Texas; and Killeen, Texas. In 1993, Texas I was privileged to have recruited former Governor of Texas, the Honorable Ann Richards, who obtained her motorcycle driver's license on her 60th birthday while still in Office. In 1998, we were privileged to also attain Mr. Chuck Norris (Walker Texas Ranger-TV Show) as a member.
Texas I has also done it's share of donating to charities and needy organizations in the community since their inception, promoting the Blue Knights® as an International non-profit organization. The estimated amount of cash donated over the years is in excess of $10,000 dollars. The monetary value of the donated man-hours and goods would probably double that total. The most recognized of these donations was the contribution to the Texas Police Officer Memorial which is built on the grounds of the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. This Memorial Wall was erected to honor those officers whose lives were taken in the line of duty while protecting and serving the communities and people of the State of Texas.
Since the inception of the Blue Knights® in Texas, the membership and Chapter numbers have grown into a conference of it's own in the International organization. With the assistance of many other people, Gene Fuqua was part of developing Texas, Arkansas, and Mexico into the Rio Grande Conference. The hard work, persistence, and dedication of many people has been instrumental in the development of forty-five (45) chapters in Texas and seven (7) chapters in Arkansas. With continued support and enthusiasm, Texas Chapter 1 and the Rio Grande Conference will continue to grow and spread the brotherhood of the Blue Knights® International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.
OUR PLEDGE:
"As a Blue Knight, I pledge to act with honor and pride to promote motorcycling and motorcycle safety by being an example of the safe use, operation and enjoyment of motorcycles. I will work at all times to improve the relationship between the motorcycling law enforcement community and the general public. The fraternal spirit will always guide me in relating to other Blue Knights."
We're the good guys!
The Blue Knights® is a family fraternity. Spouses and children often accompany our members to the various rides and functions. When traveling, local members can provide assistance, directions and sometimes a place to stay. We are truly a family.
"At Texas I, it doesn't matter what you ride...
...Only that you ride."