The Concho Cadre
You may have seen them around town, blue-jacketed folks flanking proud business owners who cut a red ribbon to commemorate their grand opening. You may have heard their cheers and clapping after the speeches are said and the ribbon is cut. Or maybe you just saw them on the evening news.
They lend conviviality to the occasion with their sincere smiles and warm hand shakes. They are the Concho Cadre.
Formed in 1977, the Concho Cadre was the brainchild of Joan Stocks Nobles, who was once a very active part of the San Angelo community, and is still affectionately known as "Madre of the Cadre" by those who have been in the organization for awhile.
Nobles, owner of the former downtown San Angelo restaurant "Gideon's" (named for a buffalo soldier in Elmer Kelton's The Wolf and the Buffalo), wondered why a town with a river like the Concho and a growing stock show and rodeo didn't have a convention center.
She set out to change that, and was told that the first step was to form an Innkeeper's Association and a Restaurant Association. No problem for the Madre of the Cadre. She soon organized both groups and pulled them together. After many meetings, planning sessions, and a presentation to the City Council, the convention center became a reality in 1978.
And what is a new convention center without a VIP host welcoming group to promote it?
To mix and mingle and make the public aware of events and conferences now coming to San Angelo, Nobles held a meeting at the River Club, and on October 19, 1977, the Concho Cadre was born.
This charter Cadre meeting was attended by prominent folks in San Angelo, including then Standard-Times publisher Tucker Sutherland and his wife Carol, Ross McSwain, Marion Szurek, Stan and Deanna Mayfield, Mary Ellen Astudillo, Wayne Franke, Kate Rushing, Herschel Shelby, Arch and Royce Black, Drew Darby and Dudra Butler.
"There was probably 40 to 50 people there from every profession and every walk of life," said Mary Ellen Astudillo, former Convention and Visitors Bureau sales director/staff coordinator for the Cadre. "And Joan's enthusiasm was absolutely contagious."
Nobles was successful in convincing every person in the room that the new convention center and the city needed official hosts to welcome out-of-town conventioneers.
And welcome they did. Pretty soon, some lucky conventioneers got to participate in the Cadre's annual Casino Night. There was Las Vegas sequin and glitz casino night, and there was cowboy casino night, complete with pioneer garb and a hanging judge. Cards were dealt, chips were stacked, play cash changed hands amid roaring laughter and many prizes were won.
Convention attendees also enjoyed motor coach tours of the city, given by feathered up and floozied ladies from Miss Hattie's Bordello. These ladies certainly knew their way around town.
Herschel Shelby, who retired in 1968 after 29 years with First City Bank, was a charter Cadre member who served as vice president the first year the Cadre was formed and president the second.
"They called me 'Padre of the Cadre," he said with a grin. Shelby ran a blackjack table every year at Casino Night. He recalls one year when he was in Austin at a conference and happened to meet a man who said he had just had a wonderful time at a convention in San Angelo, and would never forget casino night. That's when Shelby realized how a friendly group of people can make an impact beyond the bounds of home.
"I think the Cadre has been a real vital part of business development in San Angelo," he said.
Today, almost 30 years after that first meeting, the Cadre runs 50+ members strong. Though Casino Night is a thing of the past, they conduct about 65 ribbon cuttings a year, as well as face-to-face business visitations to new Chamber members. They also help with convention registrations and Discover ASU events on campus.
Madre of the Cadre Joan Stocks Nobles has written two books and currently lives in Midland, but the excitement she ignited nearly 30 years ago in San Angelo among a group of people who genuinely cared about their community is still ablaze and shining brightly today.
Concho Cadre members are the quintessential volunteers who give their time, energy and a special personal touch to make every event memorable. They leave impressions on visitors and business owners for years to come. They are the ultimate ambassadors of San Angelo.
If you happen to see those blue jackets and vests around town, give 'em a smile and a wave. They’ll return the favor. It’s the Cadre way.
Jennifer Serrato is Communications Coordinator for the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce and has lived and worked in San Angelo for four years.
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What Does It Take?
Interested individuals must complete an application and attend two functions, after which they are voted in at a monthly meeting. According to Cadre by-laws, Cadre members must attend six functions of their choosing per year to remain active. Each member is required to wear a navy blue jacket or vest with the official Concho Cadre patch sewn on, and their rank insignia, when volunteering at functions. After 10 years of active service, members become honorary and no longer have to meet the six-function requirement. If you’re interested in joining, call 655-4136.
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Ranks
The Concho Cadre attains their rank from time in service as follows:
1st Year – Private
2nd Year – Captain
3rd Year – Major
4th Year – Colonel
5th Year - One-Star General
6th Year - Two-Star General
7th Year - Three-Star General
8th Year - Four-Star General (position maintained until member has served as President)
9th Year - Five-Star General (awarded after attaining four-star general and serving as Vice President)
10th Year - Honorary Member for life
During the course of Cadre history, six people have been awarded the rank of five-star general.
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Events
Attend monthly meetings (2nd Monday of each Month) at noon at Zentner’s Daughter. Attend yearly awards dinner in January recognizing volunteerism and outstanding Cadre members.
Greet at Chamber luncheons.
Host and officiate ribbon cutting events.
Conduct face-to-face meetings with new Chamber members.
Register local convention attendees.
Work at info booth during Discover ASU events.
Officers meet to set new policies as needed.