Our local Red Cross chapter originated in 1918. For an accurate summary of the significant organization's history in our area, I relied on a wonderful write-up by Dixie McMillan McGehee in the Bogalusa Diamond Jubilee Book, of July 4, 1989.
The daughter of Jesse and Fannie Lott McMillan and the wife of Judson McGehee, Mrs. McGehee was the long-time Executive Secretary for the Washington Parish Red Cross, serving from 1967-1989. She was the sister of Malcolm McMillan, Doyle McMillan, Earl McMillan, Jesse McMillan, and James McMillan and the mother of David McGehee, Bryan McGehee, Michael (Cynthia) McGehee, and the late Cynthia Diane McGehee.
As explained by Mrs. McGehee, it was in January of 1918 that a contingent of citizens in Washington Parish filed a petition for a charter from Congress, requesting a Red Cross chapter, establishing the need, and pledging what was necessary regarding obligations and policies. Their request was granted on August 9, 1918, and the following were elected to office: "William H. Sullivan, chairman; Mrs. G.A. Townsend, vice-chairman; M.L. Wuescher, treasurer; Mrs. E.E. Lafferty, secretary; and board members J.H. Cassidy, W.C. Flanders, Miss A.D. Winters, G.H. Wilcox, Judge C. Ellis Ott, Z.A. Davis, Mrs. E.E. Lafferty, E.L. Middleton, W.S. Gardner, W.S. Hanley, Clyde Moss, J.A. Spekenheir, D.T. Cushing, Mrs. C.J. Wade, Mrs. V.P. Landon, D.R. Joseph, Dr. J.H. Slaughter, Mrs. E.A. Haggerty, Mrs. Pricilla Voorhies, Mrs. J.H. Cassidy, K.I. Bean, Mrs. L.F. Guerre, Mrs. L.F. Brignac, L.L. Webb, Mrs. G.A. Townsend, Mrs. Carrie Sanford and Mrs. A.B. McAuthor."
The first headquarters of the local Red Cross was situated on Austin Street in Bogalusa, after which it was located in a building on West Second Street, courtesy of Gaylord Container Corporation and Crown Zellerbach Corporation, companies which generously provided rent and electricity free. In 1960, the Board began its search and negotiation for a permanent headquarters. Crown Zellerbach came through with a 100 by 150 lot which they donated. It was located between the Bogalusa High School Auditorium and the Post Office. A construction loan was put in place, and the new building was occupied as the headquarters in October of 1964.
A transition occurred when the local chapter of the Red Cross merged in 1985 with the Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross. Due to lack of funding during this era, small chapters were merging with larger chapters in order to get added support and guidance. The "Washington Parish Chapter" became known as the "Washington Parish Service Center," and an Advisory Committee, comprised of about forty members, worked with the Southeast Louisiana Chapter. Four of these members served on the Board of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter.
The Red Cross has provided valuable service to our parish. According to Mrs. McGehee, examples of their contribution were: "free tonsil clinic; distribution of commodities; sewing for Aid to Britain and Polish refugees, and Europe's stricken war zones; knitting garments for members of the Armed Forces; military camp service; War Fund drives; prisoners of war; blood bank, Junior Red Cross and hospital aides; Gray Ladies; safety programs; service to military families and veterans; and community service and disaster assistance."
I was aware of the Red Cross's contribution during the Second World War. My mother, Margie Nell Brumfield Ellzey, wrote, "Everything changed so much at the time I graduated from high School in 1942. Everyone was so aware of the War and patriotism was very high. We all wanted to do something toward the war effort. I joined a group of ladies in Franklinton to make bandages for the Red Cross. We met in the Home Ec. Dept. at the high school in the evening and sometimes we would fold bandages until midnight. Someone would take them to Red Cross Hdq. in Bogalusa and they sent them where they were needed."
This wartime effort was confirmed by an article published on August 9, 1989, in "The Era-Leader." The “Pages of the Past” referred to an earlier article, on October 13, 1944, in the newspaper, in which Mrs. J.M. Stafford, chairman of the Bandage Rolling Unit of the local Red Cross Chapter, was recruiting volunteers. And this offered me some insight.
While I do not mean to suggest that my mother would not voluntarily participate in a valuable wartime effort, I identified, after glimpsing this article, an additional reason why Momma volunteered. She adored "Dear," as she called Rosalie Stafford, the mother of her best, lifelong friend Yvonne. Citing a dearth of volunteers resulting in a shortfall in October 1944, Ms. Rosalie cited the statistics, "[T]he local unit lacks 6,700 bandages of an 11,000 quota to come up to the expectations of the Red Cross and the boys and girls who are on the fighting fronts looking to the people on the home front to back them in this great struggle for freedom." She in turn strongly urged local ladies to allocate the maximum time possible rolling bandages. So, I knew why Momma folded bandages until midnight. She never would have wanted to disappoint Dear.
According to Mrs. McGehee, between 1918 and 1989 the Chairmen of the Washington Parish Red Cross Chapter were, as follows: "W. H. Sullivan, 1918-28; D.T. Cushing, 1929-30; E.R. Cassidy, 1931-33; C.L. Black, 1934-35; T.T. Dunn, 1936; Rev. S.C. Hammock, 1937; W.L. Wuescher, 1938-39; H.J. Foil, 1940-41; N.D. Ott, 1942-43; Curt Siegelin, 1944; C.W. Goodyear Jr., 1945; T.J. McDaniel, 1945; W.M. Babington, 1947; I. Marx, 1948-49; M.J. Israel, 1950; Dr. T.W. Gayer, 1951; J.H. Cutrer Jr., 1952-53; J.H. Thornhill Jr., 1954-55; W.R. Mitchell, 1956; Delos R. Johnson Jr., 1957-58; G.C. Blake, 1959; Robert B. Tonner, 1960-61; Oris F. Hebert, 1962-63; N.L. Smith, 1964-65; A.A. Bush, 1966; Charlie J. Talbert, 1967-68; Joseph H. Herman, 1969; Carl E. Cutrer Sr., 1970; Dr. William J. Dicks, 1971; Ford McKenzie, 1972; L.A. Kelson, 1973; W.F. Raborn, 1974-1975; Dr. Jerry Breazeale, 1976; Jack Caldwell, 1977; Dr. Frank Mobley, 1978-1979; Asa Miller, 1980-1981; Elmer Mays, 1982; Fred W. Jackson, 1983-1984; Jack L. Foil, 1985-1986; Greg Genco, 1986-1987; and Michael E. Henley, 1988-1989."
Through 1989, there were four paid executive secretaries: Mrs. Distefano, who served an indeterminate time; Lelia Averiette, 1931-1949; Claudia Leeke, 1949-1968; and Dixie McMillan McGehee, 1967-1989.
