Sourdough Chapter History
The Bozeman chapter was the first SAR chapter to be formed in the state of Montana. While the state society had organized on June 5, 1894 at Helena, there had been no previous efforts to create local chapters in the state. In January of 1971 Carroll V. Henderson of Bozeman joined the MTSAR and began to organize a chapter based out of Bozeman. With the assistance of the Mount Hyalite Chapter of the DAR in Bozeman, Compatriot Henderson was able to recruit more local residents into joining MTSAR and the Sourdough Chapter was instituted on February 22, 1972 at a Washington Birthday Luncheon.
The name Sourdough was selected to represent the pioneering and cowboy heritage of the Gallatin Valley region. Since 1972, Sourdough has awarded ROTC medals to the Army and Airforce Cadets at Montana State University-Bozeman, JRROTC medals, Eagle Scout patches and Good Citizenship Medals. Sourdough continues to host a Washington Birthday Luncheon or Dinner Annually. Sourdough members are diverse in their ages, occupations and where they reside. The chapter currently has members in Miles City, Billings, Livingston, Dillon, Ennis, Deer Lodge and Missoula. Some of our members are retirees, business owners, ranchers and farmers, work in the oil fields, plus many other professions. Yet they all have one thing in common, a shared heritage in the American Revolution!
The name Sourdough was selected to represent the pioneering and cowboy heritage of the Gallatin Valley region. Since 1972, Sourdough has awarded ROTC medals to the Army and Airforce Cadets at Montana State University-Bozeman, JRROTC medals, Eagle Scout patches and Good Citizenship Medals. Sourdough continues to host a Washington Birthday Luncheon or Dinner Annually. Sourdough members are diverse in their ages, occupations and where they reside. The chapter currently has members in Miles City, Billings, Livingston, Dillon, Ennis, Deer Lodge and Missoula. Some of our members are retirees, business owners, ranchers and farmers, work in the oil fields, plus many other professions. Yet they all have one thing in common, a shared heritage in the American Revolution!
Image of the Seal of the City of Bozeman, Montana curtesy of Wikipedia.