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THE SEA COAST ECHO
History of the
By Michael D. Haas, Jr.
Our club was founded and chartered April 13, 1985. The installation banquet was held at the Wheel Inn Restaurant in Bay St. Louis.
Installed as charter president was Tommy Brooks. Other officers included Bob Occhi, president-elect; Rex Gilbert, Mississippi Power Company, secretary; and Bob Hubbard, treasurer.
Members included E.J. Marengo, Frank McNeil,
Mike Necaise, Ronnie Peterson, Peter Platz, William Stechmann, Kelvin Schulz, Mike Haas,
Sr. and Mike Haas, Jr.
The club was chartered and founded by members of the Gulfport Exchange Club. Included in the initial membership drive were Q.D. Spruill, John Bates, Ray Necaise, Robert Young and others representing the Gulfport Club.
Instrumental in pushing for a new Exchange Club in Hancock County was Henry L. Thomas, then general manager of Coast Electric Power Association. I can recall the day that my father, Michael Haas, Sr. and I decided to join the club.
Several members of the Gulfport Club came by our office and explained to us the Exchange Club and its focus on Americanism and prevention of child abuse and suggested that we should become charter members of the new club in Hancock County.
Politely, Mike Haas, Sr. and I explained that we were very busy and did not have time to join any new clubs and frankly, that there was no need for another service club in Hancock County as we already had several fine service clubs operating in the community.
About an hour later, my father called me into his office and informed me that we had just joined the Hancock County Exchange Club.
To my surprise, I exclaimed, “I thought we just told those fellows that we weren't interested." Mike Haas, Sr. explained that Henry Thomas, general manager of Coast Electric, had just called and thought that it would be a good idea if he and I joined. Thus, we became charter members of the Hancock County Exchange Club.
Almost immediately, Mr. Thomas suggested to the club that the community needed patriotism and that he envisioned an avenue of flags along Highway 90 being a hallmark to introduce people to Bay St. Louis and Waveland and the Hancock County community in general.
The members purchased flags and solicited donations from area businesses totaling approximately 120 flags. Brackets were installed along Highway 90, and the first avenue of flags was erected on July 4, 1985.
The flags were displayed on Highway 90 from the Bay St. Louis bridge to Waveland and additionally along the downtown areas as well.
This fundraiser and patriotic display was continued for several years by the club until the City of Bay St. Louis installed center highway lighting along Highway 90 and installed flag-
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