Changing to meet the needs of fraternalists.
"Joining Hands To Touch Lives.Fraternalism for the Family and Our Nation"
SPJST Herald Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas, Founded 1897
BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 to: SUPREME LODGE, SPJST, P. 0. Box 00, Temple, Texas 76503
February 28, 1996
ISSN-07458800
VOLUME 84 NUMBER 9
Lodge 92, Fort Worth comes on strong
Tops in Tarok
Tarok champs crowned at Lodge 15, Buckholts Lodge 15, Buckholts hosted the SPJST's 11th Annual Statewide Tarok Tournament on Saturday, February 10, 1996. A total of 60 enthusiastic players representing 18 lodges and five districts played in the day-long event. Winners, following six rounds of play, are presented at right. Midway through the tournament, players enjoyed a delicious barbecue beef and sausage luncheon served by the members of Lodge 15, Buckholts. Lodge members also furnished a nice variety of pastries and koiaches throughout the day. The SPJST extends its thanks to the officers and members of Lodge 15, Buckholts for their hospitality.
First Place Jeff Kubes, Lodge 92, Fort Worth
Second Place Otto Kurtz, Lodge 92, Fort Worth
Third Place Jimmy Coufal, Lodge 47, Seaton
Fourth Place David Kucera, Lodge 79, Corpus Christi
Fifth Place Marvin Grohman, Lodge 88, Houston
Sixth Place Rudy Kaspar, Lodge 29, Taylor
Seventh Place Ed Scaff, Lodge 92, Fort Worth
Eighth Place (Tie) Jerry Brezina, Lodge 92, Fort Worth Louis Kubala, Lodge 92, Fort Worth
(Continued on page four)
Pictured above are the top finishers in the Eleventh Annual Statewide SPJST Tarok Tournament held February 10 at Lodge 15, Buckholts. They are, from left: Jeff Kubes ci;i Lodge 92, Fort Worth; Otto Kurtz of Lodge 92, Fort Worth; Jimmie Coufal of Lodge 47, Seaton; and David Kucera of Lodge 79, Corpus Christi. As the results show, the Fort Worth players came prepared to win the lodge plaque and had no problem. Lodge 92 fielded 14 players in the contest. Interesting to note: Lodge 92 players get plenty of practice time at the lodge's twice monthly game nights and monthly tarok tournaments. See more winners and related photos on page four.
Farewell to our friend and associate
Society mourns loss of Brother Ben Zabcik Past Supreme Lodge Financial served at the Balboa and Corona Naval Secretary Ben Zabcik, who headed the Hospital and received a medical disSPJST's Accounting and Bookkeeping charge in 1945 and returned to the Meeks Department from 1960 to 1976, died on store. Brother Zabcik moved to Zabcikville Sunday, February 18, 1996. He was 88. in 1948 and farmed "Mr. Zabcik was an important player 150 acres on the in the growth and original Zabcik famdevelopment of the ily farm until 1961. SPJST and his local He was elected SPJST Financial community for many Secretary at the San years," says Antonio Convention Supreme Lodge Financial Secretary in 1960. During his Jerry Mikulas, who terms as Financial Secretary, Society worked as an assisassets more than tant to Brother Zabcik for 16 years. doubled, from $11.7 million in 1961 to "He was also a very more than $23 milcaring individual with a good sense of lion in 1977. Throughout his humor. We extend our deepest sympalife, Brother Zabcik thies to his loving demonstrated his Benjamin Martin Zabcik wife, Regina, his commitment to his 1907 - 1996 family and friends." community and felBrother Zabcik low man. He served was born in Zabcikville, Texas on April as financial secretary of Lodge 24, 23, 1907 to Martin and Mary Zabcik. He Cyclone for 26 years. He also served went into the grocery and general merwith the Soil Conservation Service for 10 years, as a director of the Bell County chandise business in 1932, operating a Farm Bureau for eight years, and as secstore in Meeks until 1944, when he was drafted into the Navy as a corpsman. He retary of the East Bell County Water
Cooperative for 20 years, retiring in bership, will certainly miss him in the 1988. He was an elder of Ocker Brethren coming years." Church and was cemetery manager for 20 A recollection of the life and times of Brother Zabcik was delivered by family years. He was a trustee for Seaton School and was a member of the Senior friend and fellow SPJST member Weldon Citizens group. He Schiller. Brother was also a member Schiller concluded The Gift of Friendship of American Legion his remarks with a Post 133 and a life poem expressing the Friendship is a priceless gift member of DAV heartfelt sentiments That cannot be bought or sold Texas Chapter II. of the community. But its value is far greater Funeral services The verse is reprintThan a mountain made of gold— for Brother Zabcik ed at left. For gold is cold and lifeless, were held WednesBrother Zabcik is It can neither see nor hear, day morning, Februsurvived by his And in the time of trouble ary 28 at Ocker wife, Regina Zabcik It is powerless to cheer— Brethren Church in of Zabcikville; two It has no ears to listen, Zabcikville, with the daughters, Barbara No heart to understand, Rev. Albert Michalik Docekal of It cannot bring you comfort McKinney and Rev. Eugene and Or reach out a helping hand— Kotrla officiating. Betty Jean Hall of So when you ask God for a Gift, SPJST Supreme Georgetown; a Be thankful if He sends Lodge Chairman brother, Henry Not diamonds, pearls or riches, Cyrill "Sid" PokladZabcik of Rosebud; But the love of real true friends. nik also delivered a two sisters, Olga message on behalf of Bedrich of Temple the Society. "I will and Marie Evans of always remember Brother Ben as an San Antonio; and fve grandchildren. ambassador of good will," stated Brother The family requests that tributes and Pokladnik. "He was a dedicated and car- memorials to Brother Zabcik be directed ing fraternalist. We at the SPJST- to the Ocker Cemetery Fund and SPJST whether it be past or present officers, Scholarship Fund. directors, employees and general mem—SPJST--