The chapter was chartered as one of the first Florida chapters in February 1956, as an extension of the Atlanta Chapter. The chapter charter was presented to our first chapter president Karl Hickman in a dinner meeting at the Columbia Restaurant in the Ybor City area of Tampa. Mr. Sam Graziano was our first vice-chairman, and he received the charter for the chapter. The original charter members included George Durant, Charlie Dugan, Charlie Caccamo, Gilbert Leach, Mote Baird, Leo Toribio, Guy Hall, Dick Stenholm, Mark Mooney, Bud Menard, and Otto Kraus.
