By Bill Cherry

                                                                             Dallas Broker-Realtor

 Emmett Bieger always comes to my mind whenever I wait at particular traffic light at a corner in my hometown, Galveston.

He was one of the finest hotel managers in the country. W.L. Moody, Jr., the hotel's owner, proselyted him from the famous Statler Hotel in St. Louis. Mr. Emmett always reminded me of the big band leader, Glenn Miller - lots of black hair, rimless glasses and all. Mr. Emmett was a very kind and quiet spoken man who was a true gentleman.

Mr. Emmett arrived in the spring of 1938 to manage the Hotel Buccaneer on Galveston's Seawall, and brought with him his wife, their young son, Emmett, Jr., and their daughter, Marilyn. In those days it was customary for a hotel manager and his family to live on the premises.

Mr. Emmett was very active in civic work, especially that of the Galveston Kiwanis Club. And he and his family regularly attended Mass at Galveston's Saint Mary's Cathedral

In the late 1940s, Mr. Emmett was asked to take over the management of the Hotel Jean Lafitte. So he and his family moved there. Back then the dining room at the Jean Lafitte was very busy during the week, and almost all of the civic clubs met there - the Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Exchange Club, Traffic Club, Three Minute Club, Gideons and Toastmasters. And a number of Galvestonians were permanent residents.

In June of 1950, the Korean Conflict was starting. Young Emmett, Jr. was 20 years old. Soon he was called to serve in the military. He not only went overseas, but was involved in dangerous missions.

Mr. Emmett knew of no way to deal with the fright and concern he had for young Emmett, Jr's well-being. It was constantly on Mr Emmett's mind. But he found that going to noon Mass everyday at Saint Mary's bought him hope and peace of mind. So on Tuesdays at noon, when his Kiwanis Club met, he began coming in about 30 minutes late.

Being late wasn't like Mr. Emmett, so his fellow Kiwanians began inquiring, Mr. Emmett told them that he was going to Mass everyday, but didn't reveal that there was a special reason. That was personal, he thought. After several months, Mr. Emmett did tell one of his closest Kiwanis friends that going to Mass at noon everyday and praying for young Emmett's safety was the only thing that permitted him to cope with his worry.

One Tuesday while Mr. Emmett was at Mass, the Kiwanis Club president called the meeting to order. A resolution was passed that the Galveston Kiwanis Club meeting would no longer begin at noon at the Jean Lafitte. Instead, it would start at Saint Mary's Cathedral. From then on, the entire Kiwanis Club membership - a totally ecumenical group - began meeting in the back rows at St. Mary's Cathedral, where each member in his own way prayed for the safe return of their Kiwanis brother, Emmett Bieger's son. They'd then cross the street and go to the hotel's second floor where they would have lunch and continue their meeting.

Emmett Bieger, Jr., lives in New Orleans.  His safety was blessed more than 50 years before by the prayers and petitions of his dad and a hundred of his dad's close Kiwanis Club brothers.

Copyright 2004 - William S. Cherry