The last charter member of The Cotillion Dance Club, William Matush, retired from our club because of health reasons in 2010.  Willie recalled the way The Cotillion Club got its start.  In the middle 1950’s, five couples, Mr. and Mrs. William Matush, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Collier, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Vaughn, and Mr. and Mrs Tooney Garrett, gathered at the Temple downtown restaurant owned by Mr. Jim Walker.  On Saturday nights after the restaurant closed, they would push the tables aside and dance to the jukebox.

As the group grew, they knew they had something special and needed a larger place to dance.  They formed the club as we now know it and elected officers.  Tooney Garret served as the first President.  They set up dances on the third Saturday night of each even month.  All the dances were costume dances, depending on the theme for that dance.  Originally they bounced around quite a bit looking for a home.   At various times the dances were held at the Kyle and Hawn Hotels, the Knights of Columbus Hall, the SPJST Hall on SH53E.  When Bill Thornton was president of the club, he worked at Texas Bank, which is now the Temple Water Department on North 3rd Street.  He arranged for the club to dance in an area on the third floor of that building.  After the Cultural Activities Center was built, The Cotillion Dance Club had at last found a home.  As the founders intended, we still dance on the third Saturday night of each even month and we still have a business meeting on Tuesday following each dance. 

In the early days, and in fact until a few years back, the number of members was limited because the business meeting was held in the home of the President.  Because of the size of our group, we now meet at various area restaurants.  The original goal was to dance, socialize, drink, and maybe eat some chips and dips.  The goal of the club remains primarily dancing and socializing.  While the drinking has moderated, the eating has increased considerably with buffets heavily loaded with great foods and snacks.  Many of our members have become lifelong friends and have enjoyed many functions together outside the club.

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