At almost every ride or benefit event this past summer there had been a number of riders who sported high and tights and the patch of a lion emerging from a motorcycle on their vests. Curious, I asked my spirit guide into the world of everything biker, Wayne Dude Miller, for a lead. He pointed me in the direction of Joel Mortimer who is the president for Pride Dallas. Wayne knew this because he too is a member of Pride being a retired corrections officer.
This club started in February of 2000 as a result of a fundraiser for correctional officer here at SCI-Dallas who had been hit by a drunk driver. Sam Bower, vice president of the club, there are now 500 members nationally in states like Ohio, Kentucky and Maryland, and any corrections employee can join whether local, state or federal.
Moritmer adds that the idea is to help out correctional employees in their time of need — anyone employed by the DOC.
“We have 135 members and about one-third ride; the rest support it because they know the need — the ride is just a portion of that,” he says.
Pride runs three main events each year. There’s the Spring Fling in the second or third week of May, the kickoff to the riding season and the AFC/NFC Championship Sunday, which will held Jan. 24, 2010.
“There is food, drinks, open bar — we buy the bar,” says Mortimer. “At the Championship Sunday there is a 50/50 raffle and a TV is given away.” This is held at the Catholic War Vets in Ashley.
Finally, in July there is a poker run.
“It’s the best bang for your buck,” Bower says. “You make five stops, grab a beer and move on.”
In addition to Sam and Joel, Tom Mehm was also on hand to explain the membership part of the club. Tom is the membership chairman.
This club is not all about riding motorcycles and having events. Each event has a purpose that purpose is to raise money for correctional employees and their families in need. As Sam puts it, “A lot of people understand that they could be in that position.” Joel adds, “Lots of guys are overseas and their wives are home.”
As examples of the other work they do, Joel has taken his quad over and plowed out a family whose dad was serving overseas; he’s taken groceries to one guy; and he helped to put on a deck and siding for another one that was hurt from work.
“It’s all about brotherhood — to help out where we can,” Mortimer says.
The club started when an officer of SCI-Dallas was hit by a drunk driver and was left with a bruised brain stem. He had used all of his sick leave time and had no income to pay rent or bills. In an effort to raise some funds for the officer, some corrections officers who ride motorcycles came up with the idea of a benefit run.
According to the group’s pamphlet, “120 bikes and a T-shirt sale” happened that day. From that success, the idea of Pride motorcycle club was born.
“The ride itself started at Dallas and then it blew up to other areas,” says Mehm. Joel explains that the national board takes care of nonmembers. Only members can wear the back patch “Jack” and accompanying rockers. Non-members can wear the lion’s teeth that say “Support Your Local Pride MC.”
Jack Callaghan was a founding member of the Pride MC and designed the back patches worn today. In his, honor Pride named the lion “Jack.” So when you see someone with Jack on the back, you know that they are Pride members.
According to the pamphlet: “The Lion symbolizes the ‘King of the Jungle,’ and jails can be seen as society’s jungles. The motorcycle is street-legal and non-distinctive as not to represent any brand of motorcycle. The bike is red for the blood shed in our profession. The lion metamorphosing from the motorcycle is the ability to separate our work from the fun of the road. ‘The Pride’ represents the many facets of the world — and left for the individual who wears the patches interpretation” (Pride pamphlet).
So when you see this patch, know that each member and supporter wears it with Pride.
w
