In 1932, in a small town in Eastern Tennessee named Maryville, The Gypsy
Motorcycle Club was formed. At this time, several adventurous souls were beginning to venture out on the public roads on their
two wheeled machines. One of these brave persons was a man named Lee Simerly. Lee would get several of his friends and acquaintances
together and do some serious riding through the mountains and towns of Tennessee. As this group of daring men grew, they took
on the name of Gypsy Motorcycle Club with Lee Simerly as the first President.
As the group grew larger and rode a greater number of miles, they were
given the name of "The Sour Pickles of Society" by people who did not understand this daring and fun loving group of bikers.
Thus came the idea for the "Pickle Patch", which is now proudly worn on the back of every GYPSY.
In 1948, Lee's brother, Chuck took over as President and remained so
until Lee's son, Jack became President in 1960. Jack, now known as Papa Jack, moved to Aransas Pass, here the club became
known as an "outlaw" group,because of the notoriety, it had gained, the club disbanded in 1964.
In 1966,Papa Jack reorganized the Gypsy Motorcycle Club with the main
aim in mind of building a good image for bikers in the public eye. He began by chartering the club with AMA and changing the
cutoff Levi jackets to the Gold Mississippi River Boat Gamblers Vest.
This first reformed chapter is now the Mother Chapter and had charter
number 4 with TMRA. The International group now holds that number to safeguard it being lost in case that chapter should,
at some time, ceases to exist. In additions, each Texas Chapter is chartered with TMRA.
In 1973,the Gypsy Motorcycle Club became National and International by
forming Chapters in Oklahoma and Old Mexico. Other out of state chapter now include New Mexico and Oklahoma. There is also
a small chapter in Germany.
The club grew so large and covered so much territory that Papa Jack found
it neccessary to have his own personal officers. The officers for the International Chapter and are referred to as Red Rockers,
because of the color of the rockers they wear. They answer only to Papa Jack because their positions are an appointment and
not an elected office. The officers are the lifetime President Papa Jack chapter President, Vice President , Secretary, Treasurer,
Sgt. at Arms, Historian, Reporter, and the AMA - TMRA Representative. These officers make up Papa Jack's Chapter.
Papa Jack has been President for 25 Years now and the club has had its
up and downs, as any organization will have. It has grown too large and had to be cut down to size, so that the group could
be "tighter". It has, at one time, gotten off the path that Papa Jack had to put back on it's path. It has spawned some people
who thought they wouold make better presidents than Papa Jack. These people went by the wayside, but the Club and the President
survived, along with the faithful and hard working Gypsy's who cared about their club.
The Gypsy's are a proud group of people and they have a right to
be proud. They have seen good days and they have seen bad days, but they are still here and still riding strong. We Wear the
GOLD WITH PRIDE.
Additional History:
2002 Erdin Erdin retired as President of the Gypsy M/C
"Hap" Jim Simerly has been the acting Chairman of the Board and President
of the GYPSY MOTORCYCLE CLUB since Erdin Erdin's retirement.
