About Hilton Head Council

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Hilton Head Island Council is one of five Councils in South Carolina and the largest (Membership 368) in the South Atlantic Coast Region which includes North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. That's pretty amazing considering this Region has cities such as Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte and Savannah. Our membership is 2.3% of the total population of Hilton Head Island. Why?? Programs! Programs! Programs! Join Us!!!

In February, 1986, Dale Lewey, Joe Hutchinson and George Thomson met for the purpose of determining if they could put together a Navy League Council on the Island. Joe had been a founding member and President of the Navy League Council in Caracas, Venezuela where he met Dale who was the Naval Attache. George was a member of the Manhattan Council prior to moving permanently to Hilton Head Island. He had contacted Navy League Headquarters to determine the requirements for forming a new council. After other meetings and much ground work, they were certain there was strong interest among many Islanders.

Shortly thereafter, they brought aboard Steve Munro, Bob Brost, Hamp Burnett, Ted McDowell and Grant Morehouse; all Navy veterans. This group constituted the FOUNDING COMMITTEE. They wrote letters, made telephone calls and called on individuals to sell them on the ideals, goals and objectives of the Navy League, and of establishing a council on Hilton Head Island.

On March 17, 1988, an invitation was sent to everyone not currently a member, but considered to be supportive of a new Council, asking them to join the Hilton Head Island Council. On March 25, 1988, present USNLUS members living in this area were asked to transfer their memberships to the new council forming. By June 27, 1988, the fledgling Council boasted seventy-six members and was granted a Charter by the Navy League of the United States on that date.

The first official meeting of the HHI/NLUS was held on June 27, 1988, at Marriott's Hilton Head Resort. Mr. Hugh Mayberry, Regional Director NLUS presided over the Chartering Ceremony and installation of Officers and Directors. Dale Lewey was sworn in as the Council’s first President. Other notable guests were: Tom Kepley, South Carolina President, NLUS; National Directors Edith Calliham, Arley McNeil and Bruce McRae. Dale's former skipper, Admiral Harry D. Train, II, USN (Ret.) was the commissioning speaker. The new Council was launched! This Council hit the deck running and hasn't stopped yet.

Over the years many outstanding events have taken place. To name only a few: the 1991, day-at-sea aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Saratoga (CVA-60); the 1991, tour of the Trident Submarine Base at King's Bay; the 1992 Gemini Change of Command at Shelter Cove, the commissioning ceremony for the USS Port Royal (CG-73) on July 9, 1994; the February, 1996, launch of the space shuttle Columbia with "our" Astronaut, LtCol. Andy Allen in command and the June, 1997, sea cruise aboard the Trident submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735).

The Council has been fortunate to have had and continue to have very able and dedicated individuals serve as Presidents:

1989	Dale Lewey	1990	Bob Brost	1991	Jim Maxwell
1992	George Thomson	1993	Jerry Morris	1994	Hamp Burnett
1995	Bob O'Neill	1996	Ken Anderson	1997	Doc Blanchard
1998	Jack Varley	1999	Bill Barraclough	2000	Jim Smith
2001	Bill Baker	2002	Rocky O'Sheild	2003	Jim Smith

2004

Jim Smith

2005

Pete Hyers

2006

Under the capable leadership of the Presidents and the Board of Directors, the Council now enjoys an enviable reputation among the citizens of Hilton Head Island. The Council is known for its Annual Memorial Day Observance in May, its Annual US Navy Birthday Celebration in October, its continual sponsorship of the Hilton Head High School NJROTC, the annual participation in the Town's St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the many great educational and social activities put on for the members.

At the June,1995 National Convention of the NLUS the HHI Council received "The Meritorious Council" award; at the June, 1997 National Convention of the NLUS, the HHl Council received an "Outstanding Council of the Year" award for 1996. Once again, at the 1999 National Convention, Hilton Head received the "Outstanding Council of the Year" award for 1998. Once again, in 1999 the Council garnered "The Meritorious Council" award.