Gypsy History

 In 1932, in a small town in Eastern Tennessee named Maryville the Gypsy Motorcycle Club was born.  

 Several adventurous souls were beginning to venture out on the public roads on their two wheeled machines. One of these brave people was a young man named Lee Simerly “Happy Jack”, Papa Jack’s father. Lee would get several of his friends together and do some serious riding through the mountains and towns of Tennessee. As this group of daring young men grew, they took on the name of the “Gypsies”, Gypsy Motorcycle Club with Lee Simerly as the first President.

 As the group grew larger and rode a greater number of miles, people from the towns called them  "The Sour Pickles of Society" by people who did not understand these daring and fun loving group of bikers. When Papa Jack first saw a pickle character riding a motorcycle, he knew the pickle patch had been born and is proudly worn to this day on the back of all Gypsies.

 In 1948, Lee's brother, Chuck, took over as President and remained until Papa Jack became President in 1960. Jack Simerly, now known as Papa Jack, moved to Aransas Pass, Texas where the club became known as an "outlaw" group, because of the notoriety it had gained, that club disbanded in 1964.

 In 1966, Papa Jack and his brother Jim “Hap” Simerly reorganized the Gypsy Motorcycle Club with the main aim in mind to build a better image for bikers in the public eye. He began by chartering the club with AMA and changing the once worn Levi jackets to the Gold Mississippi River Boat Gamblers Vests.

 Estella Simerly, Papa Jack’s and Hap’s mother was heard to say this vest would influence the Gypsy members to be as “good as gold”.

 The Aransas Pass chapter, now Corpus Christi is now the Mother Chapter chartered with AMA IN 1968 and had charter number 4 with TMRA in 1972. The International group now holds that number to safeguard it.

 In 1973, the Gypsy Motorcycle Club became National and International by forming chapters in Oklahoma and Mexico. There are also chapters in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Germany.

 The club grew so large and covered so much territory, that Papa Jack found it necessary to have his own personal officers. These officers were to be the International Chapter and are referred to as Black Rockers, now called Red Rockers. They answered only to Papa jack because their positions were appointed and not elected offices. The officers were President Papa Jack Chapter President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sgt. at Arms, Historian, Reporter, and the AMA - TMRA  Representative.

 In 1979, Papa Jack married Jaynie, spending more and more time on the road as a truck driver and felt the needs of the Gypsies could be better served.  He then appointed Jim “Crazy Indian” as President and Chuck “Gray Fox” as VP.  This was Papa Jack’s first but not last attempt to transfer power and responsibility from his shoulders to pursue a life-long dream.

 In 1984, Papa Jack and his spouse, Jaynie moved to Oklahoma with farming and raising cattle as their life long dream. 

In 1985, Papa Jack had held Mandatory in Oklahoma and at this time appointed Jim “Pappy Jim” President and Bert “Erdin-Erdin” as VP, but Papa Jack remained chairman of the board with 51% of the vote.

 In July 1994, Papa Jack appointed Erdin-Erdn as chairman of the board and International President.  Erdin-Erdin then appointed Roger Ross as his VP. 

 Erdin-Erdin was to remain chairman of the board and International President from 1994 to 2001.  During that time Roger Ross was to retire and Erdin-Erdin appointed Lloyd “Burr” as his next VP.

Under Erdin-Erdin’s leadership the club became stronger than before and more loyal to the Gold and to the importance and reason for the existence of the club-to ride and have fun and attract new members.  Erdin-Erdin believed that Gypsy MC was meant to allow us all to enjoy the friendships of our brothers and sisters whether it be riding or sitting around a campfire telling a few stories or jokes.

  In 1998, Papa Jack passed away at age 65.

In 1998, following Papa Jack’s death Jaynie and Hap Simerly became Co-Chairmen of the Board. Jaynie maintained her position as Co-Chairman until her death in 2001. Erdin retired his position as International President at Mandatory in 2001 and Hap Simerly took over this position as International President.  During these years the Gypsy MC has continued to grow, both in membership and with new Chapters.

  “You have the choice to be a Gypsy, but I was born a Gypsy” –Papa Jack

Papa Jack once pulled out a worn out old wallet from his back pocket.  Fumbling thru the clouded plastic picture holder, he pulled out a faded black and white picture.  It was of a young woman, quite attractive standing next to a motorcycle, only like the ones seen in antique motorcycle magazines.  He said "the woman you see there is my mother, I rode on the back of that motorcycle in her belly on the way to the hospital, and I rode in her arms on the way home."

--He truly was born a Gypsy--

 

The Gypsies are a proud group of people that are still here and still riding strong.

  WE WEAR THE GOLD WITH PRIDE!!

         

  This chapter-New Iberia Gypsy MC-was chartered on 5/23/09 with 7 members and 6 Jr members. They are as follows:

Super Q-New Iberia, LA
Hot Foot-New Iberia, LA
Co Ca Meaux-New Iberia, LA
Out of Order-New Iberia, LA
Jocko-Conroe, TX
Possom Blossom-Conroe, TX
W.B.I.-Cleveland, TX

Jr members:
Cheyenne                Ethan
Skylar                       Tanner
Brooklyne
Courtney
       



Links:       www.tmra.org
                                                                                                              
                  www.ama-cycle.org


                      www.gypsy-mc.org                               
                                                                                                                                                       Gypsy MC International est. 1932