Sons of Pericles
Established February 3, 1926
Eleven young Greek men, with a spirit equaling their extraordinary ancestors, conceived the idea of and organized the Sons of Pericles together with a few fellow Ahepans in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Those eleven young men were the first members and comprised the Mother Lodge Members of the Sons of Pericles, officially recognized as the Junior Chapter of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association).
This 1st Chapter named itself the “Queen City Chapter No. 1.”
Its first officers were installed on February 3, 1926. Within a short time, they had interested the Ahepans of Haverhill, Lynn, Lowell, Boston, Nashua, and Lawrence in establishing Sons Chapters in their cities.
By the time the 1st National Convention of the Sons of Pericles was called to order in Lowell, Massachusetts on September 12, 1927, there were 14 chapters in the fraternity.
The Sons of Pericles District 1 Chapters consisted of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. The South Carolina Chapters were in Greenville, Spartanburg, Columbia, and Charleston. Georgia Chapters consisted of Atlanta and Savannah. Alabama Chapters were in Birmingham, Mobile, and Montgomery. Tennessee Chapters were located in Memphis and Knoxville, and the Mississippi Chapter was in Jackson.
The District 1 Sons of Pericles was an active young men’s organization. The Greenville, SC Chapter (Dixie) on DeCamp Street established a district newsletter called the Periclean Herald which reported news to all of the Chapters.
Annual District 1 basketball tournaments were held until the commencement of World War II, putting all Sons of Pericles events on hold from 1941 to 1945. The war naturally became the overriding focus for all of us.
In 1946, the Greenville Chapter of the Sons of Pericles activated the first post-war basketball tournament with teams from Charleston, Spartanburg, Columbia, Greenville, Atlanta, Savannah, and Birmingham participating. A number of Sons had been old enough to serve in the military during World War II; therefore teams were composed both of World War II veterans and of younger non-veterans. Birmingham won the first post-WWII tournament defeating Savannah, Georgia in the finals.
The tournaments proved to be very entertaining and enjoyable and were considered to be the highlight of the Sons’ year. Basketball tournaments continued annually with different Sons’ Chapters in District 1 alternating sponsorship of the events. Following the first tournament held in Greenville, Savannah dominated a series of championships, led by their All-State Georgia center, John Rousakis. Following Rousakis’ high school graduation, various District 1 Chapters would win the championships.
Many relationships which led to marriage developed as a result of AHEPA family activities, bringing young adults together from various regions of the United States.
Basketball in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, SC was once known as the “Textile Capital of the World,” and the textile mills were a major employer for many decades in the twentieth century. Thousands of residents lived in mill villages. Basketball and Greenville South Carolina have had a long-lasting relationship. It began with Dr. Lawrence Peter Hollis in 1907. Dr. Hollis came to Greenville in 1905. In 1907, he met with James Nasmith, the inventor of the game of basketball.
Dr. Hollis knew that basketball was a game that could be played either day or night and he was concerned about his workers in the local mills who didn’t have time to exercise. He bought a basketball, brought home a rulebook and refereed the first basketball game played in South Carolina. Peach baskets were used as basketball goals in the first game they held.
Dr. Hollis later started Parker High School, a high school that made it possible for the mill students to obtain a high school diploma.
As for Greek American youth…
They are the proud descendants of the originators of the Olympics–the same Olympics that promote athleticism and competition. What could be more natural than their love and appreciation of this sport of basketball?
The Sons of Pericles hosted many basketball tournaments after World War II. The Greenville Sons of Pericles hosted two very successful tournaments in 1946 and 1951.