Michigan Regimental Round Table: Our History

A Brief History of the MRRT

The Michigan Regimental Round Table (MRRT) was formed Friday, January 8, 1960—the date of the Civil War Centennial. Don Limpert, along with five other founding members, had the idea of creating a group dedicated to the discussion of the Civil War. Soon thereafter, five additional members joined the group beginning what is now passing 50 years providing the Detroit area a forum to discuss and hear topics on the Civil War.

Ray Russell has the honor of choosing the group's name, "Michigan Regimental Round Table" and Jess Yeager the distinction for originating the use of the eagle, cartridge box and the Union and Confederate flags as the group's distinguishing symbols. John Hooper deserves special note for rendering these items into our distinctive Round Table's insignia.

Up through February 1966, the MRRT met at the old Congregational Church in Birmingham. Over the ensuing years the MRRT has held it's meetings at several locations to include the Congregational Church in Bloomfield Hills; the basement of a bank on 13 Mile and Telegraph; a classroom at Birmingham's Seaholm High School; the Alexander Hamilton Insurance complex in Farmington; and Fort Wayne in Detroit. Finally, the MRRT found its home were it resides today at the Farmington Community Library.

The first MRRT newsletter was issued October 1965 under the penmanship of Abbott Gibney, the original "Old Sarge." That tradition continues under the remarkable hand of Jerry Maxwell. Also of special note, Carroll Tietz, a member since 1967, has served as the MRRT's Treasurer for 38 years and counting.

MRRT meetings, then as now, begin with a short business meeting followed by a guest speaker, often times members from within the group, or outside speakers such as Art Stewart, Weldon Petz, Wiley Sword, Kelly Chartkoff, Tom Goodrich and David Duncan.

Perhaps the highlight of every year is the annual field trip; a tradition began in 1973 to the Shenandoah Valley. They began as a loosely arranged car convoy of members meeting at a battlefield without tour guide or group transportation. This has evolved, under the leadership of Jerry Maxwell, to tightly organized trips with distinguished tour guides, group transportation for the battlefield tour, and highlighted with a Saturday evening meal at locally prominent restaurants. Tour guides have included some of the most distinguished names in the field to include Frank O'Reilly, Dennis Frye, Chris Calkins, Jim Ogden and John Heiser.

To paraphrase Abbot Gibney from the MRRT's 25th anniversary, the MRRT is "picking up steam and headed for" 75.