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The Louisville-Thruston Chapter of the Kentucky Society was organized in November of 1960 by a group of Kentucky Society SAR members invited to meet at J. Colgan Norman's home. It was agreed that the chapter would be in Louisville and named in honor of R. C. Ballard Thruston for his note-worthy contributions in collection and preservation of historical documents in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Thruston had served as President-General of the NSSAR in 1913. William A. Chenault was elected President; First Vice-President - Joshua B. Everett; Second Vice-President - William Kinnaird; Secretary-Treasurer - D. B. Waller; Registrar - Harry W. Myers; Historian - James W. Menefee; and Chaplain - Lawrence Cassidy Jr. filled out the roster of officers. On February 22, 1961, a luncheon meeting was held to commemorate George Washington's birthday. At that meeting, at the Pendennis Club, chapter officers were officially installed by Thomas Burchett Jr, President of the Kentucky Society, SAR and the charter was presented. Ranson H. Bassett, National Society Trustee from Kentucky was also present. Initially, the officers met monthly to ensure the chapter's ongoing success. General membership meetings were held three times a year to commemorate patriotic events and, occasionally, to present honors and awards. Chapter Compatriots Colonel Ben Morris and Dr. William Gist also served the National Society as Presidents General. The first chapter newsletter, ''The Louisville Patriot'', was edited by Colonel Robert Jobson in 1981. By 1994, under the leadership of Chapter President Dr. V. Edward Masters, membership grew to 370 members. In 1994, the chapter newsletter was revived by Editor Dan Klinck as ''The Long Rifleman''. In 1996, the first chapter Color Guard of the Kentucky Society was formed. The Color Guard was named the ''V. Edward Masters Memorial Color Guard'' to honor the memory of the chapter Past-President, who proposed the color guard during his presidency. The first event of the newly formed chapter color guard was at Big Spring Country Club on February 17, 1996, consisting of Dan Klinck, Dan Allen, Norb Rawert, and Terry Brown. On May 17, 2006, Color Guardsmen Henry Head, Will Schrader, Les Black and Charles Scott were present at the funeral service for our first chapter President William Chenault. Chapter Chaplain Forrest Chilton performed the farewell service. There are now five scheduled meetings a year; Flag Day Meeting in June, Constitution Day Joint Meeting in September, Christmas Dinner-Dance in December, the George Washington Birthday Meeting in February, and Annual Meeting in April. The Louisville-Thruston Chapter celebrates our 50th anniversary this November.