History
Our less than auspicious and humble beginnings, as told by the inaugural president;
It started with a furniture drop in Chicago, IL , February of 1997. Kevin Quinlisk and Mike Roe made the drop and had time to take in the sights of the "Windy City." Seeing as they were staying near Wrigleyville, the first site was an Irish Bar! After much sightseeing, the pair met a couple of foot-beat coppers. Kevin and Mike were kindly escorted to the Third Watch roll call in the back room of the Melrose Diner at Belmont and Clark.
The Watch Commander ordered a couple plain clothes detectives to take them around and show them a good time. Paul and Joe's Tavern at Belmont and Western, across the street from the 19th district station, was the first stop where they were placed in the hands of venerable Sergeant Jesse Jacobs. As the 19th District shift change was occurring, the place soon filled up with friendly coppers and the evening began in earnest with strategic talk of police tactics, etc.
Several hours passed, approaching closing time when the young St. Louis coppers were invited to an "after hours" club to continue discussions. They approached a dark building on Webster Street that looked closed. Sergeant Jacobs knocked on the large front locked door and when a slot in the door suddenly opened, they were admitted into Mike Lucas's Club, a private, speak-easy style establishment for coppers and friends. The bar was filled with a crowd of coppers, narcs in undercover clothes, female officers dressed as prostitutes and enough characters to have inspired the bar scene from the first Star Wars movie!
It was at this bar where the lads from the Lou met Detective Jerry Mahoney, who asked them about their Emerald Society. Never having heard of an Emerald Society, our travelers were put in touch with Kevin Taylor, and the rest is history.
The first board meeting was in April of 1997, at the St. Louis Police Relief Association Office, compliments of the late Sergeant Jim Long, who was in charge of the office. In attendance at this inaugural meeting were: Kevin Quinlisk, Michael J. Roe, John Walsh, Timothy McEntee, Tom Whyte, Bob Dywer, Brian Hall, Ken Scoggins and Brian McGlynn. A bottle of John Jameson was consumed, signed by all present and the Emerald Society of Missouri began.
The budding organization had several board meetings that summer and had the first general membership meeting at Maggie O'Briens in October of 1997. Illinois Emerald Society members Tom Cody, Kevin Taylor, Mike Flannery (deceased), Ed Kane and Jimmie O'Connell (deceased) came down to assist the fledgling Emerald Society of Missouri with their first meeting. For their guidance and continued support/friendship, we owe our sincere appreciation.
The first St. Patrick Day Parade the organization was a part of was conducted on March 14th 1998, in what is known as the downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade. Though we eventually opted to be part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade held in the Irish Dogtown neighborhood of St. Louis, the Emerald Society of Missouri has been a part of St. Patrick's Day Parades ever since.
During Novemeber 1998, at the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies (NCLEES) Fall Conference, held in Boston, the Emerald Society of Missouri was accepted as a member. President Kevin Quinlisk and Vice President Mike Roe were in attendance. Since, the Emerald Society of Missouri has been represented, in regular attendance at both the NCLEES Fall Conferences and the NCLEES Spring Conference held annually during Police Week in Washington D.C.
Kevin Quinlisk
Past President (Inaugural)
Emerald Society of Missouri
