The San Benito Elks Lodge was instituted on Thursday, April 20, 1944 with 107 charter members. Their motto was "No organization is worthy of it's existence unless it renders a real service to the community. The first Exalted Ruler was Felix L. Gay, Sr.
Brownsville Lodge 1032 was the sponsoring organization and their effort, under the direction of Henry Lamm, District Deputy, San Antonio and C. E. "Smokey Joe" Smeltz, Past President of the Texas Elks State Association and Secretary of the San Antonio Lodge performed the Institution and Installation ceremonies and instituted the Charter Members of the San Benito Lodge.
San Benito Lodge slowly grew to its peak membeship of 645 members in January of 1953. Then the Harlingen members decided to organize their own Lodge and the San Benito Lodge was glad to sponsor the Harlingen Lodge even though it meant losing over 100 members from it's Lodge Rolls.
The San Benito Lodge also sponsored the McAllen Elks Lodge in January 1946. The officers and past Exalted Rulers of the San Benito Lodge #1661 have helped institute Elks Lodges in Weslaco, Kingsville and Alice.
Ground was broken for the present San Benito Lodge building on July 23, 1949 and the cornerstone laid on October 7, 1949. The membership moved into the new building on Monday, February 20, 1950 and held the first initiation on Thursday, February 23 with 61 candidates being initiated.
More than a century ago, the Elks pledged to make our country stroner and more bountiful through our commitment to philanthropy - a pledge that we have upheld to this day. Today, the National Elks programs include:
* Sponsoring drug-free proms or graduating parties.
* Developing mentoring relationships with youth and involving them in community service.
* Involving youth in our Elk Veteran Youth Volunteer Program.
* Providing College Scholarships.
* Aiding children with disabilities and teaching drug education and prevention programs.
* Working with VA Medical Centers across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of hours and similar numbers of dollars are devoted to programs that keep us true to our pledge: "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."
From its inception in 1944 to now the San Benito Elks Lodge continues to work toward the betterment of the community, the state, and the nation.