Down through the years, there has been one organization dedicated to a single purpose – promoting Abilene’s growth and development. That organization has been, and continues to be, the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, an association through which Abilene business people have concentrated their efforts on behalf of their town.

The organization has been known by various names, but the purpose has been the same. The Chamber can trace its history back to the earliest days of the community. The "county fair" might be considered the Chamber's grandparent, because it was through its efforts at a fair that the first town leaders began telling the story of what a wonderful place Abilene is and will be.

During the late 1880's, a civic organization called the "Progressive Committee" came into being, an organization which included such famous names of Abilene’s early years as Leggett, Sayles, Steffens, Lowden and so on. These and other men devoted much time to attracting new residents, using such direct methods as printed "broadsides" praising Abilene, booklets, trips to the cities and sponsorship of "emigrants".

The present Chamber of Commerce grew directly out of the "Abilene 25,000 Club" which was formed in 1908 with W. M. Lacy as President and O.P. Thomas as secretary. This "25,000 Club" had a single, specific objective – to see that Abilene had a population of 25,000 when the 1910 census was taken.

By the time the census takers got started, the club had developed a very skeptical attitude. They employed a man "to follow up the census enumerators in Abilene to see that all were counted", Chamber records show. Even this vigilance wasn't enough. The count fell short and the Club cast around for a new name, "Chamber of Commerce".

Shortly thereafter, another civic organization arrived on the scene----the "Young Men's Booster Club" – who were also seeking civic growth and betterment. Ferry Sayles was president of the Boosters from its organization in July 1913, until it merged with the Chamber of Commerce in February 1914.

E. B. Bynum was the first president of the Chamber after it grew out of the "25,000 Club". Chamber records show that 17 men and one woman have served the organization in a paid capacity known through the years as "manager", "secretary", "executive vice-president", or "president".

Livestock and agriculture development, better transportation systems, water programs and development of Abilene schools are some projects that have been on the Chamber agenda since its earliest days.

The problems have changed somewhat during the years. In 1912, the Chamber was plugging for more hitch racks in the town. In 1913, taking note of developments in the field of transportation, the ‘Chamber appointed J. M. Radford, J. P. Wooten and George L. Minter, Sr., to investigate the possibilities of an "auto road from Abilene to Fort Worth".

The Chamber had its first membership campaign in 1910, its first pay-your-poll-tax drive in 1913.

The 1913 activities gave the Chamber quite a workout. There was a movement around the community to relocate the county seat back to Buffalo Gap where it had been before 1882. Along with this, there was an election on $150,000 bonds for a new courthouse. Abilene won the fight, the last one over location of the county seat.

The first mention of the long effort to provide better air transportation for Abilene can be found in the Chamber minutes for the year 1918. The never-ending search for adequate water supplies dates back to the very early history of the Chamber. Every water project broached, including the Hubbard Creek project and support of the nine-point water plan for the state, has been strongly backed by the Chamber.

In 1945, Chamber members went on record to cite the need for a modern airport. Then, in 1964, at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, County Judge Roy Skaggs appointed Walter Johnson to head a committee to study the county's needs. From this committee's efforts, grew the 100-man committee chaired by John Wright that recommended a joint city-county bond election. The bond election was successful and the results were evident in a new Taylor county coliseum, a new airport terminal, a downtown civic center and auditorium, and a new Taylor county courthouse.

Another project viewed with pride by the Chamber of Commerce is the annual Abilene Fat Stock Show, now called the Taylor County Livestock Show. The Fat Stock Show, originated and sponsored by the Chamber, involved 4-H and FFA club entries from a 33-county area.

In the 1950’s, the military affairs committee of the Chamber was largely responsible for the location of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. Dyess, a modern, permanent facility, has certainly given an added boost to the economy of the community. Abilene was a city of 45,000 persons when they set about raising $893,621 to purchase the land necessary for the air base. This was in 1951 and after numerous trips to Washington by members of the National Defense Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce the base "they wanted" was committed to Abilene. When the plans came through from Washington, they showed the base buildings were to be made of frame and asbestos siding – the 25-year type the Air Force was then using. Abilene leaders got together again and said: "Why not give dormitories to Strategic Air Command airmen instead of World War II barracks?" That's how Dyess became the pride of SAC. The result was both business-like and beautiful.

Name a project, from sidewalk construction in 1910 to the securing of new industry, and you will find the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in a leadership role. Recent undertakings by the Chamber have included an expansion and re-naming of the Texas Farm-Ranch-Wildlife Management EXPO; an unprecedented attendance at the 20th anniversary of Business EXPO; an overhaul of the Chamber website to enhance member benefits and a re-branding of the community with a new slogan/icon for our area: Abilene…the Friendly Frontier.

The progress of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, like Abilene itself, has been steady through the years. With the continued dedication and capable leadership that has been shown in the past, the Chamber will continue to work for the betterment of Abilene through many more successful projects.