History of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club                                        by Charles Clarkson, Sr. (revised)              During the summer of 1982, several firefighters were visiting “Randy's  Cycle Shop” in Boylston, Massachusetts and the subject of motorcycle clubs came up.  Soon they were grousing about the fact that law enforcement people had a motorcycle club known as “Blue Knights”, but there was no club for firefighters. After this tire kicking session, shop owner Randy Wilson suggested to Ed Wright, a firefighter from Northboro, MA, that he stop talking about the lack of a club and form one instead.              Recognizing a good idea when he heard one, Ed Wright went home that afternoon and made up some hand printed posters inviting firefighters from the area to meet and determine if there was enough interest to form a motorcycle club.  On August 17, 1982, Fire Chief Jack Pierce allowed a small group of motorcycle enthusiasts to meet at Northboro Fire Headquarters to lay the ground work for the formation of a motorcycle club.              On October 19, 1982, firefighters Norm Beausoleil, Bob Bourassa, Bob Goulet, David Hamilton, Dave Hunt, Colin Mackey, Don Parker, Jon Tripp, Roger Wentzell, Ed Wright, and Chief Pierce met again.  There was interest in promoting the positive image of motorcycling while enjoying the camaraderie of other firefighters.  It was decided then that this group would be known as the Red Knights Motorcycle Club.              News of this new club spread like a grass fire.  In July of 1983, a chapter was formed in Connecticut.  In October of that year, a second Massachusetts chapter was formed.   Soon applications came in from such distant places as Nevada and Louisiana.  In August of 1983, the founding members realized that the organization was rapidly growing beyond original expectations.  To properly handle this growth, they elected a committee to serve as a National Board of Directors.  With applications from Ontario and Saskatchewan, Canada, the club became Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle              In 1984, the first club convention was held in Boylston, MA.  Each year since that time, a convention has been held for all RED KNIGHTS.  The 10th Anniversary of the RED KNIGHTS was celebrated at the convention in Worcester, MA, on the third weekend of August 1992.              As a result of the seed that was planted at Randy’s in Boylston in 1982, there are now more than 100 Red Knights Chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, and there are several applications for charters pending.
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