On 28 December 1896, in La Grange, TX, 25 local inhabitants of Czech and Slovak descent held a meeting. They were members of the Česko Slovensko Podporujici Spolek (CSPS - Czech Slavonic Benevolent Society) a fraternal insurance organization that operated in all the American states including Texas. The men selected a committee that was to start working on creating the Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Stanu Texas (SPJST/Slavonic Benevolent Association of the State of Texas). The committee members were J R Kubena, judge Augustin Haidusek, and F. Čistina. Later, Mr. Haidušek was replaced by CV Vanek.
On 29 June 1897, a convention of 22 SPJST lodges members took place. The organization started its proper work on 1 July 1897 - that was the day on which SPJST officers were elected: president I J Gallia, Mr. Fred Breska vice-president, secretary, and treasurer - J R Kubena.
SPJST was a fraternal insurance organization of non-sectary character. It offered the members death and sick benefits. The organization was also into promoting mutual acquaintance of people of Czechoslovakian descent and supporting cultural, benevolent, and national projects.
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Birthplace of SPJST - Fayette County Courthouse, La Grange
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Early presidents of SPJST were: I J Gallia, J J Holik, Joseph Dušek, judge C H Chernosky. The initial 22 lodges/496 members grew by the end of 1993 to 152 lodges/11,141 members.
Another insurance-type organization came into being on 1 July 1926. It was the Slavonic Mutual Fire Insurance Association. Its first convention took place in June 1927 in Houston, and the first officers were Frank Ančinec, Anton Bily, judge C H Chernosky, Stephen Valik, M Bubac, Frank Bečan, John Kelarek, and Tom Hošek.
Source: "The Czech Pioneers of the Southwest. The History of a People in the Development of a Nation", Henry R Maresh and Estelle Hudson, 1934, 1962, 1996.
