Bola society wants people to 'tie one on' every day

PHOENIX — If you've lived in Arizona long, surely you've seen a bola tie somewhere. But hardly anyone wears them anymore.

That's worrisome to the members of the Bola Tie Society of Arizona.

After all, the club's mission is to promote the wearing of the bola tie — a long cord secured around the neck by a distinctive slide — as the state's official neckwear.

The society may be obscure. But it has tenacity. The club has been in existence since 1966. Back then, a small group gathered at the Westward Ho Hotel for the specific purpose of trying to persuade the state to adopt the bola tie as an emblem of Arizona.

It took five years and four bills in the Legislature before then-Gov. Jack Williams signed legislation on April 22, 1971, proclaiming the bola tie as "the official state neckwear." In its heyday in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Bola Tie Society was 400 bola-tie-wearers strong.

Now membership has dwindled to a faithful few.

Over the years some died, and others moved away. Some just stopped coming, and new members aren't exactly knocking down the doors, said Don Prusakowski, the club's president.

Every fourth Tuesday of the month, the club gathers at the Hometown Buffet in south Scottsdale. At the most recent luncheon, Prusakowski announced that he was pleased that a table needed to be added to accommodate the crowd of 23.

Can you guess what was hanging around every member's neck?

The penalty for attending without a bola tie is a $1 fine. Annual dues are $10. The fines and dues fund the society's big evening of dining and dancing held each year at Treulich's Steak House.

To be a member in good standing, there are other things you must do for credibility, according to the society's proclamation.

It is your duty to pronounce the word "bola" — it's often mistakenly called "bolo" — and to correct those who mispronounce it.

You are, of course, entitled to wear the official neckwear at any time or place, informal or formal. You must encourage and urge others to wear the official neckwear, too, thus elevating the bola tie's profile.

Bob Caylor, the club's secretary and treasurer, is wistful about raising the bola tie's stature.

He wishes that Arizona legislators would wear them, "even the governor," Caylor added.

He's sure they don't know about Arizona Bola Tie Week. That's because there hasn't been one since 1983.

"We'd like a little help from the governor to keep it going. . . . I doubt if she even knows about it — being she's from New York."

When asked if she knew that Arizona had an official state neckwear, and, if so, what might it be, Gov. Janet Napolitano paused then exclaimed "bola tie" during the unannounced pop quiz. Correct pronunciation and everything.