Frequently Asked Questions

The club provides immediate financial assistance to the dependent spouse and children of peace officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty.
In addition, an impressive bronze plaque in honor of each officer and firefighter who dies in the line of duty is a gift from the 100 Club. During a special ceremony, each plaque is hung at the department that the victim served.

The Southeast Texas club incorporated as The 100 Club of Jefferson County in May of 1988, just two months after Beaumont Police Officer Paul Hulsey Jr. became the victim of a gunshot wound received while investigating a car theft.

On March 22, 1988, Officer Hulsey died leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. His death provided the catalyst for a group of business leaders to band together for the benefit of officers and their families, and ultimately, every citizen of the area.

In 1996, Hardin County joined the club, thus extending benefits to law enforcement agencies in two counties on city, county, state and federal levels.

On April 13, 2006, The 100 Club of Jefferson and Hardin Counties announced that firefighters are eligible for benefits under the 100 Club umbrella.

On April 8, 2010, the board boted to extend benefits to Orange County peace officers and fire fighters and to transition to the name 100 Club of Southeast Texas.

Contributions from private citizens and area businesses are the driving force behind the 100 Club. In the past, the club also has conducted fundraisers such as the Top Gun shooting match and an annual golf tournament, a popular event from 1988 through 2007. In 2013, the club began partnering with the Beaumont Police Department and sponsor and beneficiary of the Southeast Texas Motorcop Rodeo.

However, the club depends largely on the generosity of individual and business members. Several types of memberships are available. Individual lifetime memberships are $1,000 and regular memberships are $100 annually. Law enforcement and firefighter memberships are $25 and $250 for a lifetime. Corporate memberships are available at various levels. All memberships and contributions are tax deductible.

Volunteer leadership comes from a board of directors made up of a cross-section of citizens, business people, civic leaders and public officials. Law enforcement and firefighters provide valuable guidance and advice.

We all have a stake in the fight against crime and in the life-saving skills of our emergency responders. The 100 Club is an investment in the well being of area families and in the quality of life in Southeast Texas.

Membership entitles you to a 100 Club decal for your vehicle, a subscription to our newsletter and invitations to 100 Club special events.

More importantly, you become an active partner to area first responders. You derive the satisfaction of letting them know that you stand behind them 100 percent and appreciate the job they are doing.

Since 1988, the club has made numerous contributions to benefit law enforcement and added firefighters in 2006.
Here are some examples:

• Between 1988 and 2017 paid out eight death benefits totaling $350,000 to families of peace officers killed in the line of duty. These officers were: Paul Hulsey Jr., 1988; Michael Pauling, 2001; Conrad Gernale, 2002; Wesley Wagstaff, 2003; Michael Lane, 2004; Lisa Beaulieu, 2007; and Bryan Hebert, 2011. As well as Silsbee Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jarrell “Jay” Bradford Hinkie, II, 2017.
• Provide memorial bronze plaques for those who have been killed in the line of duty at a cost of $2,500 each; As of 2012, five of these plaques hang in the lobby of the Beaumont Police Department and two hang at Texas Parks and Wildlife. In 2018 one plaque now hangs in the lobby of the Silsbee Volunteer Fire Department.

Sadly, we face the constant reality that, while protecting us, a peace officer or firefighter might fall victim to the dangerous nature of their jobs. The tragic events of September 11, 2001, made the club more keenly aware of the possibility that a tragedy could strike claiming the lives of several first responders in one day.

That’s why we have intensified our efforts to increase our funds, so that we may continue to be ready to respond to the financial needs of the survivors.

Without your membership, none of this can happen. By becoming a 100 Club member, you have the rare opportunity to express your gratitude for a job well done.

Your investment in the 100 Club today is a small price to pay to support peace officers and firefighters who risk their lives for you every day.