The Hash has a long and storied history. Your best bet, if you want to know more, is to start with this tongue-in-cheek Wikipedia article about hashing in general and the very first hash house.
Houston’s hash has been around since 1979. In Houston, we’re only three generations removed from the original Hash House Harriers in Kuala Lumpur. Bill Panton, who hashed in KL, founded the Washington HHH in 1973. Jay “Captain Lewd” Gore, who hashed in Washington, founded the Philadelphia HHH in 1977. From Philly, Captain Lewd founded the Houston Hash in 1979. If you want to know more, ask Geek. He was one of the first Hashers in Houston and knows everything about the kennel’s history. Hooter Bill is another good resource, though he didn’t start hashing until run #10 or so.
More Hash History
- 17th running of the Galveston H3 — Hash trash
- What’s in a Hash name? — the different kind of names and how they’re bestowed on hashers
Houston Hash Traditions
- Hash songs — Links to dozens of sources for hash songs, plus downloads
- The Marathon Mile — The hash’s biggest public service event
- The Pooper Bowl — A culinary tradition
- The Hashit — Is it an award? Or a punishment?
- The Beer Mile — The only official r*ce of the Houston Hash
- The Ho Explained — Where we run when we’re not running the Hash
Hi this is John The Baptist(Perth Hash, Western Australia) I did a 6 month hash tour of the U.S. in 1988. I met Bill January(Hooterville or something similar?) who went out of his way to take me to the run site. Just want to say Thanks Bill if you are still around or indeed still alive. Met up with one of the Houston Hashers in Japan about 2 years ago at Japan Nash Hash. Apparently Bill was still around then. Anyhow,
OnOn and thanks a million if you can pass this message on to Bill January.
All the best,
JTB
I also did a grand hash tour around US in 1985 – 22 clubs. Similarly Hooter Bill was very accommodating for me whilst in Houston. The club had a very similar theme to my Darwin Hash House Harriers. A memorable couple of weeks including a debauched camping trip. Also caught up for Inter Americas at Atlanta that year. I held the down down title for some years apparently. Thank you and all the best, Hooter Bill.
Browneye
Darwin
Australia