The Maryland Militia was established as a formal program of the Maryland Jaycees by a vote taken September 10, 1972 at the Fall Board of Directors meeting in Hagerstown, Maryland.  However, the initial concept for a “Maryland Jaycee recognition program” was first originated a year earlier by two members of the Perry Hall Jaycees (Northeastern Baltimore County), George Wilbanks and Adrian Cox.  Their thought was to establish a program that would honor those many Maryland Jaycees, distinguished for their outstanding dedication to the Jaycee concept, who had not mastered all of the requirements for a JCI Senatorship.  Their suggestion led to the development of a feasibility committee, assigned to the portfolio of Murhl Flowers, Administrative Assistant to Maryland Jaycee President Bill Greene (1971-1972), whose purpose was to study the possible adoption of the Militia program.  By the following summer, the committee had completed a basic outline and submitted it for proposal and approval.  During the Maryland Jaycees Executive Committee meeting held on September 8, 1972, Adrian Cox (now District Vice-President) spoke on behalf of the proposed program and also indicated that Bob McCaughey (Past President, Perry Hall) would also assist in the organization of this program.  The “Militia” would be similar to programs established in other states, such as the Virginia Jaycees “Life Membership” and Georgia Jaycee “Rebels”, and would serve as the highest honor awarded by the Maryland Jaycees.  President Ken Reed (1972-1973) then commended all of those involved in this effort for their hard work and dedication, and the proposed Militia program was placed on the agenda for the Fall Board of Directors meeting, and subsequently approved.
  
The Militia program, as it was called at that time, was outlined by Cox and Wilbanks in the approved program guidelines.  The original purpose was stated as such: “This program will give local chapters an opportunity to honor deserving members with Life Membership in the Maryland Jaycees.  These deserving members have served the local chapter and its community with countless hours and energy.”  Original criteria established for Militia candidates stated that they must be a past chapter president and/or a member for at least five (5) years and the original “Life Member” fee was established at $35.00.  At the inauguration of the Militia rogram, the Commander was designated as the immediate Past President of the Maryland Jaycees.  And although this program granted Life Membership in the Maryland Jaycees, it stated that in no way was any member given “free” local, state, national or international dues.
 
Initially, Militia members were presented with a special patch to be sewn on their Jaycee shirts, a wallet-size I.D. card, and a special certificate (different from the certificate presented today).  That original certificate read: “Whereas, he has served his chapter and community diligently, and Whereas, he has continued to exert his leadership within his chapter, and Whereas, is truly an outstanding Jaycee.  BE IT THEREFORE KNOWN that this “Life Membership” in the Maryland Jaycees is given so that all men may know that the above named Jaycee has been thus honored in a manner commensurate with his record of outstanding accomplishments in the Jaycees.”