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The original Black Panther Motorcycle Club jacket patch, 1954 **************************************************************************************************************** SPECIAL UPDATE 7/15/2008: Visit the "NEW PICS" page and check out the pictures from our trip to Milwaukee & our visit to the Grand Opening of the Harley-Davidson Museum. A private tour of the Harley Archives was provided by our friend Bill Jackson, the Harley Historian. **************************************************************************************************************** Welcome to the one and only official website of the "BLACK PANTHER MOTORCYCLE CLUB of SO. MILWAUKEE ~ Established in 1946". This club is one of the oldest in the United States, celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2006, after many interviews with the surviving members and many years of research, it has been established that the club was founded in late 1946 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the hometown of Harley-Davidson. Photographs of those early years are hard to come by, but with the assistance from the surviving members, their families and friends we'll be able to share some of the photos from the beginning. Everyone belonging to the club, lived, worked and rode their motorcycles in South Milwaukee and the surrounding areas, the club was about friendship, riding and promoting motorcyce riding. The Black Panther Motorcycle Club never disappeared, the members just got older, many of the original members are alive and well and reside in the Milwaukee area. We hope you will enjoy the site and find the historical value worth the reading. It is our goal to keep the club alive and continue the tradition on behalf of our parents and to preserve the Black Panther Motorcycle Club history in Milwaukee, along with the significance Harley-Davidson Motorcycles played in the lives of our parents. Here is their story, my mom and dad were high school sweethearts, both attending high school at Milwaukee West. My dad's family was of Greek origin and my mom's family of Albanian origin. As it turns out my mom's parents did not want her to see my dad. Well, their love for each other was just too great. Fresh out of high school, my dad went to visit my mom's parents to ask permission to marry her. They denied his request and strictly forbid it. Both my mom and dad would not accept that answer. So, with only the clothes on her back, my dad rode his Harley over to her house and picked her up, they rode off to elope, the date was June 3rd, 1955. They spent their honeymoon with the rest of the club on a ride that took them to Northern Wisconsin (as seen in the photos). Many, many years had passed before my mom's parents would accept my dad into the family and when that day arrived they really did like my dad. My mom and dad live in Milwaukee today and are just as in love today as they were on their wedding day. In my opinion, a very cool story of love and motorcycles. The rest is history. And as tradition would have it, on my wedding day, I rode over to my wife's house, picked her up on my Harley and we got married. **************************************************************************************************************** JUNE 3rd, 2008 ~ HAPPY 53rd ANNIVERSARY TO MOM AND DAD ~ HERE IS TO MANY MORE TO COME! ! ! *************************************************************************************************************** INTERESTING FACT: I have donated several personal family photos to Harley-Davidson & the H-D Museum/Archives to preserve the history of the Black Panther Motorcycle Club of So. Milwaukee and the history of Milwaukee Motorcycle Clubs. The photos have been authenticated by the official Harley-Davidson historian (now retired Martin Jack Rosenblum). The two photos are 1) BPMC members inside the Princess Theater and 2) the club photo in front of the Princess Theater. The photo of the club in front of the Princess Theater can be seen in the Original/Official Willie G. Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary book, the photo appears on page 123. The photo also appeared in the November 2004 issue of "HOG Tales" magazine, as a 2 page spread. AND........ To maintain Milwaukee motorcycle history as President of the Black Panther Motorcycle Club of So. Milwaukee and family representative. We unanimously decided it was our duty as Milwaukee natives to ensure the city and state history as well as recognize the importance of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles and their part in our family history, therefore, on behalf of our parents, Alexander S. Mostrous Sr. & Audrey P. Mostrous, all personal "Black Panther Motorcycle Club of So. Milwaukee" momorabilia has been donated to the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. To someday be seen by all motorcycle enthusiasts. *************************************************************************************************************** PLEASE NOTE: ANY and ALL material contained within this website may not be reproduced in any manner. The reproduction and sale of material contained in the website is STRICTLY PROHIBITED & UNAUTHORIZED. This club exists for historical purposes only and does not claim any "territory" nor is it "affiliated or associated" with any other motorcycle club(s). The "Black Panther Motorcycle Club of So. Milwaukee" name is currently under application for trademark and copy right. Questions or Comments Contact: BPMCINFO@hotmail.com ***************************************************************************************************************** HISTORICAL PHOTOS ~ Page 1 (Below), Circa 1954 - '55. The Black Panther M/C in front of the Princess theatre in downtown Milwaukee for movie night, Alex (my Dad) is second from left on his bike, this photo is featured in the 'Official' Willie G. 100th Anniversary Harley-Davidson book on page 123. On behalf of my Father and Mother, I donated this photo to Harley-Davidson and it is recognized in the Harley Museum and Archives. Accepted by the Official Harley-Davidson Historian, Marty Rossenblum.
(Below), Alex (first on the left), with three other members of the Black Panther M/C and the manager of the Princess theatre in downtown Milwaukee, for the Vic Panetti promo night, circa 1955. This photo is one of the two registered in the Harley-Davidson archives in Milwaukee.
(Below), Alexs' wife to be, Audrey, this is the day the two rode off to elope. The lovely couple has been married for over 50 years, they are in great health and looking forward to another 50 years! They reside on the east side of Milwaukee today. Circa 1955.
(Below), Alex and Audrey on their honeymoon in northern Wisconsin at the Black Panther campsite, circa June 1955. Marriage smiles from them both.
(Below) Alex (sitting on his Harley) waiting for for Audrey to get back.
(Below), Audrey, Merle and Alex Sr., changing a flat tire on Alex's motorcycle at the campsite, circa 1955. Note Alex's jacket with patch hanging on the windsheild.
(Below) Black Panther members Alex and Audrey having a good time at the Black Panther rally.
(Below), Black Panther members with spouses, in full dress gear, Alex is the second from the right (standing) and Audrey is the third from the left (kneeling). This is prior to departing for a sanctioned AMA event/rally.
(Below), the Black Panther girls, Audrey (my Mom) is third from the left, standing. At the campsite.
(Below) Mom & Dad cutting their wedding cake.
(Below) Dad (4th from the left) with the guys, celebrating his wedding.
(Below) Christmas at the Mostrous house, pre Alex Jr., Mom sporting some nice horn rimmed glasses & Dad with his new helmet and goggles, smoking a cigar as well.
(Below), two members of the Black Panther M/C, on a club camping trip, northern Wisconsin, circa 1955.
(Below), Harley-Davidson motorcycles belonging to club members pictured above.
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