Remembering “Seguin Al” Arfsten - Deacon 025

Al was introduced to the Deacons of Deadwood by the Mad Doctor, who is the national head of photography for Outlaw Biker Magazine.   Al joined the Club during its first year.Al got the nickname “Seguin Al” during the Club’s annual ride to Big Bend in West Texas. A large group departed on a Thursday night during good weather intending to make it to San Antonio. Another group was to leave Friday morning, but the weather forecast was for rain. Al sent out an e-mail offering to lead Members who were not used to riding in the rain to San Antonio, where they would meet up with the Thursday group and head on to Big Bend.Al’s group made it as far as Seguin, Texas, which is about 30 miles outside of San Antonio. The rain was so bad, he had the whole group turn around and head back to Houston. The problem was that the weather system was going West to East, and by the time he turned around, the weather was clear in San Antonio. So, rather than riding another 30 miles West into clear weather in San Antonio, his group followed the rain 170 miles all the way back to Houston.So, Al became Seguin Al. The Club even had a proclamation made up and signed by the mayor of Seguin giving him that name, and it stuck.Years later, Al recruited a few gorgeous under age college girls into the Deacon’s suite at the Houston Rodeo. They got loaded and one was taken out on a stretcher with alcohol poisoning. The Members decided that Al had redeemed himself sufficiently to shed the Seguin Al nickname, and he was offered either Rodeo Al or Al the Pimp. He decided to stick with Seguin Al.Although it was fun to poke some fun at Al now and then, he always was a good Member. He rarely missed a meeting and he went on all the long rides. In fact, he was the first Deacon to get to the Sturgis Rally wearing a Deacons patch. He also recruited good prospects for the Club and was ready to help any Member who needed assistance.Al was proud to have been a Marine and a Vietnam veteran.Al had a congenital problem with blood clots, and would get hundreds of tiny clots in his brain at one time. This syndrome apparently killed Al’s father, and we lost Al to the same thing. There was no public funeral, but his friends put on a memorial service that drew folks from many of the motorcycle clubs around Houston.