The membership of the Martha's Vineyard Rod & Gun Club paid tribute to two of its founding members at a dinner in their honor on Wednesday night. W. Howard Andrews Jr., 79, and Edward G. Tyra, 85, both of Edgartown, were treated to numerous accolades.

Club president Bob DeLisle stood before more than 60 people in the clubhouse and talked about how Mr. Andrews and Mr. Tyra had long been supporters of the club through good and bad times. They are directors emeritus.

Cooper A. Gilkes, Ray Long and club treasurer Cliff Meehan worked through the day to prepare the dinner of fried bay scallops. Mr. Gilkes made quahaug chowder, following a secret recipe. Chowder has been a traditional part of the dinners at the clubhouse for decades.

Mr. DeLisle gave the two men plaques and reported on their successes. He praised them each for serving three terms as president.

Mr. Andrews's connections with the club go back a generation. His father was president of the club in the 1930s. The club was founded in 1911 and was incorporated in the same year as the great New England hurricane of 1938.

Mr. Andrews told the Gazette he remembered when the club met on the second floor of what is today the Reliable Market in Oak Bluffs. The club is responsible for starting the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby 57 years ago, and it also started a trout tournament for youngsters more than 20 years ago. The club still runs the latter contest on a Saturday morning each spring.

Mr. DeLisle told the audience that Mr. Tyra and Mr. Andrews were among the club members who in 1959 purchased the land where the club is now located for $5,000. The club had 55 members at the time.

Today the club has close to 500 members.