What started as a joke has turned into one of Memphis’ most unique and heartfelt community traditions.
“It started as a lark,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. “My last official act as County Commissioner was getting my birthday recognized as Shelby County Star Trek Day.”
At first, it wasn’t much more than a proclamation, and a small gathering. “Very slapdash and last minute,” Mulroy said. “We had about fifteen people sitting around a few tables in a bookstore café.” But something about it stuck. The idea of a Star Trek celebration in Memphis – equal parts fun, weird, and welcoming – began to grow. Year after year, more people showed up. Costumes got better. Trivia got tougher. The sense of community got stronger. “I didn’t expect people to still be talking about it a month later,” Mulroy said. “Let alone eleven years later.” Today, Shelby County Star Trek Day is a full-fledged mini convention. But more importantly, it became the spark for something bigger.
From Fans to Crew
For longtime attendees like James Weakley and Siri Eroom, Star Trek Day wasn’t just an event… it was the beginning of something. “During our 2024 event, representatives from a Little Rock chapter came and showed us information about their organization,” Weakley said. “About eighteen of us signed up that day.” Weakley, a Memphis ESL teacher who spends his days working with K–2 students, had already been a lifelong Star Trek fan. “I’m a nerd and a geek,” he said. “You might find me listening to an audiobook about the history of the Supreme Court just as easily as reading a graphic novel or building with Lego.”
Eroom, who works as a teacher’s assistant in an elementary functional skills classroom, found her connection to Star Trek through its values. “The values of cooperation, teamwork, acceptance of differences, and accommodating disabilities resonate most deeply with me,” she said. Those shared values helped transform a group of attendees into something more organized.
After months of training and coordination, Station Shelby – Memphis’ official chapter of STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association – was born.
More Than Fandom
On paper, Station Shelby is a Star Trek fan group. In practice, it’s something more.
“We’re building a community,” Weakley said. “It’s wrapped in pips and cosplay, but it’s driven to be a bright spot within this city.”
That community includes people from all walks of life.
Take Barry Ford, Station Shelby’s Second Officer and Chief Communications Officer. “I’m an honorably discharged Navy veteran, a lifelong public servant, a jazz musician, a radio host, a husband, a father, and a proud Memphian,” Ford said. Ford spent eight years in the U.S. Navy before continuing a career in public service, including work modernizing Shelby County’s criminal court systems. “The Navy taught me that leadership is service,” he said. “It’s about consistency, accountability, and lifting others up so the whole team succeeds.”
That mindset carries directly into Station Shelby. “In a world that often divides us, fandom gives us common ground,” Ford said. “We create spaces where people can connect across age, race, profession, and background.”
For Eroom, that sense of connection is tied directly to representation. “I watched Voyager and saw a woman in command,” she said. “That kind of representation matters. It shows what’s possible.”
For Weakley, the deeper meaning of Star Trek came into focus later in life. “Watching Deep Space Nine, I saw history (real-world struggles) reflected in science fiction,” he said. “It made me look at everything differently.”
That perspective shapes how Station Shelby operates today; not just as fans, but as active members of the Memphis community. The group attends weekly trivia nights, monthly meetings, conventions and other social events, but they also organize donations and volunteer work for local nonprofits. “Our goal is fun and aid,” Weakley said. “We want to enjoy Trek together and do good in the process.”
A Memphis Kind of Starfleet
Part of what makes Station Shelby work is how naturally it fits Memphis.
“Memphis is good, weird, and diverse – and doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Mulroy said. “A lot like Star Trek itself.” That mix of humor and heart shows up in everything from improv performances at Star Trek Day to community cookouts and holiday gatherings.
For Ford, those moments are what matter most. “Any time we get to bring joy to people, especially kids, that’s the heart of it,” he said. And for Weakley, the mission is clear. “Star Trek imagines a future where humanity grows beyond its divisions,” he said. “We’re trying to live that out, right here.”
How to Join
Station Shelby is always looking for new members, whether you’re a lifelong Trekkie or just curious. “Come as you are,” Ford said. “You’ll be welcomed, you’ll be celebrated, and you’ll leave with new friends.” Eroom echoed that invitation. “We’re not just fans; we have a mission to build community,” she said. “You can come to meetings, attend events, and learn what we’re about.”
For those interested, the group encourages reaching out, attending a meeting, or simply showing up to an event and introducing yourself. “If you have an idea for something that could help Memphis,” Weakley said, “bring it. We love new ideas and reaching for the stars ourselves.”
Star Trek Day Returns April 12
The event that started it all returns this year on April 12 at Neil’s Music Room in East Memphis.
Shelby County Star Trek Day will feature vendors, trivia contests, cosplay, themed food and drinks, and a live improv Star Trek adventure created with audience participation. Special guests include Cirroc Lofton, who played Jake Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, appearing via Zoom, along with local speakers and performers.
And just like the very first event, it’s still designed to be welcoming. “We always welcome newcomers and hardcore fans equally,” Weakley said. Mulroy puts it best: “Show up. It’s free. Stay as long as you like. Grab some Romulan Ale or Klingon Bloodwine, munch on a fried Tribble, and have some fun.”
In a city known for music, culture, and creativity, Station Shelby is carving out its own space; one built on imagination, inclusion, and a shared belief in something better.
Or, as the Station Shelby crew might put it: The mission continues.
And in Memphis, they’re just getting started.
This blog was written by Ryan Ladner
Ryan Ladner is the CEO of Thrill Comics and creator of the comic book Memphis vs. Zombies. He lives in Memphis with his wife, Maya, and their family. Visit www.thrillcomics.com to learn more about Thrill Comics.
