The First 9 were the founding members of SAMCRO. The remaining living founding members wear a patch on their cut that says 'First 9'.

First 9 Members
John 'JT' Teller
Status: Deceased
John Teller was the founder and President of SAMCRO. Went head on with a semi truck and still survived two days later until he died. First husband of Gemma Teller Morrow and father of Jackson Teller, Thomas Teller, and Trinity Ashby.

Piermont 'Piney' Winston
Status: Deceased
One of the co-founders of SAMCRO along with his best friend, John Teller. Piney was the father of SAMCRO member Opie Winston. He was murdered by Clay Morrow in Season 4 after attempting to blackmail him to stop moving drugs.

Lenny 'The Pimp' Janowitz
Status: Alive
He was the 3rd member to join the Sons of Anarchy MC. He is the former Sergeant-at-Arms under John Teller. Currently imprisoned at Stockton State Prison for allegedly killing three ATF agents. Lenny had served in Vietnam at the same time JT and Piney were. They were in different outfits, but met up after missions. After his return stateside, he was disappointed like the others, not being able to find work, or be accepted into college. Despite his obsession with body building, he succumbed to his two pack a day cigarette habit and contracted throat cancer, resulting in his voice box (larynx) being removed.

Keith McGee
Status: Deceased
After being a founding member of SAMCRO, Keith moved to Belfast where he became the President of the club's Belfast charter, SAMBEL. He was killed by Clay Morrow in Season 3 for betraying the club.


Thomas 'Uncle Tom' Whitney
Status: Deceased
He became the 6th member of the Sons of Anarchy MC, after Wally Grazer introduced him to the club. He holds the unofficial record for "most stolen anything" in the SOA lore. It is said he ratted on the club and was stabbed to death in prison in 1995 by Lenny 'the pimp' janowitz.

Otto 'Lil' Killer' Moran
Status: Deceased
Joined club in 1968. He was 5'7 on a good day and got the nickname 'Lil' Killer' because it is rumored he once killed a 300lb man with his bare hands during a fist fight. Otto was shot to death in prison by correction officers after killing Marshall, a club problem for a while.

Clarence 'Clay' Morrow
Status: Deceased
Clay was one of the First 9, but not a "founding member". In the season 4 episode, "Family Recipe", Clay mentions that Piney sponsored him when he was originally patched into the club in 1972. Clay became the president of SAMCRO after John Teller's death, and remained so until he was ousted by Jax in the season 4 finale, "To Be, Act 2". Clay was the last of the First 9 to join. Clay Morrow is personally responsible for the deaths of two (that we know about this far) of the First 9: Piney Winston and Keith McGee. He also most likely conspired to kill J.T. Teller, Jax's father. Clay was killed by "Mr. Mayhem", an execution vote that was carried out by Jax Teller in 2013.