Courtesy of  Ray Leisy, Club Historian
 
The 1960 to 1961 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Club President, Al Burger Sr. In his first order of business, President Al pointed out that Wooster Rotary would observe its 40th Anniversary on January 21, 1961 and he was appointing a special committee to provide a suitable recognition of that date.
 
Of special interest were some of the programs for the year presented by Luke Sewell who recounted his 33 years in baseball with the Cleveland team and many other teams ending as manager of the St. Louis Browns; Albert Dix who spoke about his travels in Africa; Norman Auburn, President of the University of Akron, who spoke about his recent trip to Russia; Dr. Earle Kay of Cleveland and a leading heart surgeon who spoke about new advances in heart surgery (with slides); C.H. Lawrence, nuclear specialist, who spoke about the nuclear ship Savannah; Jerry McKeel, engineer with Goodyear Aircraft, who presented a program about the new space program; and Carl V. Weygandt, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, and a native of Wooster, who spoke about his reflections upon Memorial Day.
 
The 40th Anniversary party took place on Monday evening February 6th at the YMCA, The rousing address was given by Edd McLaughlin, President of Rotary International, His address was “YOU ARE ROTARY-EXPRESS IT-EXPAND IT!”. “Express Rotary in your personal lives-expand it in your contacts. The Summit is never as important as the base-the individual Rotarian.”
 
Kenny’s Cafeteria served lunch at the June 12, 1961 meeting because the special guests of honor were our own culinary staff who were each given a United States Savings Bond in honor of their years of service: Mrs Florence Lawrence (27 years); Mrs. Beulah Weiker (20 years); Mrs. Bertha Clarke (16 years); Mrs. Gertrude Dunham (13 years); Mrs. Ella Pfiester (9 years) and Mrs. Mina Ackerman (7 years).
 
The 1961 to 1962 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new President, Ralph Young; Classification “Senior Active." A new Editor for the Woosterian was also in place, Dick Talbot, with an appropriate classification of “Printing.” Harry Sands remained as Secretary and Orden Smucker remained as Treasurer.
 
The Annual Family Picnic was held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on Monday evening July 28th at 6:00 pm with an excellent dinner prepared at the Grange Hall by Mrs. Lawrence and her staff. It was noted that, if tickets had been bought in advance, members could attend the Arena Fair and see the play “Charley’s Aunt” as staged by Wooster Summer Theater Company.  Another social event for the year was Ladies Night held at the YMCA on Monday on the evening of November 17th. The speaker was Paul Reinhold speaking about the Pennsylvania Dutch.
 
At this time there were four original members still members of the Wooster Rotary Club: Walter Foss, Herman Freedlander, Jim Rahl and Guy Richard.
 
As oftentimes noted in this weekly series, it is often hard to find Wooster Rotary or Wooster Rotarians taking credit for initiating good works in the City of Wooster. In looking at the 1961 to 1962 Woosterian if you looked hard you could find three references about projects we take for granted.
 
“Just 22 years ago the Wooster Rotary Club, needing more funds to aid the crippled children of Wooster, initiated the use of Easter Seals in Wayne County to raise these funds. Today [March 9, 1962] all four Wayne County Rotary Clubs, Dalton, Orrville, Rittman and Wooster, have joined together in the Wayne County Committee for Crippled Children in raising and dispersing the necessary funds for the crippled in all of Wayne County.”
 
“Did you know our Rotary Club started Wooster Hospital? After several attempts to get our voters to pass a bond issue to build a much needed hospital, a new idea was born." A Wooster Rotarian [ who was not named] called a meeting of the three major Wooster Service Clubs…and from that meeting representatives from all lodges, woman’s groups, labor unions and various social organizations…a small steering committee was named.  After much planning and deliberation, the idea was again given to Wooster voters, which passed a levy by 95%. The writer goes on to point out that the names of the steering committee were never divulged.
 
“When you think of the YMCA building…you may think of the building as its service as a Community Center. But, it may not have been built without the guidance and leadership of Wooster Rotary... Did you know the entire leadership of the Trustees and Board of the YMCA are all Rotarians.”  In 1962 the Board of Trustees were: Howard Yoder Chairman; Members Ivan Steiner Jr., Ray Dix, Tom Landes, Hal Arnold and Clyde Miller Jr. The Directors were: Lehman Hollinger, Ed Arn, Harold Cook and Adrian Miller.
 
The 1962 to 1963 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, Ed Myers, Classification Office Equipment. Newly elected Board Members, with classifications, were Lowell Bourns (College Education), Judge Adrian Miller (Senior Active), John Owen (Brass Products Mfg.), Arden Ramseyer (Potato Farming) and William Sadler ( Public School Education).
 
The first speaker of the year was Dick McCann, Director of the Canton Football Hall of Fame, who was in turn introduced by Earl Schreiber, president of the Board of the Hall of Fame and a director of Timken Roller Bearing who was introduced by his long time friend Wooster Rotary member Hank Critchfield.
 
The speaker for the August 10th program was a very interesting person, Dr. Bimel Chundre who spoke about his swim across the English Channel. He also swam in the 1948 Olympics for India in the 400 meter and 1,500 meter free style. The 35 year old medical doctor was in the United States for the first time on an exchange program with the Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Why would anyone want to swim across the English Channel?  “It was just a challenge?” said Dr. Chundre. Hank Critchfield arranged another program for October 5th, Gene Woodling who spoke about his playing years with the New York Yankees and then the Cleveland Indians.
 
Another speaker highlight of the year was on March 29th with a presentation by Dr. Wilson Compton whose topic was “Looking Ahead from Behind.”  Dr. Compton attended Wooster Public Schools, the College of Wooster and obtained his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1915. Of course, he was the brother of Dr. Arthur Compton of Wooster, Nobel Prize winner. Dr. Wilson Compton was famous in his own right obtaining many honorary degrees from universities in this country and throughout the world. For many years he was President of the U.S. Council for Financial Aid to Education and recently a U.S. Delegate to the fourth session of the United National General Assembly. He had also been a member of the first mission of the United States Education Mission to Japan
 
The 1963 to 1964 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, William Schultz. The Wooster High School Debate Team presented the program on January 21, 1964. Wooster Rotary had been sponsoring the Debate Team already for many years. We still do.
 
The Club continued the policy of inviting a Wooster High School student and College of Wooster student to each meeting of the Wooster Rotary Club during times when the respective schools were in session as “Junior Rotators.”
 
The Canton Club hosted the District Conference in May, 1964. The Wooster Club came away with several awards: Club Service (First Place); Attendance 91.35% (First Place); Club Bulletin (Honorable Mention); and International Service (Honorable Mention).  The Club also hosted its first Student Ambassador from South America for eight weeks. Unfortunately the name and country are not mentioned in the Woosterian. Eventually, in 1966 the stays were extended to one year and Wooster began to accept and send more students.
 
In keeping with a long line of sports personalities, Gabe Paul, President and General Manager of the Cleveland Indians was the speaker on May 31, 1964. The Program was arranged for by Hank Critchfield.
 
Wooster Rotary has had so many members over the years who have had such notable careers and we still do. But, the name Hank Critchfield readily comes to mind because he lived in our neighborhood between Beall and Bever. As a young man I did not think much about it, but as I grew older I was amazed at his career. Along with his brother, L. Robert Critchfield and their father Lyman R. Critchfield, made up the firm of Critchfield, Critchfield, Critchfield and Johnston. Lyman Critchfield fought in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Hank (Henry) played on the Cleveland Panthers and Canton Bulldogs football teams. That is how he came to know so many sport figures and secured them as speakers for Wooster Rotary. Both Hank and his brother Bob were interested in harness racing and bred many, many winners over the years at Gay Acres east of Wooster.
 
The Wooster Rotary year 1964 to 1965 began with Henry Hyle, Director of the Wooster Post Office, as President. Harry Sands continued as Secretary and Orden Smucker continued as Treasurer.
 
On August 14, 1964 Wooster Rotary member Kingman Eberhart introduced his son Edward Eberhart for induction into the Club. Of course, Ed is still a member.
 
Ted Evans bought a new hat and, before he had a chance to break it in for anyone, it seemed to be missing after Rotary. Someone has a hat that is not properly broken in. Ted promises that after he breaks it in he will bring it to Rotary and let someone have a crack at it, but he does want to break it in himself.
 
Dale Thompson, a Wooster Rotarian since 1961 and founder of Boys Village, presented the program on December 11, 1964. Rotarians were reminded that the annual drive for funds for Boys Village was about to start. Also, the Annual Cancer Drive was about to start with Wooster Rotarian Dr. William Schultz as Chair.
 
Presenting his classification talk on December 31st was Ted Crawford. Rotators for the week were Steve Patterson and Gary Rings.
 
On February 25, 1965, the Club celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Easter Seals campaign in Wayne County. In 1950, the Wooster Rotary Club took over the operation of the Drive to support the work of the Crippled Children Fund. For the past 5 years, Wooster Rotary has been joined by the Rotary Clubs of Rittman, Dalton and Orrville.
 
The Wooster Rotary Year 1965 to 1966 began with the installation of new President Bill Lytle by former President Ford Ross. The membership for Wooster Rotary stood at 172. President Lytle brought up an idea presented to him by District Governor Hulbert for a student exchange program. The Board voted to pursue the idea and recruit students for the 1966-1967 Rotary Year.
 
The City of Wooster decided to place a Wooster City Income tax on the Fall ballot. Debating the issue at the October 14th Wooster Rotary meeting for the tax was Garber Drushal and on the opposition side was Bob Anderson.
 
One of the more notable speakers to Wooster Rotary that year was on November 11th when the Club was addressed by Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Jr. Chaplain of Yale University. He was well known as  a writer for Life Magazine and had appeared on several television shows as a well known Christian lecturer. He was also an advisor to the Peace Corp. His address to Wooster Rotary concerned the admission of China to the United Nations and negotiations over the war in Vietnam.
 
 
The Youth Service Committee was very active during this Rotary year. The Committee continued to sponsor the Rotator program, where each week two students from Wooster High School and two students from Wooster College were brought to a Rotary meeting; sponsored gifts and a party for the children at the Children’s Home; sponsored three “John Doe” membership to the YMCA; sent two students to the World Affairs institute; sent nineteen crippled children to summer camp; and sponsored a band uniform for one high school student.
 
Wooster Rotary agreed to host their first exchange student, Peter Waters from Australia during the year 1965 to 1966. The Wooster Club also selected three applicants to represent the Wooster Club as exchange students to go abroad in late summer 1966: Linda Chapman, Paula Gathright and Carol Neunschwander all bound for Sweden.
 
The 1966-67 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new President, Winford Logan.
 
Although the following pertains to Bill Lytle's year as President (65-66), it is worthwhile to list the accomplishments for that year by Wooster Rotary, as Win Logan did at the start of his year. Next week we will return with accomplishments of Win’s year.
 
International Service:
1. An Open House for Cuban and other foreign [sic] families of the Wooster area.
2. Hosted Peter Waters from Australia for the year.
3. Paid to install a new floor for the International Student Room at the College of Wooster.
4. Donation to Dr. Wertz for a new operating table for the Landon Hospital in India.
5. Sent three Wooster Exchange students from Wooster to Sweden.
6. Won first place for International Service from the District.
 
Community Service
1. Welcomed 4H and FFA students and their teachers to a Wooster Rotary Meeting.
2. Promoted the Saddle Club Show for the benefit of Ida Sue School.
3. Sponsored a Christmas Party for both Ida Sue School and the Children’s Home.
4. Sponsored the Wooster Junior Bowling League.
5. Sponsored the Speech and Debate Team at Wooster High School.
6. Purchased a Band Uniform for a Wooster High School student.
 
Vocational Service:
1. Club Meeting at Boys Village.
2. Promotion of a levy for a new Wayne County Vocational School.
 
Club Service:
1. 45th Anniversary Party.
2. First Place in Club attendance for the District.
 
“I might add that our programs have certainly been of extremely high caliber. Also added to the above list are about 25 projects carried out by Wooster Rotary each year, year after year. I did not list these as I am sure our members are familiar with them.” Bill Lytle.
 
Did you see the Daily Record page 8A on Sunday, October 11th, 2020?  Wooster Rotary Service goes on!  "Wooster Ohio Rotary Club-PEOPLE-of-ACTION Join Leaders/Exchange Ideas/Take Action"
 
As we noted last week, the Wooster Rotary Year of 1966-67 began with Wynn Logan’s elevation to President. President Wynn welcomed the new Rotary Exchange student from, Argentina, Rosa Del Fina Sanchez and wished good luck to the first of Wooster’s Exchange students Linda Chapman, Carol Nuenschwander and Paula Gathright who were all leaving for Sweden.
 
On August 4, 1966 the Rural Urban Committee put on a great program about milk testing. Many of the programs at that time were organized and presented by individual committees.
 
A new Wooster Rotary Flag was presented to the Club on October 27, 1966 by Harold Arnold Chair of the Rotary Education Committee. It was in the form of a map of Ohio with a star located where the City of Wooster fit on the map. The main device was a Christmas Tree with the notation “Home of America’s First Decorated and trimmed Christmas Tree”. Eventually, that story was proven not to be true and Wooster Rotary developed a new flag in 2000, but it was fun while it lasted. The flag was used primarily as a gift for visiting speakers and Rotarians and for incoming and outgoing Exchange Students. It is undetermined how many were given out, but just think how many are out in the world still with Wooster Rotary on the map and a little bit of harmless misinformation.
 
The annual Christmas Party for the children of the Wayne County Children’s Home was moved to Kitteridge Hall at the College of Wooster. Rotarians were invited to bring their “Rotary Anns” with them. Who is a Rotary Ann? Watch for a forthcoming article on that point?
 
The program on March 2, 1967 was presented through a debate by the Wooster High School Debate team by students Randall Carlisle, Candace Carlisle, Deb Steiner and Mark Westlake. Wooster Rotary was a sponsor of the Wooster High School speech and debate program.
 
Wooster Rotarians were again reminded that the Easter Seal Campaign was beginning through which Wooster Rotary financed the Crippled Children Fund.
 
Harry Sands was honored by the Club on April 20, 1967, for his 25 years as Wooster Rotary Secretary, and wished many more years of service.
 
As we noted last week, the Wooster Rotary Year of 1966-67 began with Wynn Logan’s elevation to President. President Wynn welcomed the new Rotary Exchange student from, Argentina, Rosa Del Fina Sanchez and wished good luck to the first of Wooster’s Exchange students Linda Chapman, Carol Nuenschwander and Paula Gathright who were all leaving for Sweden.
 
On August 4, 1966 the Rural Urban Committee put on a great program about milk testing. Many of the programs at that time were organized and presented by individual committees.
 
A new Wooster Rotary Flag was presented to the Club on October 27, 1966 by Harold Arnold Chair of the Rotary Education Committee. It was in the form of a map of Ohio with a star located where the City of Wooster fit on the map. The main device was a Christmas Tree with the notation “Home of America’s First Decorated and trimmed Christmas Tree”. Eventually, that story was proven not to be true and Wooster Rotary developed a new flag in 2000, but it was fun while it lasted. The flag was used primarily as a gift for visiting speakers and Rotarians and for incoming and outgoing Exchange Students. It is undetermined how many were given out, but just think how many are out in the world still with Wooster Rotary on the map and a little bit of harmless misinformation.
 
The annual Christmas Party for the children of the Wayne County Children’s Home was moved to Kitteridge Hall at the College of Wooster. Rotarians were invited to bring their “Rotary Anns” with them. Who is a Rotary Ann? Watch for a forthcoming article on that point?
 
The program on March 2, 1967 was presented through a debate by the Wooster High School Debate team by students Randall Carlisle, Candace Carlisle, Deb Steiner and Mark Westlake. Wooster Rotary was a sponsor of the Wooster High School speech and debate program.
 
Wooster Rotarians were again reminded that the Easter Seal Campaign was beginning through which Wooster Rotary financed the Crippled Children Fund.
 
Harry Sands was honored by the Club on April 20, 1967, for his 25 years as Wooster Rotary Secretary, and wished many more years of service.
 
The Wooster Rotary year 1967-1968 began with a new President Clyde Miller, who at that time was Vice President of First Federal Savings and Loan.
 
Urban Renewal of downtown Wooster was starting at that time, so the first program was Paul Willour Director of the Urban Renewal Program for the City of Wooster and also a Wooster Rotarian. A total grant of $1,033,000.00 came from the Federal Government and was matched by $480,000.00 from the City of Wooster. Rotarian Willour explained the money was to prevent the deterioration of South Market Street and South Bever. The results are still standing.
 
It should be noted that the meetings at those times began with singing from selections in the Rotary Song Book, usually directed by Ted Crawford and the noon news delivered by Ted Evans. President Clyde reminded every member that this Rotary year is the 50th Anniversary of the  International Rotary Foundation and urged each member to include an extra $3.00 on their quarterly statement to go to the Rotary International Foundation. It was announced that Rotary International had inaugurated a new program for Undergraduate Scholars which provides for a year abroad of undergraduate study.
 
On December 20th Wooster Rotary again hosted the annual Christmas Party for children from the Children’s Home. It was announced that Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kinney, administrators of the Home, would be retiring shortly.
 
The year 1968 began with a series of speakers from January through February arranged by each Committee of Rotary speaking about topics of concern to the Committee.
 
Vic Dix presented a panel of local doctors speaking on the topic of “Cancer Involvement.” The program was meant to kick off the Annual Cancer Drive of which Vic was the Chair. The doctors were Dr. William Schultz, Dr. Everret Burgess and Dr. Robert Shultz, Dr. Schultz and Dr. Burgess were Wooster Rotarians. It was noted in the Woosterian that “Several Rotarians continued to smoke through the program apparently feeling that they would be immune from cancer."
 
The Wooster Rotary Year 1968 to 1969 began with a new President, Ivan Steiner Jr. Secretary Harry Sands presented a Wooster Brush paint brush to Clyde “Lefty” Miller to gloss over the “errors” of the year and a paint pail in which to pick up some of the “loose ends”. It was announced that Wooster Rotarians Clifford Morrison was elected as President of the Wayne County Chapter of the Red Cross and Joe Retzler was elected Second Vice President.
 
On September 16, 1968, Wooster Rotarians joined Kiwanis, Evening and Day Lions, 20-30 Club and the J.C.’s as 400 members of those clubs enjoyed a dinner and program to open the new Lowery Center at the College of Wooster. A representative of each Club, including Ivan Steiner Jr. of Rotary made a short address.
 
On November 14, 1968, the noon meeting was held at the new Swiss Chalet at Freedlander Park where a cafeteria style dinner was served. The speaker was Frederick C. DeVictor, superintendent of Wooster City Parks who surprised Herman Freedlander by presenting him with a plaque for his outstanding gift of the Park and buildings. He was also recognized by a standing ovation for all of his gifts to the City of Wooster and citizens over so many years.
 
On December 12, 1968, over 200 Rotarians and guests celebrated Christmas with the children from the Children’s Home. “The boys and girls from the Children’s Home found sacks of candy at their places at the table on Monday. On Christmas they will find a new bicycle presented by the Rotary Club.”
 
On January 23, 1969, Wooster Rotary Secretary Harry Sands was recognized for his 27 years of service in that position upon his retirement. Appointed as his replacement was Lee Culp.
 
It was noted that, as of March 1, 1969, five of the original 24 charter members were still living. Two, Walter Foss and Herman Freedlander, were still members of the Wooster Club, three were living elsewhere; Thomas Prosser, Guy Richard and Albert Woodard.
 
The Wooster Rotary Year 1969 to 1970 began with a new Wooster Rotary President Lowell Bourns, Of course that was the week of the great Wooster July 4th flood. At the Monday meeting on July 14th the members voted to donate $1,000.00 to the Wooster Relief Fund. It was announced that a “special” Teapot offering would be collected on July 21st to be added to the Relief Fund. The special Teapot solicitation raised an additional $335.00 for flood relief.
 
The traditional “Ladies Night” was held on August 7th. It began with a dinner at the YMCA and then a trip to attend the Arena Fair at the Wayne County Fairground.
 
The highlight of the September 11th meeting were the additional 110 guests for lunch. They were the singers and hosts of “Up With People” who were in town for a special performance. They also performed a short program at the Wooster Rotary meeting.
 
Under the heading of “Some things never change.”  The Wooster Rotary meeting on October 23rd received “…a first hand report of today’s most serious and puzzling problem-drug abuse.”  Caseworker James Kulig of the Mansfield State Reformatory addressed the issue and presented two present inmates, John and Tom, who were at that time serving sentences for drug related convictions.
 
Another important topic of the day was covered during the annual rural-urban committee presentation by Dr. Lyle Coleman of the OARDC who discussed the pros and cons of pesticide use. According to Dr. Coleman, at that time 34 chemical manufactures in the United States were producing 900 basic compounds which were being used to make over 60,00 brand name products. He broke down the usage as 20% for residential users, 22% for industrial users and 58% for agricultural use. He concluded that “we must have pesticides; they are toxic and must be used properly. Some, like DDT, are persistent and effect wildlife but regulations are effective to protect the American public.”  A few years later, we discovered the effects of DDT were more persistent than thought.
 
An overflow crowd of 210 appeared for the annual “Ladies Night” including Rotarians and  Rotary Anns. The speaker was Dorothy Fuldheim whose topic was “The World in the Year 2000.”
 
President Bourns addressed a persistent problem for Wooster Rotary at the December 18th meeting by referring to “… the smoke haze which seems to fill our meeting room during the program hour. It is a condition which is truly bothersome to some , even to the point where they have to leave the room. Let’s give it the ‘four-way test’. Those in the rear of the room may even be able to make out the outlines of the speaker. May I make bold to suggest that our smokers try to postpone the Monday urge until we reach our office or elsewhere.”
 
Starting with the flood and going on to topics such as drug abuse, pesticides and trying to curb smoking at Rotary meetings no one can say that Rotary doesn’t tackle the issues of the day.
 
The Wooster Rotary year 1970 to 1971 began with a new Wooster Rotary President Ken Rhode. The change was made at the July 2, 1970 meeting. Also inducted at that meeting into membership was Roger Cook, sponsored by Ted Crawford. Both are still members of Wooster Rotary. At the same meeting President Ken reminded all members to turn in their donation of $7.50 as soon as possible to support the benefit baseball game which in turn will raise $1,000 for the Meals on Wheels project.
 
The August 20th meeting featured a presentation by Musical Director Terry Woodings concerning a new outdoor drama beginning earlier in the summer in a new amphitheater near New Philadelphia. The new drama was “Trumpet in the Land.” It was also reported that over 300 Wooster Rotarians and their families attended the annual Family Picnic at the OARDC.  Tim Webb and Doug Drushal were introduced as Rotators for the month.
 
At the November 5th meeting. Wooster Rotary for the first time hosted a group of football players from Wooster High School and Orrville High School to discuss the impending great rivalry in football. Each group consisted of two team captains, Coach Mays from Wooster and Coach Tipton of Orrville and Orrville Mayor Hostetler and Wooster Mayor Tilford. This tradition continued for a number of years.
 
The meeting on November 27th featured another first for Wooster Rotary; a fashion show.  Planned and directed by Al Burger Sr. and emceed by Ted Evans, the program featured members of Rotary to model the latest in men's fashions. “Activities were kicked off with a surprise opening. Rich Massaro, local barber and hair stylist, provided instant hair for Rotarians with normally barren pates and a new hair style for another. Rich restyled Ted Crawford’s hair to give it the ‘mod’ wind-blown look and topped off his handiwork by adding a pair of sideburns. Joe Retzler, Louie Carter and Keith Remy were given added hair treatments.” Also participating as models were Racky Young, Dave Christopher, Sam Shapiro, Lowel Bourns and Vic Dix.
 
The highlight of this Wooster Rotary year was, of course, the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Wooster Rotary. It was held on March 22, 1971 at Lowry Center at the College of Wooster. General Chairman was Ivan Steiner Jr. Two of the original members were able to attend, Herman Freedlander and Guy Richard. The Guest Speaker for the evening was Charles L. McCullers from North Carolina, a well-known Rotary inspirational speaker with 31 years of perfect attendance. Ford Ross announced a gift to the Wooster Community, the formation of the Wooster Rotary Foundation with a subscribed gift from many Rotarians amounting to $17,000. Ford explained that it is hoped that the Wooster Rotary Foundation will grow to the point that it can be a funding source for many worthwhile programs supporting the Wooster Community.