100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 11

“Gala Party Marks Wooster Rotary’s 25th Anniversary” was the headline of a special insert of the Wooster Daily Record dated Friday, March 22, 1946. Of course, it helped that E.C. Dix, Editor of the Wooster Daily Record, was still a member of  Wooster Rotary. Of the original charter group of 24 members, eight still remained as members: Emmett C. Dix, Herman Freedlander, George C. Maurer, James B. Rahl, Guy Richard, Robert Woods, Clarence Allis and Alvin Rich. Officers for the Anniversary Year were Ray Dix, President; Hobart Henry, Vice President; Harry Sands, Secretary; and Harry Domhoff, Treasurer. Board of Director members were Blake Battles, Dave Edwards, Oscar Martin. Dick Mayberry and Don McGuire.

A Banquet honoring the occasion was held on the evening of March 22,1946. It is hard to tell from the picture, but it seems to be mostly for Wooster Rotarians with a few Rotarians invited from neighboring clubs. The speaker for the evening was Herbert J. Taylor of Chicago, Vice President of Rotary International who spoke on the topic of “A Test for These Times”. He was introduced by District Governor George S. Baldwin of Cleveland. Wooster Rotarians also made short presentations: Emmett Dix, Judge John Weiser, Guy Richard, Vernon Smucker and Ray Dix.

Most of the attention was given to the reported  “high spot” of the evening, a presentation of the Wooster High School cast and chorus of the high school operetta directed by Wallace Franks and Miss Lucille Gant. Prior to the meal, guests were entertained by the music of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Parmalee and William DeVeny.