Courtesy of  Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1972-1973 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, Bill Drumm. In his first presentation President Bill pointed out that Wooster Rotary was one of 15,306 clubs worldwide in 149 countries with 719,500 members.

The proposed budget for Wooster Rotary was balanced at $28,255. Dates were also announced for the Annual Family Picnic and for the Annual Rotary Golf Outing. Members were urged to sign up quickly.

At the July 26th meeting, Honorary Membership was conferred upon P. T. Raju, retiring Professor of Indian Studies at the College of Wooster and a Wooster Rotary Member. Professor Raju received his BA, MA and PhD from the University of Calcutta and taught philosophy and psychology at the University of Rajasthan before his appointment to the College of Wooster Faculty in 1962.

One of the more interesting speakers was Dr. McClanahan, on October 11th, a retired medical missionary to Egypt for 37 years, living in retirement in Akron. He had been sent in 1920 to the ancient City of Luxor, Egypt to open a hospital there. Because of his interest in ancient Egypt, he befriended a group excavating in the Valley of the Kings. He also became friends with a man named Howard Carter. Eventually, Dr. McClanahan was invited by Howard Carter to witness the opening of a tomb thought to be untouched. Upon opening, it was found to be untouched and hold the tomb and belongings of the “Boy King” Tutankhamen. At there age of 87, Dr. McClanahan’s description of the event was still fresh in his mind 50 years later. It was fortunate for the Wooster Rotary Club that he survived the curse of King Tut and was thought to be the last survivor of the event.

Another interesting program was presented to Wooster Rotary on January 24, 1974 by Rev. Howard Moody of Judson Memorial Church Greenwich Village New York. His thesis was that there are too many laws on the books that are not criminal in nature, but were only passed to regulate private morality. He listed moralistic laws as those which deal with public drunkenness, abortion, drug abuse, sexual conduct and juvenile delinquency. Some of these issues are still being debated.

At the meeting on February 21, 1974, Wooster Rotarians noted the death of Art Miller, a loyal member of the Wooster Club since 1924. “A contractor, land developer, naturalist, and lover of people, Art has left a permanent record of his achievements in our community."