Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian
During the 1996-97 Wooster Rotary Year the Club reached another milestone, it was the 75th Anniversary of the founding of Wooster Rotary. Martin Degnan was sworn in as President, Peggy Schmitz as Vice-President, Lee Culp remained as Secretary and George Kreps took over as Treasurer succeeding long serving Treasurer Frank Hays who was awarded an honorary Wooster Rotary membership.
During the year the Club Historian, Frank Stevens, wrote a weekly feature for The Woostarian titled “Notes from the Past.” The Board of Directors, on October 10th, matched Wooster Kiwanis gift of $1,500 for a new refrigerator for the YMCA. The District announced that Wooster Rotary was top of the list for all-time giving to Rotary International with a total since founding of $582,762 almost $250,000 ahead of runner-up Canton. Wooster also led the list with 69 sustaining Paul Harris Fellows and was second with a total 136 Paul Harris Fellows. Wooster’s membership stood at 235 members.
During the year the Club Historian, Frank Stevens, wrote a weekly feature for The Woostarian titled “Notes from the Past.” The Board of Directors, on October 10th, matched Wooster Kiwanis gift of $1,500 for a new refrigerator for the YMCA. The District announced that Wooster Rotary was top of the list for all-time giving to Rotary International with a total since founding of $582,762 almost $250,000 ahead of runner-up Canton. Wooster also led the list with 69 sustaining Paul Harris Fellows and was second with a total 136 Paul Harris Fellows. Wooster’s membership stood at 235 members.
Monday at noon on December 9th Wooster Rotary hosted over 500 Senior Citizens for Christmas at the OARDC.
The 75th Wooster Rotary Celebration was held at the Black Tie Affair Party Center Friday evening April 18, 1997. There were 130 Wooster Rotarians present plus spouses and guests. After an excellent dinner attendees were treated to “75 Years of Jazz” by the College of Wooster Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jeffrey Lindberg. The organizing committee consisted of: Jim Basford, Ted Bogner, Gene Buehler, Henry Copeland, Sue Crawford, Dick Davis, Lud Huck, Frank Knorr, Ray Leisy, Sandy Lueschen, Kay McFadden, Jim Morgan, Don Noble, Ford Ross, Peggy Schmitz, Chris Shook and Tim Zuercher. Twenty-five years later five are still club members. Are you ready for the 100th?