District Governor of Rotary International

By Noelle Bartl

Lonnie Leslie (MEd 81, BBE 72) is wrapping up his year as Rotary District Governor for Rotary International District 5520 that is made up of 70 clubs in all of New Mexico and far West Texas.

“During the past eight months, my wife and I have had the opportunity to visit seventy Rotary clubs. We have traveled 40,000 miles meeting the 2,600 Rotarians in our District, which is the largest in the continental United States,” explained Lonnie.

Lonnie is a retired school district administrator and spent 33 years with Clovis Municipal Schools. Both he and his wife Ardeth (MEd 81, BBE 72) received bachelors’ and masters’ degrees from Eastern. He started his career as a high school drafting teacher and then served as a junior high assistant principal, junior high principal, assistant superintendent for business, and assistant superintendent for operations. Lonnie and Ardeth celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this December.

Ardeth and Lonnie Leslie

Ardeth retired from Clovis Schools after 25 years of service. She taught junior high school English and communications skills for 16 years, and finished her career at Clovis High School teaching technology and video journalism.

Lonnie serves his church as a Baptist Deacon and teaches Sunday School. He is the chairman of the Plains Regional Medical Center Board and the Local Growth Management Organization,

an organization that works with the Department of Defense to plan for growth at Cannon Air Force Base and the surrounding communities. Lonnie is also Chairman of the Curry County DWI Task Force, a member of the Clovis Schools Foundation Board of Directors, and the City of Clovis Public Works Committee.

Lonnie is the past president of the Clovis Rotary Club and has served as literacy chairman and assistant governor for District 5520.

Taos Rotarian Yale Jones with Lonnie and Ardeth receiving chef hats and a banner from George Basch of the Himalayan Stove Project.

“I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve alongside so many people who strive to make our communities and our world a better place,” acknowledged Lonnie.

Rotarians play a vital role of service in their communities and the world. Rotary’s role in the eradication of polio is a great example. In 1985, there were 400,000 cases of polio in the world. In 2014, only 359 cases were reported due to the efforts of 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide. Rotary’s goal is complete eradication by 2018.

The Leslies have participated in Rotary Friendship Exchanges to Canada, England and Australia. Both Lonnie and Ardeth are Paul Harris Fellows.

Ardeth and Lonnie receiving first hot air balloon ride certificates from pilot Roger Hoppe.

Lonnie was named Curry County Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year and was inducted into ENMU’s Educator Hall of Honors. He has previously been named Rotarian of the Year and New Mexico School Administrator of the Year.

“ENMU brings back many fond memories, primarily when I reflect on my professors,” recalls Lonnie. “I do not think it would be possible to have better mentors and instructors than Dr. Albert Bettina, Dr. Bill Rosin and Mr. Dave Goin. These men changed my life and helped me to grow as a person, a teacher and administrator.”