100 Years Kendallville Rotary Club

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100 YEARS KENDALLVILLE Rotary Club

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A Century of “Service Above Self” Terry G. Housholder, editor

, online at kpcnews.com

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Ian H. S. Riseley President, 2017-18 T +1-847-866-3467 F +1-847-866-3390 ian.riseley@rotary.org

23 March 2018 Dear Rotary Club of Kendallville, Indiana, USA members: Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Kendallville on its 100th anniversary. I applaud your club’s dedication to making positive changes in your community for so many years.

Our Rotary Family is made up of 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs all over the world. While geography, culture or even language may separate us, it is our shared commitment to service that unites us. It is this passion for strengthening communities, for putting Service Above Self, that makes us a Rotarian and allows us to serve the global community. We are able to achieve so much because of active and engaged clubs like yours.

On behalf of the Rotary Family, I congratulate you on 100 years of fellowship and service. You have already accomplished great things; I look forward to seeing how you will impact the future for many more years to come as we continue to build Rotary: Making A Difference.

Sincerely,

Ian H.S. Riseley President, Rotary International 2017-18

Ian H.S. Riseley is a Rotarian from Victoria, Australia.

From the editor Compiling the history of the Kendallville Rotary Club was an enjoyable project. Having been a member of the club since 1981, I know firsthand the contributions the club has made to the community over the years. I give special recognition to the late Ralston V. Fischer, a predecessor of mine as the longtime editor of The News Sun, who documented the history of the club through numerous articles about the club’s activities during his five decades as a Kendallville newspaperman. He had

more than 35 years of perfect attendance at Rotary meetings. I relied on much of his work during my months of research. Thanks also, to Rotarian David Wilson for his research support, Thomas Jansen for contributing photographs and to Rotary wives Jane Roush, Debra Hockley, and my wife, Grace, for proofreading my work and offering suggestions.

— Terry G. Housholder

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Kendallville Rotary marks 100th For a hundred years, the Kendallville Rotary Club has brought business and professional leaders together to serve the community. It has promoted the purpose of Rotary International: providing humanitarian services, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations and advancing goodwill and peace around the world.

The founding of the Kendallville Rotary Club in the late winter of 1918 was largely due to the efforts of state Sen. Clarence J. Munton of Kendallville. He was the superintendent of the Fort Wayne & Northwestern Railway Co., which operated the interurban railroad line from Fort Wayne to Kendallville.

Munton urged the establishment of a Rotary Club in Kendallville as a way to uplift the community in various ways, expressed in the Rotary motto, “He profits most who serves best.”

The organizational meeting was held at a banquet on Friday, March 15, 1918, at the Gawthrop Inn, 115 N. Main St., Kendallville. Forty-two were in attendance, including 19 Rotarians from the sponsoring Rotary Club of Fort Wayne.

Among those who attended from Fort Wayne were the Rev. Arthur Folsom, pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church, acting as deputy district governor of Rotary’s 8th District; and Byron Sommers, president of the Fort Wayne Rotarians.

Kendallville club officers were elected at that first official meeting, with Munton named president. Other officers elected were: I. M. Kann, vice president; Donald M. Campbell, secretary; and Amos R. Otis, treasurer. The board of directors were the officers along with Louis A. Weinstein.

At the organizational meeting, it was noted that one of the priorities for the Rotarians in the United States was to aid the war effort, “with each individual of the local club endeavoring to do his bit along this line.”

President Munton said it was not the idea to push any particular movement as a club, “but for each member to practice Rotarism as an individual, casting his influence for those things that mean the upliftment of the community.”

The roster of 25 charter members of the Kendallville Rotary Club is as follows:

Clarence J. Munton first club president

• Archy Campbell, partner in the Campbell & Fetter Bank; residence, 322 S. Main St., Kendallville.

• Donald Campbell, partner, Campbell & Co., dry goods department; residence, 408 S. Main St., Kendallville.

• James M. Chappell, partner, James M. Chappell & Co. Furniture Store; residence, 413 S. Main St., Kendallville.

• C. W. Crance, proprietor of the Gawthrop Inn; residence, 115 N. Main St., Kendallville.

• P. C. Emmons, superintendent of Kendallville Public Schools; residence, 116 East Diamond St., Kendallville.

• Augustus Fetter, partner, Campbell & Co., manager of men’s furnishings; residence, 120 S. Orchard St., Kendallville.

• Walter Gillian, Kendallville Trust Co.; residence, 116 W. Wayne St., Kendallville.

• Harry Helwig, attorney, partner, Helwig & Helwig; residence, 510 N. State St., Kendallville.

• A. M. Jacobs, president, Kendallville Trust & Savings Bank; residence, 601 E. Mitchell St., Kendallville.

• Issac M. Kann, partner, J. Keller & Co., retail ladies wear and goods; residence, 220 E. Diamond St., Kendallville.

• C. M. Kimmel, proprietor, Kendallville Steam Laundry; residence, 310 N.

Railroad St., Kendallville.

• Ralph J. Keller, partner, clothes manufacturing company; residence, 116 N. Summit St., Kendallville.

• John E. Lang, partner Raber & Lang, cement machinery manufacturer; residence, 224 E. Diamond St., Kendallville.

• Charles O. Merica, publisher, president of Kendallville Publishing Co.; residence, 208 W. William Street, Kendallville.

• Clarence J. Munton, superintendent of the Fort Wayne & Northwestern Railway Co.; residence, 720 E. Diamond St., Kendallville.

• Wells S. Murphy, partner, Broom & Brush Factory, manufacturers of brooms and brushes; residence, 123 N. Summit St., Kendallville.

• A. R. Otis, druggist, owner of Otis Drug Store; residence, 804 E. Mitchell St., Kendallville.

• Frank B. Park, partner, Flint & Walling Co., manufacturers of windmills and gasoline engines; residence, 112 S. Orchard St., Kendallville.

• Glenn Patterson, secretary, Noble Motor Truck Co.; residence, 217 W. Rush St., Kendallville.

• H. M. Stewart, sales manager, McCray Refrigerator Co.; residence, 422 Water St., Kendallville.

• Olin T. Stiver, dentist; residence, 207 W. William St., Kendallville.

• Charles O. Ullin, superintendent, McCray Refrigerator Co.; residence, 207 W. Rush St., Kendallville.

• Orval A. Van Kirk, X-ray specialist; residence, 213 W. Rush St., Kendallville.

• Louis A. Weinstein, manager of Kendallville Manufacturing Co., makers of gloves and mittens; residence, 219 W. Mitchell St., Kendallville.

• Harold O. Williams, physician, general practitioner; residence, 748 E. Richmond St., Kendallville.

The first meetings of the club were held the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Later, the club met weekly on Friday evenings. It has met on Tuesday evenings since at least the 1940s.

The application for membership by the Kendallville Rotary Club was officially accepted by the International Association of Rotary Clubs (now Rotary International) on June 20, 1918.

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Charter members included prominent businessmen of early 20th century Among the 25 charter members of the Kendallville Rotary Club were wellknown Kendallville business leaders of the early 20th century. The following are brief biographies of some of the most prominent charter members. (Full biographies of Clarence J. Munton, Augustus Fetter, John E. Lang and Camillus M. Kimmel, who served as presidents of the club, are published in another section.)

Archy Campbell, who descended from Scottish-Irish ancestry, was born Sept. 28, 1856, in Syracuse, New York. He lived in New York, Canada and California before coming to Kendallville, where he and his brother, John, were engaged in the mercantile business. After four years, be purArchy Campbell chased his brother’s interest in the store. In 1887, Jacob C. Fetter became his partner. In 1894, upon the retirement of Archy’s father-in-law, John Mitchell, who was president of the First National Bank of Kendallville, Campbell and Fetter engaged as partners in the banking business.

John Mitchell’s father, William, founded the bank in 1863. Later it became Campbell & Fetter Bank. Archy Campbell married Catherine “Kate” R. Mitchell March 12, 1881. She was the granddaughter of the “father of Kendallville,” William Mitchell, and the daughter of John and Sophronia Mitchell. Archy and Kate had four children, Donald, William, Joseph and Gertrude. Archy Campbell died June 24, 1934, at the age of 77. His wife died May 27, 1945, at the age of 81.

Donald M. Campbell was a fourth-generation banker in Kendallville, the son of Archy and Catherine “Kate” (Mitchell) Campbell. He was born Feb. 13, 1882. He married Mary Joy Lowry in July 1912. Donald became affiliated with Campbell & Fetter Bank in 1934, upon the death of his father. Four years later, he became president of the bank, Page 6

succeeding the late Jacob C. Fetter.

Prior to his affiliation with the bank, Donald Campbell managed another family business, Campbell & Company Department Store, Main Street, Kendallville. Donald Campbell was an ardent golfer Donald Campbell and was an official at the Kendallville Country Club for many years. He died Nov. 6, 1962, at the age of 80. His wife died Oct. 20, 1969, at the age of 89.

Abraham M. Jacobs was a longtime Kendallville banker. He was president of the Noble County Bank, Kendallville, the Kendallville Trust & Savings Bank of Kendallville, and of the Farmer’s State Bank in Avilla. He was also associated with other commercial and industrial enterprises. He served Abraham Jacobs several terms on the Kendallville City Council. Jacobs was born Feb. 8, 1864, in Kendallville, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Jacobs. Beginning at age 8, he lived with his parents in Germany until 1882 when he entered business college in Chicago. Later he became bookkeeper with J. Keller & Co. of Kendallville, owned by his future father-in-law, Jacob Keller. When the Noble County Bank was organized in September 1889 by Jacob Keller, Jacobs became a director and cashier. He later became president of the bank. Jacobs died unexpectedly in July 1925. His wife, Nanette, and two children, Milton of New York City, and Mrs. L. S. Levy of Kendallville, survived him.

Walter A. Gillian was affiliated with the Kendallville Trust & Savings Bank when he joined the Rotary Club.

A lifelong Kendallville resident, he was born Jan. 16, 1882, the son of John C. and Elizabeth Gillian. He graduated from Kendallville High School and attended Huntington College. He married Desse V. Campbell on June 29, 1904. Gillian, a Kendallville banker since 1902, was vice president of the Noble County Bank & Trust Co. when the bank failed during the Great Depression. The bank closed its doors on Jan. 10, 1931, due to the business dealings of its president, Samuel K. Jacobs, a wealthy New York real estate tycoon, who took over the bank after the unexpected death of his brother, Abraham M. Jacobs, in July 1925. Samuel K. Jacobs used the Kendallville bank’s cash and loans to cover his Wall Street losses.

Gillian was one of six bank officials charged by a Noble County grand jury of wrongdoing. He was convicted of embezzlement in a 1932 trial and given a 2-to-14-year prison term. He only served a brief time in the Michigan City State Prison, being granted a new trial by the Indiana Supreme Court. In the second trial held in March 1936 at the Noble County Courthouse, he was acquitted of all charges. He was supported by several character witnesses during the second trial, which included some Kendallville Rotarian friends. Gillian later was employed by the McCray Refrigerator Co., Kendallville, and worked there for more than 20 years before his retirement.

He died Sept. 21, 1966, at the age of 84.

His wife preceded him in death Aug. 11, 1957, at the age of 72. They had one daughter, Mary E. Ihrie.

Purley C. “P.C.” Emmons was superintendent of Kendallville Public Schools at the time he joined Rotary.

Emmons was born Nov. 3, 1874, in Birds, Illinois.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1900. He did post-graduate work at the University of Chicago and earned a master’s degree in P.C. Emmons

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educational administration from Columbia University in 1914. He began teaching at the age of 18, in a one-room school in his native Illinois.

After earning his bachelor’s degree, he taught a year at Bloomington P.C. Emmons High School, Bloomington, Indiana, before accepting a job as principal in Huntington, Indiana. In 1905, he took a principal’s position in Great Falls, Montana, but returned to Indiana three years later as principal of the Boys’ Academy at Winona Lake, Warsaw. He served in that post until 1910, when he was appointed superintendent at Kendallville. He left Kendallville in 1921 to become superintendent of public schools in Mishawaka. He held that position for 25 years, retiring in 1946, serving longer than any other superintendent in the city’s history. He was immortalized in 1958 when the Mishawaka Board of School Trustees voted to pay tribute to his service by naming a new junior high school on South Main Street, in his honor. Today, Emmons Elementary School in Mishawaka still bears his name. Emmons married the former Adda Foster in Huntington on Aug. 2, 1906. She died in 1948. They had two sons. Emmons died on Dec. 18, 1972, at the age of 98. He was the last surviving charter member of the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Isaac M. Kann was a partner in the J. Keller & Co. department store in Kendallville when he joined Rotary.

He remained with the firm for 28 years and later established his own store, The Mode, in downtown Kendallville. He was born March 3, 1863, in Erie, Pennsylvania. He resided in Ligonier, Indiana, Isaac Kann before coming to Kendallville. He served as a director of the Noble County Bank & Trust Co. He died Dec. 8, 1946. His wife, Belle, and a son, Merle W. Kann of Cleveland, Ohio, survived him.

Charles O. Merica, was publisher and president of Kendallville Publishing Co. when he joined the Rotary Club.

He was born in St. Paris, Ohio, July 3, 1864, the son of William and Catherine (Snyder) Merica. He was well educated, earning degrees from DePauw University, Iowa Wesleyan University and Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Much of his life was devoted to the field of education. He served as president of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, and as president of the University of Wyoming. Due to impaired health, he retired and moved to Kendallville, where he purchased the Kendallville News-Sun and the Kendallville Standard in December 1913. He married Alice White in Warsaw, Indiana, on May 23, 1888. They had two sons, Paul and Arnold. Charles Merica died in Kendallville on July 24, 1918. His wife succeeded him as publisher of the Kendallville News-Sun. She died in January 1969, at the age of 103. At the time of her death, she was one of the oldest daily newspaper publishers in America.

Church. Mrs. Otis died Aug. 9, 1925, at the age of 58. Amos Otis died Aug. 5, 1962, at the age of 92.

Amos Ray Otis was a longtime Kendallville drug store owner. He was born in Dalton, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1868. He studied pharmacy at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He worked at a drug store in Brooklyn, New York, for a year before coming to Kendallville in 1892 to work for G. H. Lohman at Amos Otis his Main Street store. In 1894, Otis opened his own drug store on Main Street. On Feb. 21, 1895, the first telephone line in Kendallville was opened in the Otis Drug Store, 111 S. Main St. He was one of the founders of the Citizens National Bank of Kendallville, which opened in 1924. He served as president of the bank at the time it closed on Feb. 13, 1932, after continuous weeks of withdrawals by customers fearing bad economic news during the Great Depression. Eventually the bank paid back its customers the losses they incurred from the sudden closure. He married Allie Williams on Feb. 1, 1893.

She was the daughter of Kendallville physician Salathiel Williams. They had one child, Warren. Otis and his family were members of the First Presbyterian

H. M. Stewart was sales manager for McCray Refrigerator Co. when he joined the Rotary Club. He later became vice president of the firm. He died March 24, 1936, in Miami, Florida.

Frank B. Park was a partner in Flint & Walling Co. when he joined the Rotary Club. He was born Oct. 31, 1864, in Kendallville, the son of Amos B. and Mary Park. In 1897, he went to work for Flint & Walling as purchasing agent. In 1916, he was elected secretary-treasurer of the firm, a position he held until his death on Aug. 28, 1926, at the age of 61. His wife, Mabel Todd Park, survived him, as did two sons, Edmond and Harry. Mrs. Park died Sept. 24, 1954, at the age of 77.

Wells S. Murphy was a partner and manager of the Kendallville Broom & Brush Company, when he joined the Rotary Club. He later served on the Kendallville City Council. He left Kendallville and became a haberdasher in Palo Alto, California. He died Jan. 17, 1941, in California at the age of 65. His wife, Sophie, and son, Walter, survived.

Olin E. Stiver was a longtime dentist, opening his practice in Kendallville in 1905, shortly after graduating from the Indiana School of Dentistry. He was a city councilman from 1919 to 1922 and served as a trustee of Kendallville Public Schools from 1937 to 1945. A native of LaGrange County, he was born June Olin Stiver 24, 1880, the son of Dr. Lewis and Ida Stiver. On March 21, 1905, he married Perle Poyser. Dr. Olin Stiver died May 6, 1964, at the age of 83. His wife died Sept. 5, 1973, at the age of 91. Their children were Jean Cochard and Jack Stiver, both of Kendallville.

Charles O. Ullin was superintendent of McCray Refrigerator Co. when he joined the Rotary Club. He served in that capacity for 26 years, leaving Kendallville in October 1928 for California due to the ill health of his wife, Selma.

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Orval A. Van Kirk practiced dentistry in Kendallville for a number of years. He married Edna Reed of Stroh and they had a son and daughter.

The family later moved to Oakland, California, where Dr. Van Kirk died on June 18, 1941, at the age of 60.

James M. Chappell was a partner with his parents, Francis and Clara Chappell, in the James M. Chappell & Co. furniture store and funeral home, 128 S. Main St., Kendallville, when he joined the Rotary Club.

The Chappells came to Kendallville from Penville (Jay James Chappell County), Indiana, around 1911.

James Chappell was active in the Indi-

ana Funeral Director’s Association. He was appointed by Indiana Gov. James P. Goodrich to the state board of embalming. He became president of the Indiana Funeral Director’s Association in 1920. While living in Kendallville, James Chappell and his wife, Pearl, lived at 413 S. Main St. The Chappells left Kendallville around 1924, moving to Louisville, Kentucky. James Chappell then worked for the Kentucky Lumber & Millwork Co. Louis A. Weinstein was manager of the Kendallville Manufacturing Co. for 25 years until his death in May 10, 1928. He was 66. His wife, Margaret, who helped with the establishment of the public library in Kendallville, died March 18, 1937, at the age of 81. They had a son, Carl, and a daughter, Agnes Schmidt.

Harold O. Williams, was the fourth generation of the Williams family to practice medicine in Kendallville. The

others were his great-grandfather, Nathan Williams (1811-1892), his grandfather, Salathiel T. Williams (1835-1892), and his father, Warren S. Williams (1862-1914). Dr. Harold Otis Williams was born in Kendallville Harold Williams on Aug. 7, 1889, graduating from Kendallville High School in 1909 and from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1913. He began practicing in Kendallville the year he graduated from I.U. He served in World War I, returning to assist in building the new Lakeside Hospital in Kendallville.

He served on the Kendallville City Council for four years. He died Aug. 1, 1959, at the age of 69, after practicing medicine in Kendallville for 46 years.

Guiding principles of Rotary These principles have been developed over the years to provide Rotarians with a strong, common purpose and direction.

They serve as a foundation for our relationships with each other and the action we take in the world.

Object of Rotary The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster: FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society; THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life; FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Avenues of Service

We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity.

Club Service focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.

Vocational Service calls on every Rotarian to work with

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integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. Learn more in An Introduction to Vocational Service and the Code of Conduct.

Community Service encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest. Learn more in Communities in Action: A Guide to Effective Projects.

International Service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more.

Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and Rotary Youth Exchange.

The Four-Way Test

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings: Of the things we think, say or do Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

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Rotary has played significant role in Kendallville community Over the past century, the Kendallville Rotary Club has had a positive impact on the community it serves.

Members of the Rotary Club have played key roles in community service, serving in governmental bodies, on economic and educational boards, as foundation members, on the boards of the chamber of commerce, park board, United Way, Red Cross, Boy Scouts and others.

The Kendallville Rotary Club has sponsored a Boy Scout troop in Kendallville since 1928. For many years, the club sponsored a community-wide Halloween party in the high school gym that drew over 2,000 people annually. For a number of years the club sponsored the Rotary fish fry serving nearly 2,000 people for the countywide agriculture awards banquet.

The club also served dinner each year at the Noble County Community Fair, honoring 4-H leaders.

Other community projects include annual participation in the Adopt-A-Highway S.R. 3 cleanup, work nights at the Kendallville Day Care Center, laying sod for the new East Noble football field, the building of the Bixler Lake Park Rotary Pavilion, the observation tower and duck pond at Bixler Lake Park, and the pavilion at the Kendallville Outdoor Recreational Complex.

In 1963, during the tenure of club president John Hutchins, Kendallville became the first Rotary club in Indiana to establish a Rotary Interact Club for high school students at Kendallville High School.

Since the founding of the Apple Festival of Kendallville in 1985, the club has played a role in the successful festival.

The club members took part in planning and participating in the city’s centennial celebration in 1963, with the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976 and with the city’s sesquicentennial event in 2013.

The Kendallville Rotary Club established the R. J. “Dick” Stonebraker Scholarship Fund to honor the late Rotary member Dick Stonebraker, who died in 1983, and to provide scholarships in his name for a boy and girl athlete from East Noble High School.

Over the years, the Kendallville Rotary Club sponsored the establishment of new Rotary Clubs in Albion, LaGrange and Garrett.

The Kendallville Rotary Club is proud

Rotarians and Kendallville city officials gather at the site of the Rotary Pavilion at the Outdoor Sports Complex. The pavilion was designed and built in 2015 by Rotarian Fred Kreigh, second from right, along with help from Rotary Club members.

of its accomplishments with international service. The club supports the Rotary Foundation and its worldwide efforts through generous donations by members and through its weekly foundation drawing.

Led by the late Rotarian Bob Atz, the club was instrumental in the establishment of the chapter of the American Field Service (now AFS) in 1961. The first AFS exchange student to attend Kendallville High School was Bard E. Sorbye of Norway. He was enrolled at Kendallville High School as a senior in 1961-62. Since then, scores of young people from around the world have enrolled in local schools for a year through the AFS program.

Over the years, the club has hosted visitors from the Rotary Group Study Exchange Program, including seven New Zealanders in September 1968; Australian

guests in October 1971; a group from India in May 1972; six South Africans in April 1978; and later groups from Russia and from Turkey.

Club members have also hosted Rotary exchange students, the last being Bruno Dias of Brazil, who spent the 2013-2014 school year in Kendallville. Rotarian Terry Housholder and his wife, Grace, were among Bruno’s host families.

The club sponsored East Noble High School graduate Debra Moran as a Rotary Foundational Scholar. She spent a year of her college career in England, where she met her future husband, David Hockley, who later became a Kendallville Rotary Club member and president.

The club has also supported the Rotary Group Study Exchange Team program and sent one of its members, Craig Fischer, to represent the district as the group’s team

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These four brothers, from left: Jerry, Tom, Jim and Doug Jansen, are Kendallville Rotary Club members. Here they

leader to England for six weeks in 1975.

In 1998, Kendallville Rotarian David Wilson was selected as the Group Study Exchange Leader for Rotary District 6540.

He led a group of young professionals to Japan for 30 days.

In the spring of 1992, Wilson planned and directed a Rotary exchange to St. Petersburg, Russia. In October 1992, he helped host Russian couples that had hosted the area Rotarians on their visit. In 2000, he returned to St. Petersburg with five area Rotarians.

Beginning in 2005, the Kendallville Rotary Club joined clubs from Fort Wayne, Auburn and other northern Indiana Rotary clubs to partner with Rotarians from Guanajuato, Mexico, to provide the poor rural residents with clean water and better dental health.

From 2009-2012, the Kendallville Rotary Club, through matching grant support from Rotary International, Rotary District 6540 and the Guanajuato Rotary Club, donated over $47,500 to the Guanajuato Dental Program in Guanajuato. Additional monies were raised to provide fresh water tanks to several areas around Guanajuato.

Vocational service is an important avenue for Rotarians and has been since its beginning. Rotary was built on a philosophy based upon integrity in businesses and professional life. Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians are committed to vocational service and high ethical standards in all of their interactions.

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are shown at a Rotary meeting held at the Pizza Hut in Kendallville.

Each Kendallville Rotarian is a successful person in his or her professional and business life. Many have served their respective vocational associations as district, state and regional presidents. There have been three national presidents over the years. Carl Miller was president of the National Retail Hardware Dealers; Vern Steckley was president of the National Poultry and Hatchery Federation; John Hutchins was president of the National Association of Funeral Directors.

Two Kendallville Rotarians served in the Indiana General Assembly, state Sen. Clarence J. Munton, 1917-1920, and state Rep. Laurence D. Baker, 1945-1958. A number of other members served in state and national associations.

David Wilson was the only Kendallville Rotarian to serve as Rotary District Governor. His tenure was 2002-2003, with “Sow the Seeds of Love” as his theme for the year. Wilson has been very active at the district and international level for a number of years and has attended several Rotary International Conventions.

One of the best values of Rotary for its members is the fellowship, camaraderie and interesting programs given each week.

The Rotary Razz has been a primary means of informing members of what happened at the last meeting and informing them of upcoming events and activities.

The late Ralston “Busty” Fischer, longtime editor of The News Sun, was the editor of the newsletter longer than any-

one. He documented the Rotary meeting coverage in The News Sun for more than 30 years. For many years, the McCray Refrigerator Company published and mailed the weekly bulletin. In recent years, the Razz has been emailed to members each week.

Many enjoyable picnic outings have been enjoyed at Camillius Kimmel and Henry Kimmel’s cottage, Virg Harman’s and Les Alligood’s homes on Sylvan Lake, and at Jerry Jansen’s on Little Long Lake.

The Kendallville club has always had a reputation as a singing club. In part, this has been due to Rotarian song leaders like Bob and Alan Roush, Vern Steckley, John and Joe Atz, John Mulholland and Al Huth. For many years, the club had piano accompanists, including Tasa Clifford Love, Sara Johnson, Julie Atz, Ruth Mains, Cosette Irons and Joyce Diggins.

On occasion, Rotarians Larry Baker and Pete Bottomley were known to stroke the ivory keys for the singing.

Attendance is important for Rotary membership and a number of Rotarians had outstanding records of achievement over the years. At the 75th club reunion in 1993, the following were honored: Garrett Moore, 46 years of perfect attendance; Robert Kropp, 45 years; Cleon Point, 44 years; Paul Rehling, 32 years; and David Wilson, 7 years. Wilson has since extended his perfect attendance to beyond 32 years.

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David Wilson lives the Rotary motto ‘Service Above Self”

In 1985, David R. Wilson, a professional engineer and construction company owner, was invited to join the Kendallville Rotary Club. His goal was to better network with area business people.

Almost from day one, with great vigor, Wilson, embraced the Rotary International motto — “Service Above Self.”

Over the next three decades, no one in the 100-year history of the Kendallville club has shown more dedication to Rotary than Wilson. He has served in many ways at the local, district and international level.

In June 2015, Wilson and his wife, Camille, traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to take part in the 106th Rotary International Convention. It was Wilson’s ninth international convention, having previously traveled to such far-away cities as Barcelona, Spain (2002), Brisbane, Australia (2003), Osaka, Japan (2004) and Copenhagen, Denmark (2006).

Over the years, Wilson and his wife journeyed to over 27 nations, connecting with Rotary friends. He helped raise funds for Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio worldwide and in 2006, served on a Rotary International Polio Immunization Team in Niger, Africa.

A Wabash native, Wilson graduated from Rome City High School in 1957.

He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and in 1963 earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University.

Dave Wilson dispenses polio vaccine to a boy in Niger.

Wilson worked in the engineering field for a number of years. In 1984, he formed his own construction company with his brother, which they operated for five years. For the past 22 years, he has been in the private structural consulting business.

Wilson went through the chairs as an officer of the Kendallville Rotary Club in his early years of service. He was president of the club in 1991-92. In the spring of 1992, he planned and directed a Rotary exchange to St. Petersburg,

Dave Wilson presents Kendallville Rotary banner to Niger Rotarian.

Russia. In October 1992, he helped host Russian couples that had hosted the area Rotarians on their visit. In 2000, he returned to St. Petersburg with five area Rotarians. In 2006, Wilson and his wife revisited their Russian family after the Copenhagen Convention.

In 1998, Wilson was selected as the Group Study Exchange Leader for Rotary District 6540. He led a group of young professionals to Japan for 30 days. Upon his return, he was asked to become assistant district governor for eight northeast Indiana Rotary clubs, serving in that role from 1999-2001. During that time, he also served on the district’s long-range planning committee.

In December 2000, Wilson was selected to be District 6540 governor-elect.

And in 2002, he took the reins of district governor, the first Kendallville Rotarian to ever hold that prestigious position. He oversaw the district’s 57 Rotary clubs in the northern third of Indiana with more than 3,000 members. He paid visits to all of the district’s clubs during his year as governor, with his wife accompanying him on all of the official visits.

Since his year as governor, he has remained active in Rotary district and international affairs, serving as chair of the Group Study Exchange for seven years, serving on the district nominating committee for 16 years and on the Rota-

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Kendallville Rotarian David Wilson, fourth from left, at the Group Study Exchange in Japan, November 1998.

ry International Convention Committee.

In addition, he has served two terms as district representative to the International Council on Legislation. As Past District Governor, he served on the multi-district club President’s Training Committee for six years and on the Midwest level

District Governor David Wilson with Huntington Rotary Club President Jerry Banks at Wilson’s visit to the Huntington club, Nov. 12, 2002.

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planning committee for five training institutes.

Wilson, who has more than 32 years of perfect attendance with the Kendallville Rotary Club, has received a number of Rotary honors. He is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow several times over, having been a major donor to the Rotary Foundation. He was appointed sergeantat-arms for Rotary at the centennial international convention in Chicago in 2005.

In 2013, he received the Rotary District 6540 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wilson and his wife were married on July 24, 1960. They are active members of Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville. The couple have three sons, 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

“I love being a part of a significant organization that serves both locally and worldwide with lots of responsibility and much satisfaction,” Wilson said. “I am in association with women and men who are dedicated to serve worldwide yet establish and promote community events and activities locally. There are so many opportunities for personal growth with like-minded individuals serving and sharing the ideals of Rotary.” His

Past District Governor Dave Wilson promotes R.I. Foundation giving.

two personal Rotary mottos are, “Work Rotary,” and “Keep Rotating.”

Wilson’s unselfish volunteer service to Rotary and his community helped shape his life’s purpose. It’s brought him great joy and fulfillment.

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Stonebraker Memorial Scholarship honors late Rotary member The Kendallville Rotary Club has sponsored a scholarship for an East Noble High School senior for many years.

The Richard J. Stonebraker Memorial Scholarship is presented annually to a student pursuing a college degree. The recipient must have earned two varsity athletic letters and have at least a 2.0 grade-point-average.

The scholarship is given in memory of longtime Kendallville Rotary and community leader Richard J. Stonebraker.

Born Dec. 13, 1927, in Kendallville, Stonebraker was the son of John R. and Ruth (Capp) Stonebraker. He was a Kendallville High School graduate. He married Beverly J. Heign on April 9, 1945.

Stonebraker operated Stonebraker Mobil Service Station on U.S. 6, a company founded by his father. He was active in organizing youth baseball in Kendallville and served as its president.

He also coached high school baseball

and was president of the Northeastern Indiana Baseball Association. He was active in Rotary and the Kendallville Jaycees and was presented the Jaycees Distinguish Service Award. He served on the Kendallville Youth Center board and was chairman of the Noble County Mental Health Association. He was also active in his church, St. John Lutheran, and was involved in the Gideon Society.

In 1968, the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce named him Kendallville’s Citizen of the Year.

Stonebraker died July 20, 1983, at the age of 55. His wife, Beverly, three sons, Richard, Roger and Ben, and a daughter, Jennifer, survived.

The Richard J. Stonebraker Memorial Scholarship has benefitted many young people in the East Noble High School community for many years. It recognizes the commitment to community service that Dick Stonebraker embodied.

In this 1945 photo, the driver training car keys from Stonebraker Chrysler/Plymouth dealership are given to Kendallville Superintendent L. S. Brumbaugh by student

Richard J. Stonebraker

Richard Stonebraker, son of the dealership owner J. R. Stonebraker. Both Brumbaugh and Richard Stonebraker were Kendallville Rotarians.

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Cleon Point was fun-loving, dedicated One of the most colorful, fun-loving characters in Kendallville Rotary Club history was Cleon Paul Point. Best known in the community as the longtime manager of the Strand Theatre and columnist for The News Sun, Point was a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1946 until his death in 1995.

He had 47 years of perfect attendance with Rotary.

His career, which began as a vaudeville stagehand, spanned six-and-a-half decades. He began managing theaters in Lima, Ohio, and then moved to Kendallville in 1946, assuming the managerial position of the Strand and Princess theaters. Later he also managed the Hi-Vue, south of Kendallville, and the Auburn-Garrett drive-in theaters.

He semi-retired in 1973 but continued to work at the Strand, retiring in 1979 after 50 years in the theater business.

In 1975, The News Sun publisher George O. Witwer hired him as an advertising representative and he was

asked to write a weekly newspaper column.

The column, “Focal Point,” concentrating on anecdotes about people in the community, was an immediate hit with readers. He later expanded its scope, adding historical pictures and articles.

For the next 20 years it was one of the most popular features in the newspaper.

His final column appeared only a few weeks before his death on Nov. 12, 1995. He was 85.

Point was known for his unique dour humor and teddy bear interior. He was so highly regarded in the community and by his fellow Rotarians that the Kendallville Rotary Club donated $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation, naming him a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. The award was presented to him shortly before cancer took his life.

His wife, Pearl, a son, Cleon E. Point of Kokomo, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren survived him.

Cleon Point

Rotary President Joe Atz, left, honors longtime Rotarians Bob Kropp, Cleon Point and Garrett Moore.

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Rotary opened to women in 1987 Until 1989, the constitution and bylaws of Rotary International stated that Rotary club membership was for males only. Rotary’s membership requirements changed due to a 7-0 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in May 1987, that said that the U.S. Constitution does not protect sex discrimination by most all-male private clubs.

Rotary issued a statement after the ruling that any Rotary club in the United States could admit qualified women.

It was a few years before any woman was proposed for membership in the Kendallville Rotary Club. The first woman accepted into membership was Marilyn Alligood of Rome City, a beloved career nurse and community leader. She was the founder of a home health and hospice program for McCray Memorial Hospital in Kendallville.

Alligood served two terms on the

Rome City Town Council, was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Sylvan Chapter 251, and was a member of the Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville. She died Aug. 1, 2016, at the age of 76.

Three women have served as president of the Kendallville Rotary Club over the years. The first was Jacqueline Beery, superintendent of the East Noble School Corp. She served as president in 2002-2003. The other female presidents have been insurance business owner Heidi Ramer, 2009-2010, and Cole Center Family YMCA executive director Casey Weimer, 2016-2017.

Women have played an important role in the Kendallville Rotary Club over the years. Rotary has grown stronger due to the inclusion of women into the membership rolls.

Marilyn Alligood

Women in Rotary

Above: 2016-2017 President Casey Weimer, right, with Antioch, Illinois Rotary Club President Mike Schwert.

Left: Club President Eric Blackman with 2007-2008 District Governor Lisa Waterman.

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Rotary Ann auxiliary served community Prior to the inclusion of women into Rotary, the wives of members of Rotary were affectionately called “Rotary Anns.” The term was first used in 1914, when San Francisco Rotarians boarded a special train to attend the Rotary Convention in Houston. In those days, few wives attended Rotary events, and until the train stopped in Los Angeles, the only woman aboard was the wife of Rotarian Brunnier, whose name was Ann. As the train picked up additional convention-bound delegates, Mrs. Ann Brunnier was introduced as the Rotarian’s Ann. This title soon became “Rotary Ann.” Since the clubs of the west were inviting the Rotarians to hold their next convention in San Francisco, a number of songs and stunts were organized which would be performed in Houston. One of the Rotarians wrote a “Rotary Ann” chant.

On the train’s arrival at the Houston depot, a delegation greeted the West Coast Rotarians. One of the greeters was Guy Gundaker of Philadelphia, whose wife was also named Ann. During the rousing demonstration at the convention, someone started the Rotary Ann chant. The two petite ladies, Ann Brunnier and Ann Gundaker, were hoisted to the men’s shoulders and paraded about the hall. The group loved the title given to the two women named Ann. Immediately the same term of endearment was used for all of the wives in attendance and the name “Rotary Ann” was established.

Kendallville’s Rotary Ann organization was established on Jan. 25, 1926.

One of the purposes of a Rotary Ann club was to bring into fellowship the families of the members of the Rotary club. Other objectives included assisting Rotarians in the execution of various club and community projects and upholding the purposes and aims of Rotary.

The Rotary Anns were most active in Kendallville from the1920s to the early 1960s. They had joint meetings with the Rotarians on various occasions such as Valentine’s Day, summer picnics and Christmas parties. The Rotary Anns normally met monthly at the same time as their husbands.

A record book of the Kendallville Rotary Anns club for the years 1955-1965 exists. It documents that Mrs. Camillius (Ada Valletta) Kimmel was the founder of the Kendallville Rotary Anns, established Page 16

Ruth Thrapp, Ruth Urban, Roberta Wendling, Pearl Wible, Muriel Weideman, Mindy Wolford, Marge Jacobs, Ellen Lash and Betty Newkirk.

Here are some notes from the meetings from the 1955-1965 records:

Joyce N. Diggins, a retired educator who taught 28 years at North Side Elementary School, was the regular pianist for the Kendallville Rotary Club for many years. Here she is playing at a meeting at Shook’s Restaurant. Miss Diggins died in March 2000 at the age of 86.

in 1926. At the June 28, 1955, meeting, Valletta Kimmel was presented a gift from the society in recognition of her “guidance, inspiration and enthusiasm in the organization during the past 29 years.”

The following were members in 1955: Betty Atz, Susannah Atz, Frances Baker, Norma Jean Baker, Lucille Barrows, Elsie Berhalter, Beulah Blumer, Elnora Brumbaugh, Gertrude Burger, Edna Cline, Genevieve Colter, Martha Courtney, Helen DeBelius, Blanche Dixon, Ersyl Dukes, Betty Elliott, Harriet Eshelman, Alda Fetter, Minnie Fischer, Mildred Hall, Hilda Hanes, Judith Harrod, Sally Hepner, Marjorie Herr, Margaret Hontz, Esther Hosler, Sara Johnson, Josephine Jones, Thelma Kern, Luella Kimmel, Valletta Kimmel, Betty Kropp, Oma Likens and Ruth Livengood.

Also, Doris Marshall, Miriam Martin, Carrie McWhinney, Laura Miller, Fern Moliter, Helen Moore, Ruby Newkirk, Alma Pankop, Pearl Point, Mary Jane Reichert, Lucinda Reinoehl, Margaret Roush, Helen Schinbeckler, Mal Seybert, Evelyn Sheets, Reba Skinner, Margaret Steckley, June Swartzlander, Mabel Swartzlander,

• At the Jan. 25, 1955 meeting, the club decided to donate a United Nations flag to the Kendallville Public Library for display.

• The main project for the club in 1955 was to sew various items of clothing that were donated to the Kendallville city nurse, Genevieve Saller, and to the hospital. The club members would meet Tuesday afternoon and sew together, followed by dinner at the fellowship room of the Church of Christ. For the year, the ladies sewed 103 cloth diapers, six pair of pajamas, gowns for two twin girls, three baby gowns, one skirt, eight dresses, five boys shirts, 23 plastic draw sheets and 10 pillow cases.

• The main activities in 1955 were the annual picnic with Rotarians at the fairgounds, the fall observance of Ladies Day by the Rotarians with dinner at the new North Side Elementary School, and the annual Christmas party with the Rotarians at the Elks Temple.

• At the Feb. 28, 1956, meeting, Miss Genevieve Saller, city nurse, was guest speaker. She discussed her work, which she had faithfully been doing for the last 25 years.

• At the April 24, 1956, meeting, Sally Hepner, wife of Dr. Herman Hepner, spoke on the water fluoridation plan for Kendallville.

• The Rotary Anns put on the Christmas party for Rotarians on Dec. 16, 1956, at the First Methodist Church annex. A quartet of Rotarians provided the entertainment.

They were: Dr. Robert Roush, tenor; the Rev. David Livengood, lead; David Baker, baritone; and Glen Mathis, base.

• At the April 22, 1958, meeting, William Kelly, director of the Kendallville Foundation for Youth, discussed the various activities at the youth center. There are three departments: Boys Club, Teenage Club and Girls Club. Other things taught and enjoyed were: juggling, boxing, BB gun practice and radio technology. Record hops were held and a style show by the girls was held on May 8.

• Connie McGee, daughter of Rotarian Henry Kimmel, was the guest speaker at the May 27, 1958 meeting. She is a labora-

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

tory technician at the Irene Byron Hospital, north of Fort Wayne. She provided much information about the treatment of tuberculosis.

• The programs for 1959 were: talks on the two newest states, Alaska and Hawaii; Rotary sponsored World Affairs Institute for youths; Color in the Home; and a skit by local girls who attended Girls State.

Rotarians entertained the Rotary Anns at the Methodist Church with a live demonstration of hypnotism. A family barbecue was held at the fairgrounds and a potluck

supper was held on the east side of Bixler Lake. The Elks Temple was the scene of the annual Christmas party with the Rotarians.

• Frances Baker presented the program on Jan. 31, 1961, showing many beautiful color slides of the 1961 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California.

• Mrs. Robert (Betty) Atz spoke at the March 21, 1961, meeting, offering a program on the establishment of the local chapter of the American Field Service (AFS), which would sponsor a foreign

student for the 1961-1962 school year in Kendallville.

• Miriam Martin and Thelma Kern gave the program on Sept. 25, 1962, telling about their experiences at the World’s Fair in Seattle, Washington.

• The Rotary Anns agreed to reorganize at the Sept. 19, 1964, meeting, agreeing to meet at the Publix Cafe every fourth Tuesday of the month.

• The last recording of a meeting of the Rotary Anns was April 27, 1965, at the Publix Cafe with 10 members present.

Rotary scholarship had major impact on Debra Moran Hockley’s life (A 1971 graduate of East Noble High School, Debra Moran was a student at Indiana University when she was named a Rotary Fellowship scholar. She spent the 1974-1975 academic year in England. While there, she met an Englishman, David Hockley. They were married in December 1975. They both are retired teachers living in Kendallville. David is an active Rotarian and served as president of the Kendallville club in 20152016.)

By DEBRA MORAN HOCKLEY In the fall of 1974, I began one of the great adventures of my life. It all began a few months earlier when the Kendallville Rotarians asked me, a junior majoring in English education at Indiana University, to apply for a Rotary Fellowship. After a very extensive and intensive process, my application was submitted. A few months later, I was called into an interview along with other candidates who all had lofty goals and ambitions. I guess the interview committee must have liked the fact that I knew all about Gary Thrapp, Kendallville’s state track and field champion or perhaps they liked my honest response to the question why I wanted to go abroad. “If all I wanted to do was to study English, I could stay right here at home. I want to go to England to learn about the people and the culture, and I want to let them know a bit about the American way of life.” Soon after, I was informed that I had been chosen for the one Rotary Fellowship given for the 1974-1975 academic year from the northern half of Indiana!

So the adventure began. It was the

David and Debra (Moran) Hockley met in England when Debra was a Rotary Fellowship scholar during the 1974-1975 school year. They married in December 1975 and are both retired East Noble School Corp. teachers. David is a Kendallville Rotarian and served as president of the club in 2015-2016.

first time I had ever been on an airplane and the first time I had ever gone far away to a place where I knew no one. I was constantly learning new things. The vocabulary pages of my diary filled up quickly with new words and phrases. I learned to look the other way crossing the street; I learned what a roundabout was and how to brew a proper cup of tea, and that the light switches and hot and

cold water taps were exactly the opposite to ours at home. I learned how to use city buses and eventually how to read a train timetable, two of the many things that were new to me. In fact, a journey on a Nottingham city bus the first week that I was there, played a part in my adventure. The bus conductor told me to get off the bus when a certain young man did. The conductor recognized him as a student and knew we were both headed to the same destination. This young man’s first words to me were, “This is it!” I guess it was prophetic, as that moment was the beginning of the life journey that that young man and I have taken together. After 42 years of marriage to David Hockley, I can honestly say that Rotary changed my life!

While I was in England, I was required to go to area Rotary clubs and speak. Lunchtime meetings were the norm there, and Mr. Willoughby, my liaison from the Beeston Rotary Club, was my escort to every one of my twenty-some presentations. I believe that I gave the members a better idea of life in northern Indiana. Whether I was speaking at a Rotary meeting, with fellow college students in Nottingham, or with youngsters in my teaching practice, I think everyone came to see some of the real America rather than media stereotypes.

Yes, Rotary changed my life. The idea of international understanding may have begun with my Rotary Fellowship, but the experience continues to shape my life, and in some ways, the lives of those I touch. I am profoundly and ever grateful to Rotary for the opportunity and experiences they provided.

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Rotary Club Past Presidents 1918-19 1919-20 1920-21 1921-22 1922-23 1923-24 1924-25 1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 1931-32 1932-33 1933-34 1934-35 1935-36 1936-37 1937-38 1938-39 1939-40 1940-41 1941-42 1942-43 1943-44 1944-45 1945-46 1946-47 1947-48 1948-49 1949-50 1950-51

Clarence J. Munton Clarence J. Munton John E. Lang Reuben Adams George J. Trombold Glenn E. Thrapp Ralph W. Clark Camillus H. Kimmel Reuben Adams John W. Hart Sam Gallaway George Diggins Charles Cline Augustus Fetter Ralston V. Fischer Isaiah O. Reinoehl Carl A. Miller Rev. Ralph W. Graham George Jay Hopkins Glenn E. Thrapp Horace Breiding Ernest Karlen William V. Herr Paul Sheets Robert Carson Jesse Newkirk Edward G. Miller Winfred Gaskill Lloyd S. Brumbaugh Dale Schinbeckler Ronald Jones Laurence D. Baker Joseph W. Urban

1951-52 1952-53 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 1956-57 1957-58 1958-59 1959-60 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-64 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67 1967-68 1968-69 1969-70 1970-71 1971-72 1972-73 1973-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84

David J. Greiling Robert Roush Vern Steckley Garrett Moore Ben Courtney Lauren Atz Dave Baker Alan R. Elliott Charles Hosler William Marshall Paul R. Wolford Jack D. Newkirk John B. Hutchins Walter Weaver Craig Fischer Tom Johnson Robert Todd Kenneth Lash Robert Kropp Ben Earley Neil Markle Duane Axel Rev. Kenneth Napier Paul Hougland Fred Manahan Kenneth Stark Virg Harman David Hosler Robert Nelson Peter Bottomley Barry Graden A. Stephen Pyle John F. Hageman

1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

R. Alan Roush Terry Housholder Don Harris Hal Hossinger Robert Wolford Mark Peterson Brian Baker David Wilson Nelson Harrod Brian DeCamp William Soboslay Max Platt Al Moore Joe Atz Scott Frick Dave Snyder Larry Doyle Jerry Jansen Jacqueline Beery Harry Milton Andy Strack Randy Kline Doug Jansen Robert “R. J.” Ruse Glen Bontrager Heidi Ramer Dave Hunter Fred Kreigh Al Ensley Al Huth Jerry Davis David Hockley Casey Weimer

Kendallville Rotary Club officers, 2017-2018 • Eric Blackman, president • Chris Jansen, president-elect • Donna Wolfe, secretary

• Terry Gaff, treasurer • Lisa Charles, director • Brad Graden, director

• David Hockley, director • Tyler Knox, director • Casey Weimer, past president

Congratulations on performing a century of service to our community and the world!

I am proud to serve as this year’s Kendallville Rotary Club President and as Noble County Prosecuting Attorney SERVICE ABOVE SELF! From Eric, Jen, Macy, and Erin Blackman Page 18

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Biographies of Rotary Club presidents Clarence J. Munton

1918-1919; 1919-1920 State Sen. Clarence J. Munton was the first president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, serving the first two years, 19181919 and 19191920.

Born in Greenville, Michigan, June 15, 1875, he was the son of John W. and Alice (McClure) Munton. He married Suzette Whitney Church on Nov. 17, 1897, at Greenville, Michigan.

Munton The family lived for several years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before coming to Kendallville in 1911, when Munton accepted a position as the general manager of the Fort Wayne & Northwestern Interurban Co. He was also president of the Noble Motor Truck Corp.

Active in Republican politics, Munton served as chairman of the Noble County Republican Central Committee. In February 1917, Munton won a special election for the seat of the late state Sen. William T. Green, a prominent Albion physician who died of pneumonia the previous month. Munton served as Indiana state senator from the joint district of Noble, LaGrange and Steuben counties until 1920.

Munton was instrumental in the establishment of the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Members of the Fort Wayne Rotary Club helped organized the Kendallville club.

It was officially established at a meeting in the Gawthrop Inn, 115 N. Main St., with 25 charter members. Serving with Munton in the first year of the Kendallville Rotary Club were secretary Orval A. Van Kirk, treasurer Amos R. Otis, and sergeant-at-arms John E. Lang.

Four months after becoming president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, a horrible tragedy struck the Munton family. On Saturday, July 6, 1918, Munton’s wife, Suzette, 19-year-old son, Sidney, and his 16-year-old daughter, Alice, were killed at the East Street (now Park Avenue) railroad crossing in Kendallville, when their auto was struck by an oncoming train.

The three Munton family members had gone to the Lake Shore railroad

tracks to see a number of American soldiers in Army motor trucks go through on a train. The Muntons were on their way home when the fatal accident occurred.

Sidney was driving the car and attempted to turn around when the train struck the vehicle.

The funeral for the Munton family members was held on Monday, July 8, 1918, at the Munton home, 710 Diamond Street. Thomas Ellison, the first reader of the Christian Science Church at Fort Wayne, led the service.

A large procession of automobiles followed the three hearses to the railroad station in Kendallville after the funeral.

Several hundred people waited at the station until a northbound G.R. & I train left with the bodies and family and close friends for the burials in Greenville, Michigan.

Among the hundreds of mourners sending sympathy telegrams to Sen. Munton were Indiana U.S. Sen. James E. Watson and Indiana Gov. James P. Goodrich.

Following the funerals for his wife and children, Munton returned to his home in Kendallville from Greenville, Michigan, on July 10, 1918. On the front page of The News Sun the following day, the following story was reported: “C. J. Munton returned last evening from Greenville, Michigan, where he laid his loved ones in their last long rest, amidst scenes that will never be forgotten. When the funeral party that left here (Kendallville) in the forenoon and arrived there (in Greenville) late in the afternoon, they were met at the train by a large concourse of sorrowing friends, whose very presence soothed and sustained the stricken relatives of the silent ones whose lives had gone out without a moment’s warning.

“The funeral cortege wound its way slowly to the beautiful cemetery, schoolmates and childhood friends being the pall bearers; and there with the sun just setting in the western sky…the solemn services were said. `“Mr Munton’s father and mother and Mrs. James Anderson, a niece of Mr. Munton, accompanied him home (to Kendallville) and will remain here until other arrangements are made.

“Mr. Munton was at his desk today and among other things said: “During the years that my family and I have lived in Kendallville, we had

become so firmly attached to our friends and to Kendallville and its institutions, that it was here that we intended to live and make our home. The fact that my family has been taken from me, will not deter me from continuing in the work in which I have been engaged for so many years. In fact, it will perhaps, if possible, serve to make me more vigorous in working for the good of all those things in Kendallville, which are the best for its citizens. It is a delightful realization to recognize the claim of my friends and business associates in all of the enterprises in which we are interested and I shall endeavor to carry on the work which is mine to do with never a faltering step and with a deep sense of the obligation which rests upon me. Kendallville will be my home and I know of no reason why I should not continue actively in all the work which it has been my pleasure to assist in carrying on.”

Nearly a year later, Munton remarried.

His second wife was Edna L. Greenwell of Huntertown. He retired from politics in 1920.

He moved to Huntertown and later to Fort Wayne. While living in Kendallville, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was a 32nd degree Mason and was affiliated with the Kendallville Lodge 276, F. & A. M. and Apollo Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar and the Elks Lodge.

Munton’s second wife died in 1941.

He suffered a stroke at the age of 64 and died at the Masonic Home in Franklin, Indiana, Feb. 8, 1949, at the age of 74. He is buried in Franklin, Indiana.

John E. ‘Jack’ Lang

1920-1921 Business executive John E. “Jack” Lang was the second president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, serving from 1920-1921.

He was born Dec. 15, 1881, in Kendallville, the son of Julius P. and Lena (Smith) Lang Sr. His father served as Noble County treasurer and founded the firm of J. P. Lang & Sons, shoe merchants in Kendallville.

Jack Lang served as secretary-treasurer of the Raber & Lang Manufacturing Co., Kendallville. He entered into partnership with O. P. Raber in 1908, after serving as a clerk for Flint & Walling Co. for eight years.

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In 1905, Lang married Maude Raber.

Lang had a successful career in advertising for 16 years in Fort Wayne and returned to Kendallville in 1952. He re-established his Liberal Arts Advertising Co. at 124 ½ S. Main St., and was active in the business until suffering a stroke a few days before his death on March 26, 1956.

His wife died March 14, 1957.

Lang, who had served on the Kendallville City Council, was active in civic affairs. He was a past master of Kendallville Lodge 276, F&A.M. and a member of the Kendallville Lodge 1194. He also was a member of the First Methodist Church.

He and his wife, who had no children, are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Reuben H. ‘Rube’ Adams

1921-1922; 1926-1927 Semi-professional baseball player and businessman Reuben H. “Rube” Adams served as Kendallville Rotary Club president in 1921-1922 and again in 1926-1927.

Adams was born in LaGrange County, Oct. 22, 1897, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer B. Adams. He gradu-

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ated from Kendallville High School and joined his father in the Ford automobile agency in Kendallville.

Adams was a strong athlete and a well-known baseball player, playing locally and for the semi-professional Fort Wayne Lincoln Lifes and the Kendallville Reds. He also managed the Kendallville Reds.

Around 1923, he purchased his father’s interest in the Ford agency. In 1930, he went to work for Associates Investment Co., whose home office was in South Bend. He was a vice president for the company, managing the eastern division of the company. For a time, he lived in Boston and in Washington, D.C. A veteran of World War I, in addition to the Rotary Club, Adams was active in the Elks Club and the Masons in Kendallville. He also was involved with Boy Scouts.

His first wife, Mary Pauline (Calkins) Adams, died Aug. 6, 1945. His second wife, Margaret “Winnie” Adams, died Nov. 22, 1989.

Adams died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Jan. 8, 1953. He was 55. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Among Adam’s survivors were two

sons, Jack Adams, who had a career in the U.S. Navy, and a son, Dr. Reuben Adams Jr., who was a medical doctor and professor in Texas.

George J. Trombold

1922-1923 Business manager George John Trombold was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1922-1923.

Trombold was born Sept. 17, 1877, in Pittsfield, Illinois, the son of Augustus C. and Lucinda (Ritter) Trombold. His father, a native of near Dresden, Germany, was a Civil War veteran.

Trombold married Margaret Stevenson on Sept. 18, 1905, in Iola, Kansas.

They had four sons and one daughter.

Trombold was in the manufacturing business for 19 years. He lived in Texas and in Iola, Kansas, and Chanute, Kansas, before coming to Stroh, Indiana, to work as manager of the Wabash Portland Cement Company. The Stroh business was served by the Wabash 4th District railroad that was built mostly to serve the plant. The Wabash Stroh branch of the railroad ran from Helmer to Stroh.

In the spring of 1922, Trombold purchased the R. E. Fullerton Bottling

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Works Co. in Kendallville and moved his family to Kendallville.

While in Chanute, he was a member of the Rotary Club. When he came to Stroh, he joined the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Trombold later moved his family back to Kansas, where their children were raised.

Trombold died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 6, 1954,t at the age of 76. His wife died Nov. 26, 1987, in Monett, Missouri. She was 105.

Glenn E. Thrapp

1923-1924; 1937-1938 Prominent Kendallville attorney Glenn E. Thrapp was a charter member of the Kendallville Rotary Club. He served as president of the club in 1923-1924 and again in 19371938.

Thrapp was born Dec. 4, 1892, in Deshler, Ohio, to Elmer E. and Anna (Cottingham) Thrapp.

He married Ruth Yeiser of Avilla, on July 26, 1924.

Thrapp A graduate of Avilla High School, he earned his law degree from Valparaiso University in 1912. He was a veteran of World War I, serving as a major in the U.S. Army Artillery. He was prosecuting attorney in Noble and Whitley counties from 1932 to 1936. He also served as Kendallville City Attorney at various times between 1920 and 1960, and also from 1964 to 1968.

He was secretary-treasurer of the First Federal Savings and Loan of Kendallville from 1941 to 1976, and was Kendallville school board attorney from 1940 to 1958.

In addition to Rotary, he was a member of the American Legion Post 86, the Indiana state and Noble County bar associations and Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville.

Thrapp died July 16, 1978, at the age of 85. His wife, Ruth, died March 14, 1975, at the age of 80. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

The Thrapps’ two children were, Elizabeth Bou, wife of Dr. B. L. Bou of Corozal, Puerto Rico; and John C. Thrapp, a longtime Kendallville attorney, who died in 2010.

Ralph W. Clark

1924-1925 Utility company manager Ralph W. Clark was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1924-1925.

Clark was a funeral director for his father in Auburn, Indiana, before joining the Indiana Fuel & Light Company.

He was an assistant in the company’s Auburn office until Jan. 1, 1919, when he took over as manager of the Kendallville office.

The year he was elected president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, 1924, he was vice president of the Indiana Fuel & Light Co. Research failed to find additional information about Clark. He apparently moved away from Kendallville.

Camillus H. Kimmel

1925-1926 Longtime Kendallville businessman Camillus Hadsell Kimmel was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1925-1926.

Born in December 1871 in Wayne Township, Noble County, he was the son of Henry and Lucinda Kimmel. At the age of 20, he joined his father in the laundry business and became head of the firm, Kendallville Steam Kimmel Laundry, later Kendallville Laundry & Dry Cleaning, 218 E. Mitchell St., upon the death of his father in 1923. He also was associated in the dairy business, owning several farms near the city.

On Oct. 2, 1898, he married Ada Valletta Shaffer in Garrett. At the time of their marriage, Valletta was the bookkeeper of the Kimmel laundry business.

They had one son, Henry S. Kimmel, also a longtime Kendallville Rotarian, who also operated the family laundry business for many years.

Camillus Kimmel served on the Kendallville City Council for eight years, from 1918-1926, and was chairman of the Board of Works. He promoted the establishment of U.S. 6 through Kendallville and saw his dream of the transcontinental road passing through the city.

He was also active in the work of Boy Scouts and was district commissioner of the Anthony Wayne area. He was a member of the Kendallville Chamber of

Commerce, several lodges in the city, and with the Scottish Rite Masons and Shrine in Fort Wayne.

Kimmel died May 5, 1944, at the age of 72. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. His wife, Ada Valletta Shaffer Kimmel, died May 9, 1962. Their son, Henry Shaffer Kimmel, died Dec. 7, 1999, at the age of 93. Henry was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Luella Treesh, two sons, Richard and Wayne Kimmel, and his daughter, Connie McGee.

John W. Hart

1927-1928 A veteran executive of the McCray Refrigerator Co., John W. Hart, was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1927-1928.

The son of John D. and Sarah Jane (Homsher) Hart, he was born July 23, 1885, in Avilla, and was a lifelong Noble County resident.

On Sept. 25, 1907, he married Lura D. Barker at Albion. He graduated from InterHart national College, Fort Wayne, in 1906.

Hart went to work for McCray in March 1907, first as secretary to the general sales manager. Later, Hart worked in sales for McCray, traveling throughout Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

During his 44 years with McCray, Hart filled every executive office except that of chairman of the board.

Elmer E. McCray, founder and president of McCray Refrigerator Co., named Hart to the executive committee of the company in 1936. Upon the death of Elmer McCray in December 1937, Hart was named vice president and secretary, with Lena McCray, Elmer McCray’s widow, named president.

In January 1950, Hart became president of McCray. He held that title until his retirement on Aug. 1, 1951, at the age of 66. He was succeeded by Henry H. Haase.

Besides his membership in Rotary, Hart’s civic duties were many. During World War I, he headed up all of the Liberty Loan campaigns in the community.

He served on the school board for nine years (1928-1937), was president of the Kendallville Country Club (1942-1944), and was the campaign manager of the

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Kendallville Welfare Council.

During World War II, Hart served as president of the Commercial Refrigerator Manufacturers Association. He was also a member of the War Production Board.

After his retirement from McCray, Hart entered the brokerage business in 1952. Beginning in July 1963, he was employed by Patterson Securities & Investment Co. and in 1964 passed the Midwest Stock Exchange examination.

Hart lived at 502 Mathews Street in Kendallville with his wife, Lura, and their children Thelma, Gwendlyn and Jack.

Hart died Aug. 27, 1969, at the age of 84. His wife, Lura, died Jan. 9, 1977, at the age of 90. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Samuel H. Galloway

1928-1929 Educator and banker Samuel H. Galloway was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1928-1929.

A native of Noble County, Galloway was a school teacher in Noble County schools for many years. Earlier in his career, he was a banker, associated with the Kendallville Trust & Savings Co. and the Noble County Bank & Trust Co. in Kendallville.

A Republican, Galloway served on the Kendallville City Council from 1926 to 1929. He also served on the Lakeside Hospital Board in Kendallville.

Galloway died April 14, 1955, at his rural Kimmell home. He was 68. His wife, Jennie, and three sisters survived him. He is buried in Sparta Cemetery, in western Noble County.

George F. Diggins

1929-1930 Master carpenter and contractor George F. Diggins, who was well known as the designer of many buildings in Kendallville, including the McCray Mansion on East Mitchell Street, was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 19291930.

Diggins was born Feb. 21, 1872, at the Diggins homestead on Drake Road, the son of Artemus and Caroline Diggins. In 1832, his father, at the age of 3, had come to Kendallville with his parents. Artemus’ first friends were Potawatomi boys who lived in the vicinity north of Kendallville.

George Diggins married Flora Pierce on Dec. 18, 1901.

Diggins was in the contracting business for many years. In 1928, he built the private home for Elmer E. McCray, presPage 22

ident of McCray Refrigerator Co., 703 E. Mitchell St. The 10,000-square-foot Colonial Revival home, covers five city lots, 1.04 acres, and includes a separate three-bay carriage house with chauffer’s residence. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes.

Diggins, who lived at 220 S. Morton St., died Nov. 3, 1949, at the age of 77.

His wife, Flora, died Aug. 13, 1958, at the age of 79. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. They were the parents of two daughters, Josephine Diggins of Kendallville, Mrs. Albert M. Wiggins of Pittsburgh, and a son, Clark P. Diggins of Flint, Mich.

Charles N. Cline

1930-1931 A one-time medical doctor and later lumberman, Charles N. Cline was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1930-1931.

Born Jan. 29, 1875, in Hartford City, he was the son of William W. and Harriett (Chaffee) Cline. He graduated from high school in Hartford City and attended Purdue University for two years. In 1902, he graduated from the Indiana Medical School, and for a time he practiced medicine with his uncle, W. C. Chaffee, in Huntington.

Cline married Edna Hutchinson of Hartford City in 1903.

He came to Kendallville in 1904, with his brother, A. B. Cline. They formed the Cline Brothers Lumber Co. after purchasing the McKeen Lumber Co. Cline was an active member of Rotary, the Odd Fellows Lodge and the First Methodist Church, Kendallville. He also was a stockholder in the Noble Truck Corporation.

Cline, who lived at 109 N. Riley St., Kendallville, died on March 21, 1948, at the age of 73. His wife, Edna, died on the same date in 1964. She was 88. They were buried in Lake View Cemetery.

They were the parents of two daughters, Gertrude Markle of Huntington and Lucile Beckman of Fort Wayne, and a son who died in infancy.

Augustus Fetter

1931-1932 A partner in the Campbell & Fetter Bank, Augustus Fetter was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 19311932.

Born in July 1868 in DeKalb County to Jacob and Rosena Fetter, he married Alda Cook, June 20, 1895.

Fetter was president of Berridge Shear Co. in Sturgis, Michigan, and associated with the Campbell & Fetter Bank of Kendallville. He also was involved in the grain and onion business.

Fetter was a charter member of Fetter the Kendallville Rotary Club and also active in the Ben Hur Court and Elks Lodge. He also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kendallville.

He died at his family home at 120 S. Orchard St., on May 24, 1946, at the age of 77. His wife, Alda, died Dec. 17, 1960, at the age of 94. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery. Their survivors included a son, Russell Fetter of Sturgis, Michigan, and two grandchildren.

Ralston V. Fischer

1932-1933 Newspaperman Ralston Van “Busty” Fischer was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1932-1933.

Born Sept. 11, 1888, in Goshen, he was the son of Henry and Emma (Wyland) Fischer.

He spent his boyhood in Nappanee and came to Kendallville in 1903.

Fischer went to work for the Kendallville Daily News in July 1907, the year he Fischer graduated from Kendallville High School. The newspaper consolidated with the Kendallville Daily Sun in 1911, and he joined the new firm, Kendallville Publishing Company. He was city editor for The News-Sun from 1921 to 1937, and became editor and general manager in 1937, succeeding the late C. W. Bridenthal. He served in that role until his death in 1958, ending a career in journalism that spanned more than 50 years.

Fischer was a veteran of World War I, serving from 1917-1919, in France.

His mother died in January 1919, when he was serving in France. He returned to work at The News-Sun after his military service.

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Fischer married Minnie Eleanore Bickle on March 21, 1920. They had two sons, Robert Fischer of New York and Craig Fischer, a longtime Kendallville pharmacist and Kendallville Rotarian.

R. V. Fischer was an active member of the Kendallville Rotary Club and was proud of his unbroken perfect attendance record of more than 35 years. He also was affiliated with the Masonic order, the American Legion Post 86, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2749. He was a member of the First Methodist Church.

Fischer died March 17, 1958, at the age of 69. His wife, Minnie, died on May 21, 1995. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Isaiah O. Reinoehl

1933-1934 Hardware businessman Isaiah O. Reinoehl was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1933-1934.

Born Feb. 19, 1873, in Fairfield Township, DeKalb County, he was the son of Solomon and Martha Reinoehl.

He married Vida Sherlock on Dec. 24, 1895.

His first job was that of a school teacher in Fairfield Township. He later

taught in the Longyear School, the Sawyer School and in the Kendallville city schools.

In 1907, after 17 years as an educator, he took a position as a bookkeeper for a refrigerator company in Fort Reinoehl Smith, Arkansas.

In 1908, he returned to Kendallville and in 1911, he formed the Kendallville Hardware store at 120 S. Main St. His partners were C. R. Fredrick of Auburn and Frank Strock of Hudson.

In 1931, Reinoehl was elected president of the Indiana Hardware Dealers Association. He also served several years as a director of the association.

In addition to his service to Rotary, Reinoehl was a member of the Kendallville Lodge 316, I. O. O. F. and was active with the Noble County Loan Association, serving several years as president. He also was a member of the Evangelical Church.

On March 2, 1931, his wife died.

In February 1932, he married Lucinda Chadwick.

Reinoehl died July 5, 1939, at the age of 66. His second wife, Lucinda, died July 31, 1974, at the age of 95. They are buried in the Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Reinoehl had one daughter from his first marriage, Martha Maurine, who lived in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carl A. Miller

1934-1935 Well-known Kendallville businessman Carl Athur Miller was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 19341935.

He was born June 14, 1897, in Archbold, Ohio, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Miller. He married Leona Louise Swartz in January 1918. They had a daughter, Margaret. Leona died Oct. 18, 1929. On Dec. 27, 1931, he Miller

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married Laura Clay Hayes in Indianapolis.

A Kendallville resident since he was 13 years old, he was a graduate of Kendallville High School. He served his country during World War I. Miller was identified with the retail hardware and plumbing and heating business for more than 30 years, having entered the business with his father in 1919.

The Miller-Lynch Hardware store was located at 203 S. Main St., Kendallville.

His partner was Fred J. Lynch.

Miller was active in the National Retail Hardware Association and in 1942 was named a member of the board of governors of the association. In 1951, he became president of the national association, which had 22,000 members throughout the country and a staff of 40 persons at the headquarters in Indianapolis.

In addition to Rotary, Miller served as president of the McCray Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and was active with the hospital governing body for 24 years. He was president of the Kendallville Public Schools and a member of the school board of trustees for 18 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian

Church, the Kendallville Lodge 1194, BPOE and American Legion Post 86.

He died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home, 804 E. Diamond St., on May 24, 1955, at the age of 57. At the time of his death, he was being groomed to possibly become the Rotary District Governor. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery.

Miller’s second wife, Laura Hayes Miller, died in September 1977, at the age of 81. She is buried in North Salem, her hometown.

The Rev. Dr. Ralph W. Graham

1935-1936 A Methodist minister who served both in World War I and World War II, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Waldo Graham was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1935-1936.

The Rev. Dr. Graham, born July 14, 1899, was a veteran of World War I and served as a chaplain for four years during World War II. He received degrees from DePauw University, Butler University and an S.T.B. degree from Boston University.

He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree by DePauw University in 1940.

During his ministerial career, Dr.

Graham served in Methodist churches at Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, Decatur, Greentown, Hartford City, Kendallville, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie, Sharpsville and South Bend. He founded the Parr and Trinity Methodist churches at Kokomo and also was a professor of sociology at Simpson College in Iowa.

He died July 6, 1977, in Greencastle at the age of 77. He had been a member of the Greencastle Rotary Club. His wife, Christine M. Vickery Graham, died July 30, 1994, at the age of 91. They had two sons, Bruce William Graham and Dr. Jack W. Graham, who was a distinguished psychologist and educator at Southern Illinois University.

The Rev. Dr. Graham and his wife are buried in Greencastle.

George Jay Hopkins Sr.

1936-1937 A skilled engineer, George Jay Hopkins was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1936-1937.

Hopkins was born Aug. 15, 1885, in Garnett, Kansas, the son of Horace and Mary Jane (Zinn) Hopkins .

He was a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he majored in mechanical

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engineering.

On Sept. 25, 1912, he married Joy Gertrude Bechtel in her hometown of Goshen, Indiana. The couple had two children, Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Hopkins Nibbelink and George Jay “Jack” Hopkins. While in Kendallville, the family lived at 203 W. Rush St. Hopkins worked as an engineer for John Deere in Moline, Ill. and in St. Louis from 1915-1917; for Fairbanks-Morse in Rockville, Illinois; for P.B. Yates Mechanical, 1918-1920, in Rock County, Wisconsin; for Harder Refrigeration and Silo Company, 1920-1927, in Cobleskill, New York; for McCray Refrigeration Co. in Kendallville from 1927-1939, and for the United States Small Business Productions Board from 1940-1942.

Hopkins was also a gifted amateur photographer.

By 1950, Hopkins developed Parkinson’s disease, and he and his wife moved to the Methodist Memorial Hospital in Warren, Indiana. Joy Hopkins died there Oct. 21, 1951, and Jay died four years later on Sept. 19, 1955. He and his wife are buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Warren, Indiana.

Horace O. Breiding

1938-1939 A freight agent for the New York Central Railroad, Horace O. Breiding was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1938-1939.

Born April 15, 1880, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, he was the son of Philip and Sarah Ann Breiding, but came to the United States at an early age.

On June 15, 1909, he married Lillian Belle Baker.

He moved to Kendallville in 1935

from Goshen, where he had been associated with the New York Central Railroad.

He worked for the railroad company in Kendallville for 15 years until his retirement in 1950.

Breiding was active in Rotary and was a member of the Kendallville Lodge 276, F. & A. M., and Kendallville Lodge 1194, and BPO Elks. He served many years on the Noble County Alcohol Beverage Board.

He died April 19, 1961, at McCray Memorial Hospital, Kendallville, after suffering a stroke in his home at 105 N. Orchard St. He was 81. His wife, Lillian, died Jan. 3, 1966. She was 80. There were no immediate survivors. They were buried in the Violett Cemetery, Goshen.

Ernest Karlen

1939-1940 Kraft Foods plant manager Ernest Karlen was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1939-1940.

Born Sept. 6, 1899, in Thorpe, Wisconsin, he was the son of Edward and Louisa (Bilang) Karlen Sr. On April 13, 1921, he married Ella Ziehr.

Karlen went to work for Kraft in 1928. When the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Company purchased the Breyer Ice Cream Company in Kendallville in 1934, Karlen came from Sharpsville, Indiana, to become the manager. He held the position in Kendallville for 11 years. In September 1945, he was transferred to the Kraft Cheese plant at Decatur, Indiana. During his career, he moved to two other Kraft plants in Lebanon, Indiana, and Waukegan, Ill. When Karlen first came to Kendallville, the Kraft plant only produced cheese. By 1935, Kraft’s caramel base

operation in Alma, Wisconsin, moved to Kendallville. Four years later, the plant stopped making cheese entirely and began manufacturing whole caramel. It soon became the largest caramel factory in the United States.

During World War II, sugar and dairy products were rationed for the war effort, and Kraft’s caramels almost disappeared from candy counters around the nation, but the Kendallville plant produced the caramels used in G. I. food rations.

After 30 years of service with Kraft, Karlen retired, making his home one-half of the year at Pretty Lake near Wolcottville and the other half in Key Colony Beach, Florida.

Karlen was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church of Kendallville, a Rotarian, and local agent for the Aid Association for Lutherans.

He died on Feb. 2, 1970, at the age of 70. His wife, Ella, died Sept. 12, 2000, at the age of 100. Their children were Lorraine Seidel and Dorothy Leighty of Kendallville, Lois Kester of Waterloo, and Pat Flickinger of Fairfax Station, Virginia. Preceding her in death were a son and daughter.

William V. Herr

1940-1941 A veteran McCray Corporation executive, William Voyle Herr, was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1940-1941.

Born in Stroh on Feb. 23, 1898, Herr was the son of William and Anna (Walker) Herr. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1917 and began working for McCray in Kendallville the same year.

When the U.S. entered World War I in

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1917, he joined an Army unit at Indiana University. After the Armistice was signed in November 1918, he became a student of corporate law at the university. When he returned to Kendallville for a holiday, an executive at McCray persuaded him to rejoin the firm in the credit and collection department. He remained with the company his entire career, retiring in 1965, with over 47 years of service.

In 1925, he married Marjorie Smith.

They had one child, Susannah, who was married to Lauren Atz, another Kendallville Rotarian.

Herr was active in the Rotary Club, Trinity Church United Methodist, and Civil Defense. He was a leader in the community’s economic development efforts, the United Fund, the Red Cross and state and county mental health associations.

Herr died Nov. 15, 1970. He was 72.

His wife, Marjorie, died Jan. 5, 1993, at the age of 92. They were buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Paul S. Sheets

1941-1942 Dentist Paul S. Sheets was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1941-1942.

Born in Whitley County, Nov 7, 1905, he was the son of Emmanuel and Clara (Sibert) Sheets. On June 30, 1929, in Churubusco, he married Evelyn G. Raypole.

Dr. Sheets was a graduate of the Indiana University School of Dentistry and practiced in Kendallville for 46 ½ years.

In addition to Rotary, he was a member and trustee of the Elks Lodge, a life

• • • • • • • •

member of the American and Indiana dental associations, and a member of the Isaac Knapp Dental Association.

He died on Jan. 11, 1994, at the age of 88. His wife, Evelyn, preceded him in death on Jan. 19, 1992. They were buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. They had three daughters, Paula Byers of Worthington, Ohio, and Mary Zerkle and Christine Hellwig of Kendallville.

Robert L. Carson

1942-1943 An auditor for the McCray Refrigeration Company, Robert L. Carson, was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1942-1943.

Little is known of Mr. Carson. He was living at 534 Diamond St., Kendallville, according to the 1938 Kendallville City Directory. He was listed as an auditor at McCray. His wife was LaVerne and his son was Robert L. Carson.

The 1943 city directory lists the Carson family living at 928 Lake Park Dr., Kendallville. The city directory in 1951 does not list the family as living in Kendallville.

The News Sun ran a front page story about Carson’s installation as Kendallville Rotary Club president on July 1, 1942. The meeting was held at the Kendallville Country Club. Carson succeeded Dr. Paul S. Sheets as president.

The story says that Carson has served as secretary of Rotary prior to his installation as president. Other officers under Carson were Jesse Newkirk, vice president, and E. H. Miller as secretary.

The members of the board of directors were G. J. Hopkins, Ernie Karlen, Voyle Herr, R.V. Fischer and Dr. Sheets.

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Jesse E. Newkirk

1943-1944 Lumber company owner Jesse E. Newkirk was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1943-1944.

Born Jan. 5, 1906, in Bedford, he was the son of Kirk and Henrietta (Radcliff) Newkirk. On July 26, 1924, in Brown County, he married Ruby George.

Newkirk was a lumberman his entire adult life. In 1941, he left Denver, Colorado, where he had managed a lumber company. He moved to Kendallville to manage Kendall Lumber & Coal Inc. He and his son, Jack, later purchased the firm.

Newkirk was a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club, the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce, Trinity Church United Methodist, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star and the Indiana Lumber & Builders Association.

He was instrumental in organizing and funding the building of the Kendallville Foundation for Youth and was the second Indiana recipient of the Boys Clubs of America medallion.

Newkirk died Jan. 30, 1980. He was 74. His wife, Ruby, died Dec. 4, 2000, at the age of 94. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Their only child was Jack D. Newkirk of New Haven.

Edward H. Miller

1944-1945 Edward H. Miller, longtime associated with the J. C. Penney Co., was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1944-1945.

Miller and his wife, Edna, lived

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at 740 Richmond St., Kendallville, in the early 1940s. Their children were Robert and Mary Lou. Miller was transferred to various other J. C. Penney’s stores during his career. He remained at the Kendallville J.C. Penney’s store until November 1947, when he assumed the management of the store in Dixon, Illinois.

Later, he was the manager in Martinsville, Indiana, and came to Angola as manager of the Penney’s store there on July 1, 1953. He resigned his position in 1958 when he purchased the Douglas Department Store in LaGrange.

On Nov. 20, 1945, Miller gave a program to the Kendallville Rotary Club entitled, “War Time Retailing and the Present Outlook.” His talk occurred about 100 days after the conclusion of World War II. It focused on the price controls and the rules established by the War Production Board and the War Labor Board, which were established by executive orders from President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941 and 1942.

“No one foresaw the problems that would develop in the application of the acts,” he said. “Most every retailer had an idea how it could be done better in regard to his own type of business. But considering the magnitude of the job and the various pressure groups, the OPA (Office of Price Administration) did not do a bad overall job.”

Miller told of the shortage of goods during World War II, which forced retailers to experiment with new lines of merchandise.

The only other research found about the Miller family was in regards to Edward Miller’s son, Robert.

Robert J. Miller was a graduate of Kendallville High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Knox College. He was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran and a recipient of the Bronze Star for meritorious service and was discharged as a captain.

His career included being executive producer of Dana Productions in New York City from 1955 to 1961; and vice president of The Medical Protective Insurance Co., Fort Wayne, from 1966 to 1994.

He was active in theater and appeared in many productions with the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre from the 1960s-1980s.

He died Jan. 5, 2009, at the age of 79. His wife, Carolyn Miller of Fort Wayne survived along with three sons.

His sister, Mary Lou Deibert of Bradenton, Florida, also survived.

Winfred E. Gaskill

1945-1946 Banker Winfred E. “Bud” Gaskill was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1945-1946.

He was born Oct. 9, 1904, in Auburn, to Leo and Inez (Marsh) Gaskill.

Gaskill came to Kendallville with his parents in 1908. He married Margaret Jane France on June 17, 1928, in Kendallville. They lived at 210 E. Harding St., Kendallville, for many years.

Gaskill was a banker his entire career and was manager for the Farmer’s State Bank, LaGrange, when he retired.

He was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church, Kendallville, the Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite, Fort Wayne.

He died June 2, 1972, at the age of 67. His wife preceded him in death on Feb. 13, 1966. She was 58. Their daughter, Nancy Dye of Minerva, Ohio, survived her parents.

Lloyd S. Brumbaugh

1946-1947 Longtime Kendallville educator Lloyd S. Brumbaugh was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1946-1947.

Born July 4, 1891, in Huntington County, he was the son of Noah and Rebecca (Shideler) Brumbaugh.

Brumbaugh received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana State Teachers College Brumbaugh in Terre Haute in 1917, majoring in science. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I, serving 18 months in Europe. He obtained the rank of first lieutenant.

On June 23, 1920, in Mulberry, Indiana, he married Elnora E. Eichinger, daughter of Samuel J. and Emma J. (Allyn) Eichinger.

Resuming his schooling after the war, he received his master’s degree from Columbia University, majoring in school administration.

Brumbaugh moved from Huntington to Kendallville in September 1922. He was a teacher, principal and superintendent for Kendallville Public Schools for 36 years. He was Kendallville High School principal from 1922-1944, and

on Feb. 3, 1944, he was named superintendent of Kendallville Public Schools.

He held that position until his retirement in May 1958 at the age of 66.

During his tenure as superintendent, the North Side Elementary School was opened in 1952, and the South Side Elementary School and 4,000-seat-capacity high school gym was planned for completion in 1959.

In addition to Rotary, Brumbaugh was a member of the American Legion Post 86, various teachers’ associations and Trinity Church United Methodist. He also was active with the Noble County Tuberculosis Association.

Brumbaugh’s wife, Elnora, was a graduate of Indiana State Teachers College and a member of the National Retired Teachers Association. She died June 3, 1986, at the age of 90. Lloyd Brumbaugh died July 20, 1990. He was 99. They were buried in Lake View Cemetery. Their two sons, Allen Brumbaugh of Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Frederick Brumbaugh of Muncie, survived them.

Dale Schinbeckler

1947-1948 An educator for 43 years, Dale Schinbeckler was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1947-1948.

Born Jan. 10, 1917, in Coessee, Indiana, he was the son of George Ervin and Imogene (Schrader) Schinbeckler. He graduated from Columbia City High School in 1934 and from Purdue University in 1939, with a bachelor Schinbeckler of education and chemistry degree. He obtained his master of education degree from Iowa State University in 1941.

On April 15, 1941, in Brimfield, Schinbeckler married Helen K. Edmonds.

Schinbeckler was an agriculture teacher for 43 years. He first started teaching vocational agriculture in 1939 at Kendallville High School. In 1964, he moved to the Howe Military School and taught chemistry until he retired in May 1982.

Schinbeckler was a Rotarian and member of the Wayne Center United Methodist Church.

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Schinbeckler died April 8, 2014, at the age of 97. His wife, Helen, a former East Noble school board member, preceded him in death on Aug. 25, 2003, at the age of 83. Their two sons were David Schinbeckler of Kendallville and Forrest Schinbeckler of Plymouth.

Ronald H. Jones

1948-1949 Insurance agent Ronald Hall Jones was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1948-1949.

Born in Kendallville on July 5, 1894, he was the son of John Austin and Celia (Hall) Jones. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1913, and was a veteran of World War I. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant on July 3, 1918, and served overseas until his discharge on March 8, 1919.

His first wife, Ursula Devault, died Sept. 7, 1933, at the age of 35. He married Josephine C. Carteaux on Feb. 11, 1936, in Auburn.

After the stint in the military, Jones joined his father in business in Kendallville. He later became president of Jones Insurance Bond Inc. and was president of the First Federal Savings & Loan Inc. from 1961-1965.

He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge 276 and the American Legion, VFW, IOOF, and Elks.

Jones died on Feb. 2, 1966, at the age of 71. His wife, Josephine, died Nov. 29, 1986. She was 87. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children were Mrs. Roy (Mary Jane) Reichart and Thomas Jones. Another daughter died in infancy.

Laurence D. Baker

1949-1950 Prominent Kendallville native Laurence Dooley Baker, known as “Larry,” a teacher, businessman and state legislator, was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1949-1950.

Born in Kendallville in 1894, he was the son of Will and Jane Baker. His grandfather, James R. Baker (18271905), had come to Kendallville from Columbia Baker City in 1858 and formed a business known as J. R. Baker & Sons Inc. Larry Baker later became president of the manufacturing business, which eventually closed and sold its property to the McCray Refrigeration Co. Baker graduated from Kendallville High School in 1912, and earned a degree from Indiana University in 1918.

He spent the next 27 years as an educator. He was principal at Gas City, superintendent at Remington, and for 16 years was assistant principal of the junior high in Kendallville (1927-1943).

During his years in education, he raised peonies as a hobby. He won first prize for the American Peony Society Show at the Chicago Century of Progress in 1933 and presented peonies to Amelia Earhart, the famous aviator. He eventually opened L. D. Baker Peony Gardens on U.S. 6 West, Kendallville, and also had peony farms in Blooming-

Kendallville

ton and in Corydon.

Baker was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 19451958, and for six years was chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He was narrowly defeated for the post of speaker of the House in 1951.

The first bill Baker introduced as a House member was to make the Gene Stratton-Porter home in Rome City a state memorial.

Among the highlights of his career as a legislator were being chosen by the Civil Defense to represent Indiana at the first atomic bomb test in Nevada, addressing by invitation the Hawaiian Senate in Honolulu at its first budget session, and being sent as special commissioner to confer personally with President Herbert Hoover on plans to streamline Indiana state government.

His concern for people, his sense of humor, and his ability to write poetry to fit any occasion earned him many friends across the state. In his last year in the state Legislature, 1958, Baker was honored by having the peony made the Indiana State Flower.

He was appointed to the State Tax Board in 1961, serving until 1963.

In 1962, he received the distinguished Alumnus Award by Indiana University for service to Indiana University and the state of Indiana.

Baker died March 5, 1968, at the age of 73. His wife, Frances, who was active in the community, was named Kendallville Citizen of the Year in 1981. She died Sept. 15, 1990. She was 86. The Bakers had one son, David Hugh Baker (president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1957-1958), and a daughter, Carolyn J. Moses of Lafayette.

Congratulations to the Rotary Club for 100 years of service to the community.

882 N. Lima Rd. Kendallville (260) 347-1483 Page 28

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Joseph W. Urban

1950-1951 Businessman Joseph W. Urban was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1950-1951.

Born Aug. 23, 1907, in Mantua, Ohio, he was the son of Joseph and Opal (Johnson) Urban.

On Nov. 6, 1943, he married Ruth Vetter Seidel in Cleveland. The same year, he moved to Kendallville from Cleveland, where he went to work for Flint & Walling Manufacturing Co. In 1950, he established the Precision Products Co. of Kendallville. He sold the company in 1960, re-established it in 1962, but was forced to retire because of ill health.

At the Jan. 24, 1950, Kendallville Rotary Club meeting, Urban gave a talk on manufacturing. At the time, he was factory manager at Flint & Walling. He said a strong sales force is most important for the progress of a manufacturing firm.

“It is up to the sales department to inform the production manager what the public demands and then it is up to him to coordinate these parts to the assembly line for production.” He said at the F&W plant, there were some 6,000 parts made for various products that were manufactured.

“Local industries are doing all within their power to make Kendallville a better place in which to live and to provide better incomes for employees,” he added.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kendallville, and was a well-known singer who performed in the area. In addition to the Rotary Club, he was a member of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce and was a past president and also was a past worship master of the Kendallville F & A M lodge.

Urban, who lived at 734 E. Mitchell St., died Aug. 26, 1967. He was 60. His wife, Ruth, died April 26, 1997, at the age of 80. They were buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their daughter was Rebekah.

Nancy Nehls Greiling, survived him, as well as a brother, Paul, and a sister, Gail.

David John Greiling died Nov. 9, 1989, in Muncie. His wife, Grace, died 1980. They are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan.

David J. Greiling

Robert M. Roush

1951-1952 Engineer David John Greiling was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1951-1952.

Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Nov. 13, 1901, he came to Kendallville to work for the McCray Refrigeration Co. He was chief engineer for McCray. He later worked as an engineer in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Greiling was married to Grace R. Richardson. Their son was David Scott Greiling, who graduated from Kendallville High School in 1953.

David Scott Greiling was a U.S. Navy commander who was killed in the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Attack Squadron 82 aboard the aircraft carrier USS America. On July 24, 1968, he was the pilot of a military aircraft on a night reconnaissance over Mui Ron, North Vietnam. After bombing a convoy of trucks, his aircraft crashed and exploded. However, he ejected from the aircraft cabin. His remains were not recovered.

He is listed as an M.I.A. (Missing in Action.) His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu, Hawaii, Memorial.

According to interviews done with returned American prisoners of war in Vietnam, second-hand information indicated that Greiling had been captured.

But his actual fate is unknown.

His parents and his 27-year-old wife,

1952-1953 Optometrist Robert Murray Roush was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1952-1953.

Born May 7, 1919, in Jonesboro, Indiana, he was the son of Charles and Bertha Lydia (Carey) Roush.

Roush graduated from Marion High School in 1937 and from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in 1941.The same year he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves, being called to duty in September as a petty officer.

He served in both Roush the Atlantic and South Pacific Theaters before attending Midshipman’s School at Northwestern University, graduating with the Commission of Ensign. He was then assigned duty aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Augusta in the C.I.C. Division and served in the European Theater. He was serving aboard the Augusta when it transported President Harry S. Truman to Antwerp, Belgium, and to the Potsdam Peace Conference in July of 1945.

On Aug. 14, 1945, he married Margaret “Peg” Schuyler LeFevre in Delmar,

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In May 1946, Roush moved to Kendallville, setting up his practice of optometry in the Keller (Spindler) building, 220-226 S. Main St. In 1953, Dr. Roush moved his practice to 117 W. Rush St., Kendallville.

Both sons, Dr. Richard S. Roush and Dr. Robert Alan Roush, joined the practice.

Roush was active in many civic affairs over the years. He served as president of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce in 1955 and was president of Factory Sites Inc. in 1969. He helped establish the Kendallville Foundation of Youth in 1955, served on the East Noble Schools Building Corporation in 19631964, was Cole YMCA Building Committee chairman and an original director in 1972, worked with the United Fund drives and the Save McCray project in 1980. He was Jaycee Man of the Year in 1956, and in 1985 was named Kendallville Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.

Roush was a member of Trinity Church United Methodist. He and his wife moved to Sebring, Fla., in 1993, where they lived until 2006. That year they moved back to Indiana, taking residency in Columbus to be near their daughter.

Roush died on July 13, 2012, at the age of 93. His wife, Peg, still lives in Columbus. Their children are: Dr. Richard Roush of Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Alan Roush (who served as president of the Kendallville Rotary Club) of Kendallville, Leslie Smith of Columbus, Marsha Cornelius of Woodstock, Georgia, and Deborah Kautza of Kendallville.

Vern F. Steckley

1953-1954 Second-generation Kendallville businessman Vern F. Steckley was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1953-1954.

Born in Kendallville, June 8, 1913, he was the son of George and Matilda (Wible) Steckley. On Sept. 14, 1935, he married Margaret Cramer. She preceded him in death on Feb. 29, 1976. He then married A. Kathleen (Powell) Hill on Nov. 26, 1977.

Steckley was a 1930 graduate of Kendallville High School and a 1934 graduate of Indiana University, where he was active in the band. He was an emeritus member of the IU Alumni.

After receiving his college degree, Steckley returned to Kendallville to join his father in the family business, Steckley’s Mill & Hatchery, established in 1901 by his father. A chick-hatching Page 30

enterprise was added to the business in 1928. He eventually became president and general manager of the company and sold the business in 1980.

Steckley served as president of the Indiana State Poultry Steckley Association and was president of the American Poultry and Hatchery Federation. He served as a member of the McCray Memorial Hospital Board for 18 years and served on the board of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce, the Cole Foundation and the American Red Cross.

He was named Citizen of the Year by the Noble County Soil and Water Conservation District, and in 1982 was honored as Kendallville’s Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.

Steckley joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1937 and was a faithful member, attending meetings throughout Indiana and in Florida. He was honored by his wife, Kathleen, with a Paul Harris Fellow award when she donated $1,000 to the Rotary International Foundation in his name.

Steckley died June 13, 2000. He was 87. His wife, Kathleen, died April 15, 2005, at the age of 82. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Steckley’s children were Suzy Lantz of Naperville, Ill., Rosemary King of Mt. Crawford, Virginia, and George Steckley of Gailesburg, Illinois.

Garrett Moore

1954-1955 City Dairy owner Garrett Moore was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1954-1955.

Born Feb. 1, 1907, in Marion County, he was the son of Prather and Sarah (Hendrix) Moore. He was a farm boy and grew up in French Lick in southern Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in agriculture.

He taught agriculture in several Indiana schools before buying the City Dairy in Kendallville in 1943.

On May 28, 1935, he married Helen Groves in Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

Moore owned the City Dairy at 217 W. Grove St., from 1943 until 1964 when he sold the business to Allen Dairy in Fort Wayne. He then worked as a supervisor for Allen Dairy until he retired

in 1985, at the age of 78.

Moore was an active member of the Kendallville Rotary Club and obtained 46 years of perfect weekly attendance with the club. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary. He also Moore was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Kendallville, Noble County Shrine and Mizpah Shrine and Scottish Rite, Fort Wayne and Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville. He was named Kendallville’s Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1995.

Moore died June 7, 1996, at the age of 89. His wife, Helen, died Dec. 9, 1986. She was 77. Their children were Robert Moore of Danville, Indiana, and Beverly Ann Moore of Mendocino, California.

Benjamin G. Courtney

1955-1956 Longtime Flint & Walling Manufacturing Co. employee Benjamin G. Courtney was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1955-1956.

Born June 8, 1914, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Alan S. and Grace (Gates) Courtney. He graduated from South Side High School and attended Purdue University and Rose Poly Institute.

On Oct. 10, 1936, in Kendallville, he married Martha Wible.

Courtney was director of purchasing for Flint & Walling Manufacturing, retiring after 35 years.

He had been a member of the Kendallville Jaycees, Rotary Club, and Trinity Church United Methodist.

Courtney died Nov. 21, 1998, in Fort Wayne. He was 84. His wife, Martha, died Nov. 13, 1995. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery. Their only child was Charles Courtney of Riverside, Ill.

Lauren D. Atz

1956-1957 Businessman Lauren D. Atz was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1956-1957.

Born in Kendallville on Sept. 21, 1928, to Ralph and Elsie (Wagner) Atz, he graduated from Kendallville High School in 1946.

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Enlisting in the Army after high school, Atz was sent to Japan as part of the occupation forces. Returning from the service, he enrolled in Indiana University in Bloomington and was married to Susannah Herr Atz in 1949. Called back to serve his country in the fall of 1950, Atz was sent to Korea and served in the artillery. He was eventually released as a master sergeant in the fall of 1951.

He finished his bachelor’s degree in business and graduated from Indiana University in 1952.

Atz worked for the family business, Puritan Ice Cream Co. and Atz Ice Cream Shoppes, in Kendallville and Fort Wayne, until 1975. For nearly nine decades, the family produced sweet treats at the corner of Wayne and Oak streets in Kendallville.

He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Kendallville, the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees and the Kendallville Rotary Club.

In 1975, Lauren and Susie Atz moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they purchased a Hallmark Gift Shop.

They operated it for 20 years.

Atz died March 15, 2013, in Tempe, Arizona. He was 84. He is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. The Atz children are Marc Atz of Washington, D.C., Douglas Atz of Kendallville, Barton Atz of Woodland, California, and Sarah Morgan of Sioux City, Iowa.

David H. Baker

1957-1958 Businessman David Hugh Baker was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1957-1958.

Baker was born Feb. 9, 1929, in Kendallville to Laurence D. and Frances Baker. He graduated from Kendallville High School and from Indiana University in 1950.

He married Norma Jean France and returned to Kendallville to assist his father in the family business, L. D. Baker Peony Gardens. In addition, he was a representative for Mutual of New York Life Insurance Co. Baker gradually assumed the running of the peony business and orchard after his father’s death in 1968, and incorpo-

rated the business as Bakers’ Fruit & Flower Farm.

More apples were planted, a yearround market was built to retail all of the farm’s crops, and many family members were involved.

Baker was active in civic Baker affairs as a Jaycee, Rotarian, East Noble school board member and member of Trinity Church United Methodist. He was named Kendallville’s Outstanding Citizen by the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce in 1970.

Baker’s wife, Jean, died Jan. 15, 2018, at the age of 89. She was the daughter of Forrest and Leoma (Stonebraker) France.

She was a lifelong member of the Trinity Church United Methodist and a member of Tri Kappa. The Bakers’ children are: Bradley Baker of Kendallville, Barbara Burkhardt of Fort Wayne, Brian Baker of Kendallville, Beth Miller of Columbia, South Carolina, Brenda Jansen of Kendallville and Becky Brown of Kendallville.

The couple also had 12 grandchildren.

Alan R. Elliott

1958-1959 Kraft Foods engineer Alan R. “Pete” Elliott was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1958-1959.

Born March 16, 1920 in Lemon, South Dakota, he was the son of Jesse and Gertrude Violet (Flanders) Elliott.

In 1941, he married Bette McDougall in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Elliott was a mechanical engineer and worked for Kraft Foods as a project engineer for 39 years. While in Kendallville, the family lived at 424 Mathews St. Elliott enjoyed woodworking. He and his wife were active in Grace United Methodist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He died June 4, 2010, in Oklahoma City, where he had resided since his wife’s death in 2007. He was 90. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Elliott. His survivors included a son, Roger.

Charles R. Hosler

1959-1960 Realtor Charles R. Hosler was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1959-1960.

Born in Kendallville on Jan. 27, 1902, he was the son of David and Emma (Zie-

bell) Hosler. He was a lifelong resident of Kendallville. He graduated from Kendallville High School and attended Butler University for two years.

Hosler married Esther Livengood in Elkhart on Jan. 2, 1927. He started Hosler Hosler Construction Co. and Kendallville Realty, which later became Hosler Realty.

He was a member of numerous civic and social organizations. He was executive secretary of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce for several years, beginning on April 2, 1958, serving without pay. He was named Kendallville Citizen of the Year in 1963. At the time he was president of the Kendallville Realty Co. Inc. and manager of American Security Co. He was a past president of the DeKalb, Noble and LaGrange Realtors.

He was Realtor of the Year in 1975 and was named outstanding citizen in 1969 by the Noble County Soil and Water Conservative District. He served on the Kendallville City Plan Commission during the administration of Mayor Robert C. Moses.

Hosler, who lived in Wakefield Village, Kendallville, died April 1, 1976. He was 74. His wife, Esther, died Oct. 4, 1977.

She was 74. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children were David R. Hosler and Barbara Haines.

William J. Marshall

1960-1961 Agriculturalist William J. Marshall was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1960-1961.

Marshall was born in Jackson, Michigan, April 9, 1925. He graduated from Leslie High School in Leslie, Michigan, and was a graduate of Michigan State University, with a degree in agriculture.

He served in the United States Marshall Navy during World War II, from Jan. 1, 1943-Jan. 1, 1946.

He married Doris Baldwin on Dec. 18,

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1947, in Lansing, Michigan.

Marshall was employed at Walley Agriculture Services in Fort Wayne for 30 years. He then worked five years for Lincoln National Bank in the trust department.

He was a member of the Trinity Church United Methodist in Kendallville, American Legion Post 86, and a 38-year member of the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Marshall died on Dec. 9, 2005, at the age of 80. Surviving were his wife, Doris, and daughter, Mary Marshall of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Paul R. Wolford

1961-1962 Business owner Paul R. Wolford was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1961-1962.

Born in Fort Wayne on March 27, 1924, he was the son of Raymond A. and Emma M. (Ecker) Wolford. He served in the military during World War II. On Sept.

8, 1943, in Fort Wayne, he married Mary V. “Mindy” Russ.

Wolford Wolford came to Kendallville from Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the late 1950s. He was owner of Kendallville Electric Motor Service.

He was a member of Trinity Church United Methodist, served in Jaycees and in Rotary, was active in the AFS student-exchange program, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, Kendallville.

Wolford died Dec. 28, 1983, at the age of 59. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. His wife, Mindy, survived along with a daughter, Elizabeth Lambright and a son, Robert “Rob” Wolford. Mrs. Wolford remarried in 1988 to Charles W. Wright. He died in 1997, and Mindy Wolford Wright died Feb. 14, 2015, at the age of 90.

Jack D. Newkirk

1962-1963 Lumber business owner Jack D. Newkirk was a second-generation Kendallville Rotary Club president. He served as president in 1962-1963. His father, Jess Newkirk, was president of the club in 1943-1944.

Jack Newkirk was born Dec. 27, 1929, Page 32

the only child of Jesse and Ruby (George) Newkirk.

He attended Antioch College and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Newkirk spent most of his life in the lumber business. He was the Newkirk owner of Kendall Lumber in Kendallville before moving to Fort Wayne in 1976. He then became a lumber dealer for HWI’s main headquarters in New Haven, Indiana.

Newkirk was co-developer of a land/ housing subdivision in Topeka and in the Little Long Lake area in Kendallville.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 409 in Leo. He also was a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club, Elks, Moose and VFW. His wife of 55 years, Betty, preceded him in death in 2008. He died Nov. 13, 2015, at the age of 85. He and his wife are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children were Tina Clark of Leo and Jeffrey Newkirk of Fort Wayne.

John B. Hutchins

1963-1964 Fifth-generation funeral director John Berhalter Hutchins was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1963-1964.

Born in Kendallville on May 15, 1934, he was the son of Myron C. and Beverly (Berhalter) Hutchins.

He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1952 and from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1953. He received a bachelor of arts Hutchins degree from Hanover College in 1957. He served six years with the U.S. Army Reserves.

On Sept. 1, 1956, he married Sherrell Jean Harter in Indianapolis.

Hutchins was active in the state and national funeral directors associations.

He was president of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association in 1972-1973 and was president of the 14,500-member National Funeral Directors Association of the United States in 1985-1986.

In addition to Rotary, Hutchins was also active in the First Presbyterian Church, Kendallville, Kendallville Lodge No. 276, F & A. M., the Scottish Rite, the Shrine, Elks Lodge No. 1194, Factory Sites, United Fund, Junior Achievement, Kendallville Park & Recreation board, and the Noble County Red Cross. He served as chairman of Kendallville’s Bicentennial Festival and was general chairman of the original YMCA Capital Funds Drive.

He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in Indiana, a Kentucky Colonel by the state of Kentucky, and an Arkansas Traveler by then-Gov. Bill Clinton.

During his tenure as president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, the club received the Outstanding Club Award for District 654. He helped form the first Interact Club of Rotary for young people in Indiana.

Hutchins died on Feb. 16, 2008, at the age of 73. His wife and children, Stacia and Scott survive. He is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Walter Weaver

1964-1965 Former Kendallville radio station WAWK part-owner Walter Weaver was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1964-1965.

Weaver was born July 28, 1931, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the son of Walter and Grace Weaver.

After attending five high schools in three states, he graduated from Marion High School, Marion, Weaver Indiana, in 1949.

He received a liberal arts education at Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio, 1954-1957.

From 1952-1954, he served in the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army as a cryptographer. He provided entertainment for the troops in Fontainebleau and Paris, France.

His professional life included radio, television, film, real estate sales and development. He was the founder of City Commerce Bank, Santa Barbara, California.

Weaver worked at radio station WONW in Defiance, Ohio, as program director. Two former colleagues at the station, Fred Manahan and Paul King, started radio station WAWK in Kendallville and persuaded him to join them.

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For 20 percent ownership, he came to Kendallville in 1959 as an announcer and advertising salesman. He moved to Santa Barbara, California, in 1967.

Weaver joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in about 1960. While a club officer, the Kendallville club helped establish the Garrett Rotary Club. He helped organize the international student exchange club and the club also honored Arthur Franklin Mapes of Kendallville for being recognized as the poet laureate of Indiana.

With wife Marilyn, Weaver had five children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He now lives in Wabash.

Craig Fischer

1965-1966 Pharmacist Craig Fischer was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1965-1966.

Born in Kendallville in 1934, he was the son of Ralston and Minnie Fischer. He was a Boy Scout and earned his Eagle Scout status at age 15. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1952. At Purdue University, he was president of Acacia Fischer Fraternity and Alpha Phi Omega service honorary. He graduated from Purdue University in 1956.

Fischer enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and served two years, returning to Kendallville to purchase the century-old family pharmacy from his uncle, Hubert Fischer. The firm was founded in 1902

by Craig Fischer’s grandfather, Henry Fischer.

Fischer was active in Kendallville civic affairs. He was a United Fund board member and chaired the 1962 campaign. He was a member of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce board from 1966-1968 and served on the YMCA board from 1970-1977. He served on the Wayne Township Advisory Board for four years, was active in Youth for Christ, the Downtown Business Association, the McCray Memorial Hospital Board and the Kendallville Airport Commission. He served on the First Christian Church board as a trustee for 10 years.

Fischer joined the Air National Guard in 1970 from which he retired

as a lieutenant colonel in 1991. He was appointed to the Legion of Hoosier Heroes in 1991 by the state of Indiana and received the Meritorious Service Medal.

He served over 40 years as the president of Fischer Family Pharmacies, which owned locations in Kendallville, Albion and Avilla. As his business grew over the years he supported many community endeavors throughout Noble County. He served on the state committee of the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association. He retired on April 1, 2001.

He joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1961. He had 17 years of perfect attendance and was active in helping the Boy Scout troop that the club sponsored.

In 1975, he was chosen by the district governor to lead a team of businessmen for a six-week exchange to England. He also hosted members of the exchange teams coming to Kendallville from England and Japan. He became a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary.

Fischer and his wife, Sandi, were married in 1962. The Fischers now live in North Carolina. They have three daughters, Jamie Witte of Fort Wayne, Sarah Lannom of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Jaren Shepherd of Kendallville.

Thomas M. Johnson

1966-1967 Longtime Kendallville grocer Thomas M. “Tommy” Johnson was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 19661967.

A native of Booneville, Indiana, he was born on Nov. 3, 1914, to John M. and Margaret Johnson. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1933.

On May 25, 1939, in Auburn, he married MargaJohnson ret V. Claxton.

Johnson built the North Side Market at 508 N. Main St., Kendallville, in 1940. In 1954, he built the South Side Market at 900 S. Main St, and in 1960 he built the IGA Grocery at the corner of Dowling Street and Park Avenue.

He was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church, Kendallville, and a member of Rotary, the Kendallville Moose and Elks lodges.

He died on Aug. 23, 2004, at the age of 89. His wife, Margaret, died Sept. 7, 2011, at the age of 91. They are buried

in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Their children were Jenny Smith, Jody Nasca, John Johnson and Linda Johnson.

Robert S. Todd

1967-1968 Banker Robert Stanley Todd was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1967-1968.

Born Oct. 21, 1918, in LaGrange, he was the son of Lewis R. and Marie (Whitford) Todd.

On Sept. 27, 1938, in Garrett, he married Lucille M. Johnson.

Todd graduated from LaGrange High School in 1936 and from Todd the International Business College, Fort Wayne, in 1938.

In 1968, he graduated from Harvard University’s Senior Bank Officers School and graduated from the Wisconsin School of Banking at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1969.

Todd was a self-employed farmer in the 1940s and joined Campbell & Fetter Bank, Kendallville, in 1953. He served as president of the bank from 1971-1979 and was chairman of the board until his retirement in 1980.

Active in Rotary, Todd was one of the charter members of the Factory Sites Committee and one of the founders of Quad County Bankers. He was a member of the American Institution of Banking, Independent Bankers Association of Indiana, and Immaculate Conception Church, Kendallville.

Todd died unexpectedly on March 2, 1988. He was 69. His wife, Lucille, died Nov. 4, 2007, at the age of 89. They are buried in South Milford Cemetery.

Their children were: Barbara Hedges of Orland, Julie Kelley of Seagrove Beach, Florida, Stan Todd of LaGrange, Sara Fisher of Kendallville and Mary Kribbs of Massillon, Ohio

Kenneth W. Lash

1968-1969 Homebuilder Kenneth William Lash was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1968-1969.

Born in Albion on April 9, 1930, he was the son of Kenneth W. Lash Sr. and Gertrude (Schumk) Lash.

Lash graduated from Kendallville

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Lash

High School in 1948 and was class president.

His co-ed team, coached by Dale Schinbeckler (who was Rotary president in 1947-1948), won the national 4-H vegetable judging championship in 1949 for the third consecutive year

in Washington, D.C. In 1948, along with his father, Lash started his construction company, K. Lash & Sons Inc. The firm constructed more homes than any other builder in Noble County, totaling more than 800 by 2006. K. Lash & Sons developed Hollybrook Heights, the first apartment complex and the first condominium complex in Kendallville.

Lash married Ellen Jean Kline on Jan. 14, 1950, in Kendallville. He obtained his private pilot license in 1955.

He was past president and board member of the Kendallville Youth Center and was a 40-year member of the Kendallville Factory Sites Committee.

Lash was a 33-year member of the Kendallville Rotary Club, served as a member of the board of directors of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce, was on the Kendallville Aviation Board of Directors for 33 years and also was a member of the Kendallville Elks Lodge.

He and his wife wintered in Fort Myers, Florida, for 28 years.

Lash died on Feb. 12, 2008, at the age of 77. He is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. His wife survives. Their children are Larry, Steve and Tracey Lash of Kendallville and Holly Frick of Avilla.

Robert F. Kropp

1969-1970 For half a century, businessman Robert F. Kropp was a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club with 49 years of perfect attendance. He was president of the club in 1969-1970.

He was born July 18, 1918, in Kendallville, to Frederick and Edith (Wackerman) Kropp. He was a 1936 graduate of Kendallville High School.

He attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

Kropp was a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and played the clarinet in the Army Concert Band.

He was a clarinet teacher and played in Page 34

the Kendallville City Band.

He married Elizabeth B. Burhenn in Fort Wayne on April 9, 1939.

Kropp was the longtime owner of Kropp Insurance, Kendallville.

Kropp joined Kropp the Kendallville Rotary Club on Feb. 19, 1946. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Kendallville Rotary Club. He also was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Elks Lodge 1194, American Legion Post 86, and was a past president of American Field Service (AFS) in Kendallville.

Kropp died March 12, 1996, at the age of 77. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery. Along with his wife, his children, Ruth Walp of Chicago, Barbara Kessler of Wallingford, Connecticut, and David L. Kropp of Wolcottville, survived him.

Benjamin B. Earley

1970-1971 Educator Benjamin B. Earley was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1970-1971.

He was born Nov. 5, 1921, in Bluffton, to Benjamin and Margaret Earley. He graduated from Anderson High School, and in 1943, from Ball State University.

He received his master’s degree from Indiana Earley University.

Earley met Kathleen Mabus at Muncie Central High School where she was a teacher.

They were married Aug. 3, 1952, in Muncie.

Earley began his teaching career at Noblesville High School where he served as assistant basketball coach.

He then became a history teacher at Muncie Central High School. Three years later he was named assistant principal and dean of boys at Muncie Central. In 1957, he became principal of Rushville High School. From 1965 to 1984, he was the principal of Kend-

allville Middle School.

Earley was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Chapter at Indiana University. He was past president of both the Rushville and Kendallville Rotary Clubs. He was a member of Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville.

Earley died July 30, 2012, at the age of 90. His wife, Kathleen, died Jan. 25, 2007. She was 79. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children were Gregory Earley of Fishers, Indiana, and Michael Earley of Carmel, Indiana.

Neil C. Markle

1971-1972 Lumber company owner Neil C. Markle was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1971-1972.

Markle was born March 1, 1931, in Andrews, Indiana, to John and Gertrude (Cline) Markle. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the Woodruff Grove United Methodist Church Markle and was active in the Kendallville Rotary Club. He also was a member of the Kendallville Elks Lodge, American Legion Post 86, and a former member of the Kendallville Jaycees.

Markle owned and operated the Cline Brothers Lumber Company in Kendallville until 1988. He also owned and operated the Wolcottville Lumber Company.

He died July 5, 2010, at the age of 79. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. He had two sons, Tom Markle of Fort Wayne and David Markle of Japan.

Duane Axel

1972-1973 Insurance owner Duane Axel was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1972-1973.

Axel was born April 14, 1937, in Kendallville to Thurlow E. and Mary (Layman) Axel. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1955 and from Wabash College in 1959.

After college, he joined his father with Axel Insurance Agency. At first,

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the State Farm office was in the back of the senior Axel’s home on Summit Street, Kendallville.

In 1963, Axel purchased the lot at 710 N. Krueger Street and built an office at that location.

Axel was a Axel member of the Indiana Air National Guard and was called to active duty in 1961 during the tense Cold War struggle with the Soviet Union over the building of the Berlin Wall.

He spent 10 months in France supporting a fighter wing.

Axel was involved in many community endeavors over the years. He served as president of the United Fund of Kendallville and the United Way of Noble County, and served on fundraising committees for the Cole Center Family YMCA, served 25 years on the Factory Sites Committee, and was on the original board of directors for the Noble County Community Foundation.

In addition to Rotary, he was past president of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce. He was active in the First Presbyterian Church, Kendallville, and was named Kendallville’s Citizen of the Year by the chamber of commerce in 1971.

He retired in July 2008 after 49 years in the insurance business. His wife, the former Karen Leighty, died Nov. 2, 2000, at the age of 62. He remarried; he and his wife, Linda, spend winters in Florida and summers in Kendallville. His children are Kerri Leedy of Kendallville, Michael Axel of Kendallville and Shelley Hantz of Indianapolis.

The Rev. Kenneth Napier

1973-1974 Presbyterian minister Kenneth Napier was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1973-1974.

Born Nov. 16, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, Napier was the son of Walter and Helen (Roth) Napier. He graduated from Taft High School, Chicago; Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois; and McCormick Seminary in Chicago.

On Sept. 8, 1951, he married Ruth Anderssohn in Chicago.

In 1954, he was ordained into the Christian ministry and served pastorates in Dixon and Rock Falls, Illinois;

Hubbard, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; and Pulaski, Indiana, before coming to Kendallville.

In February 1968, he accepted the call to First Presbyterian Church in Kendallville and served in that role until 1988.

Napier He was very active in the councils of the church and was also active in civic affairs. He was among the original cast of Gaslight Theatre in Kendallville.

In 1984, he, and then-Mayor John Riemke, were named co-citizens of the year by the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce.

Pastor Napier died Aug. 6, 2002, in his retirement home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ken and Ruth were the parents of three children, Cheryl Carlson of Phoenix, Arizona, Bonnie Napier of Charleston, S.C., and Keith Napier of Deland, Florida.

Paul A. Hougland

1974-1975 Longtime Sears Corporation manager Paul Allen Hougland was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1974-1975.

Born Jan. 17, 1920, in Scottsburg, Indiana, he was the son of Joseph and Mabel (Boner) Hougland.

He graduated from Scottsburg High School in 1938 and served during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Hougland Hougland married Ruth Pauline Robbins on Sept. 1, 1945, in Scottsburg.

He was employed by Sears Corporation for 31 years and managed the Sears store in Kendallville.

Hougland was active in civic affairs in Kendallville, including Rotary, VFW Post 2749, American Legion Post 86, Elks Lodge, Trinity Church United Methodist, and was a member of the board of directors of the Cole Center Family YMCA. He died Oct. 27, 2007, at the age of 87. His wife, Ruth, died Jan. 12, 2011.

She was 88. They are buried in Lake

View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children were Deborah Hougland of Garrett and Diana “Dee” Bedwell of Franklin, Indiana.

Frederick A. Manahan

1975-1976 Kendallville radio station owner Frederick A. “Fred” Manahan was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 19751976.

Born Sept. 15, 1934, in Defiance, Ohio, he was the youngest of five children of William and Veda (Goodwin) Manahan.

He graduated from Defiance High School in 1952. He attended Defiance College Manahan and graduated in 1956 from Ashland College with a degree in business.

On June 17, 1956, in Defiance, Ohio, he married Madilyn Parker. She died on Nov. 9, 1995. He then married Irene Sayles on Dec. 28, 1996.

Manahan began working in radio as an announcer while still in high school.

He worked for a short time for a Toledo, Ohio, radio station before moving to Kendallville. He was one of the original owners of radio station WAWK, Kendallville. He eventually became the sole owner of WAWK-AM and FM. He also served as president of Noble Cable TV. He later sold both businesses.

He was an active member of the Kendallville community. In addition to his membership in the Kendallville Rotary Club, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and helped the campaign to bring the YMCA to the city. He was also active in the Kendallville Jaycees and the Noble County Community Foundation. He served on the Kendallville City Council and Board of Works and also was a board member of Kendallville Factory Sites, Kendallville Bank & Trust, and the Bashor Home. He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Lodge.

He served a number of years on the board of Provena Sacred Heart Home. He was a member of Trinity Church United Methodist where he served as business manager for a number of years. He was a past recipient of the Citizen of the Year honor from the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Manahan retired in The Villages, Flor-

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ida, in 2000. He was a charter member of the New Covenant United Methodist Church in The Villages, where he served as a Stephen Ministry leader.

Manahan died on May 8, 2012. He was 77. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. His daughter, Marla Meyers of Lebanon, and son Mitchell “Mitch” Manahan of West Bloomfield, Michigan, survived him. A son, Martin “Marty” Manahan of Kendallville preceded him in death on Nov. 11, 2010, at the age of 50.

Kenneth J. Stark

1976-1977 Retail businessman Kenneth John Stark was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1976-1977.

He was born July 15, 1923, to John T. and Helen (Kutina) Stark, in Galion, Ohio.

He was raised in Cleveland. After attending Western Reserve University in Cleveland his freshman year, he entered Stark the U.S. Navy.

He received further schooling at Purdue University and Columbia University in New York.

Stark received his commission as an ensign entering World War II. After serving 10 years in the Navy, predominately on destroyers, he resigned his commission as a lieutenant and moved to Tucson, Arizona, where his mother and brother resided.

Stark joined Mountain States Bell (AT&T) while working on his degree at the University of Arizona. He met Sharon L. Aldrich at the Trinity Presbyterian Church singles group.

They were married on June 28, 1958, and then moved to Phoenix. Then they moved to Colorado, where Stark finished his schooling and received his B.S. in 1968, from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

In 1968, Stark left the phone company and moved his family to Kendallville where he purchased Taylor’s Shoe Store. Over the years, he expanded Taylor’s and opened The Shoe Rack, The Jean Shop, and a Baskin Robbins, all on Main Street, Kendallville.

Stark was active in the Kendallville Rotary Club, serving in multiple offices and volunteering regularly in Page 36

service projects. He and his wife were also active in their church, Trinity Church United Methodist.

In 1991, Stark sold his businesses and retired, but he remained active as a volunteer for the Friendship Food Pantry and the Mid-America Windmill Museum. He also was active with the Kendallville Economic Development Commission through 2015, and played a key role in developing the Kendallville East Industrial Park.

In 1996, Stark was named Kendallville’s Citizen of the Year by the chamber.

His wife, Sharon, died Feb. 1, 2011, at the age of 80. Ken died Aug. 28, 2016, at the age of 93. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children, John Stark of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Paul Stark of Peoria, Illinois, survive, along with two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

Virgil J. Harman

1977-1978 Grocery store owner Virgil J. Harman was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1977-1978.

Harman was born Oct. 21, 1925, in Roann, Indiana, to Levie L. and Grace (Smith) Harman.

He married Alta Culbertson on June 22, 1947, in Columbia City. He served in the U.S. Navy.

He was associated with the Harman Kroger Co. for 18 years, moving to Kendallville from Fort Wayne in 1960 to become manager of the Kendallville Kroger Store.

Harman purchased Tom’s Market in Kendallville in 1962, and changed the name to Harman’s Market. He later moved his grocery store to the site at Riley and Wayne streets. In 1984, the store was sold and became the Kendallville IGA. Harman also owned and operated the Burger Dairy store in Kendallville.

Harman was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kendallville, Rotary Club, Elks and Moose Lodges of Kendallville.

He died March 18, 1988, at the age of 62. His wife and four sons, Lance, Steven, Jeffrey and Scott, survived.

David P. Hosler

1978-1979 Real estate broker and appraiser David P. Hosler was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1978-1979.

Hosler was a second-generation Kendallville Rotarian. His late father, Charles Hosler, was president of the club in 1959-1960.

David Hosler was born Jan. 6, 1934, in Kendallville, the son of Charles and Esther (Livengood) HosHosler ler. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1952.

Hosler earned his bachelor’s degree from Hanover College in 1956, and was awarded his master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1958.

From 1958-1970, he worked for Westinghouse Electric. He returned to Kendallville in 1970 to work with the firm his father founded in 1938, Hosler Realty.

Hosler joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1969.

Hosler and his wife, Carla Ortale Hosler, were married in 1956. They have four sons, Charles, Tim, Bill and Joe, and 11 grandchildren.

Hosler retired in 1998, moving to Sarasota, Florida. In 2009, he and his wife moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they make their home.

Robert L. Nelson

1979-1980 Longtime Kraft Foods employee Robert L. Nelson was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1979-1980.

He was born July 26, 1925, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Herman and Winifred (Lowry) Nelson.

He was a naval aviator in World War II. Nelson married Maxine Johnson on Sept. 14, 1957.

He graduated from the University of Nelson Minnesota in 1950 and worked 32 years for Kraft Foods.

He was a member of Rotary, Trinity

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Church United Methodist, the YMCA and the American Legion.

Nelson died Oct. 15, 2009, at the age of 84. His wife survived, along with a son, Bradford of Norcross, Ga.; three daughters, Joanne of San Diego, Calif., Teresa Englund of Colorado Springs, Colo., Brenda Whan of Carmel, Ind.; 10 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.

He is buried at Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Peter R. Bottomley

1980-1981 Longtime educator and band director Peter R. Bottomley was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 19801981.

He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on April 10, 1939, to W.R. and Lucy C. (Copeland) Bottomley.

He graduated from Pawtucket West High School in Rhode Island in 1957 and from Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio, Bottomley in 1966.

Bottomley married Janet E. Deitrick on June 17, 1961, in New Bavaria, Ohio.

He began his music teaching career at Hicksville High School in Hicksville, Ohio, in 1964. He taught at Hicksville for four years and then began music instruction at East Noble in 1967. He completed his master’s of music education in 1969 from Saint Francis University, Fort Wayne.

Bottomley was the band director at Kendallville Junior High and assisted at East Noble High School. In 1975, he became band director at East Noble High School, serving in that position until he retired in 1999. His bands won wide acclaim over the years. He also was the orchestra director for East Noble Theatre and conducted many memorable productions over the span of more than three decades.

Bottomley had an infectious sense of humor and a great smile. He liked jazz, big band, and many other styles of music.

His students said he was a positive influence, dedicated and disciplined.

He remained very active in music education after his retirement and continued teaching part-time at Holy Cross Lutheran Middle School in Fort Wayne for about two years. He was also an ‘‘instrument fitter’’ for beginners in band. He worked at the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company in Fort Wayne for several years making sure that instruments fit youngsters properly.

Bottomley was a two-time past president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association from 1985-87; he served on the state of Indiana School Music Association board of directors from 1994-97; he was a member of Phi Beta Mu Music Fraternity, Gamma Chapter; and he was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kendallville where he played the organ for mass.

Bottomley died Oct. 18, 2011. He was 72. Survivors included his wife, Janet; two sons, Rusty Bottomley of Center Point, Indiana, and Doug Bottomley of Kendallville; a daughter, Kim Harris of Brownsburg, Indiana; and two grandchildren. His burial was in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Barry D. Graden

1981-1982 Pharmacist Barry Duane Graden was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1981-1982.

Graden was born in Bluffton, Indiana. He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1960. He earned a pharmacy degree from Purdue University in 1966.

Graden served in the U.S. Army as a pharmacist at Aberdeen Proving Graden Grounds, Maryland, for three years. He then worked at Arth Drugs in Lafayette, Indiana, for two years.

In 1972, he returned to Kendallville to work at McCray Memorial Hospital and then Parkview Noble Hospital for 35 years. He retired in 2007.

Graden joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1974. He later was inactive, but rejoined the club in 2016.

Graden and his wife, Paula, are the parents of one son, Bradley Graden, who also is a Kendallville Rotary Club member. Bradley and Kelly Graden have two sons, Lucas and Jacob.

A. Stephen Pyle

1982-1983 Accountant A. Stephen Pyle was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1982-1983.

He was born in Bristol, Virginia, the son of Paul and Katherine Pyle. He

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graduated from Kendallville High School in 1960, and in 1962 earned a degree from the International Business College, Fort Wayne.

Pyle worked for Coopers & Lybrand and in Pyle 1965 was hired by Peter Eckrich & Son, Fort Wayne. He was transferred to Fremont, Ohio, as controller and earned his certified public accountant’s degree while living in Ohio.

In 1970, Pyle returned to Kendallville, purchasing the accounting firm owned by Cecil Smith. He was a longtime partner in Hosler Realty, Kendallville, with his brother, Gregg.

Pyle joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1975. He was active for many years in the Kendallville community, serving on the Cole Center Family YMCA Board of Directors, and on the boards of the Kendallville Bank & Trust and Noble House.

Pyle and his wife, Marcia, who now live in Fort Wayne, were married Aug. 5, 1967. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

John F. Hageman

1983-1984 A longtime car dealer and former banker, John F. Hageman was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 198384.

Hageman was born Aug. 3, 1949, in Bryan, Ohio, the son of Herbert and Vivienne Hageman. He graduated from Hilltop High School in West Unity, Ohio, in 1967. He was a member of the Air Hageman National Guard from 1968-74.

He married Mary Cotterman in 1969, in Bryan, Ohio.

Hageman came to Indiana to work for Franklin Finance after his active duty in the Air National Guard. He worked at the offices in Fort Wayne, Columbia City, Auburn and then in 1969, was transferred to the Kendallville office. From 1974-1980, he was associated with Kendallville Bank & Trust and from 1980-1983, was Page 38

employed at Campbell & Fetter Bank, Kendallville.

In 1984, he opened John Hageman Motors on Main Street, Kendallville, and in 1997, became associated with the Kelley Automotive Group in Fort Wayne. He later worked for the Manheim Automotive Auction, Fort Wayne, and then for the Ohio Premier Auction Group.

Hageman now is manager of Adesa Auto Auction in Cary, North Carolina, where he and his wife moved in 2008.

While living in Kendallville, Hageman served with the Jaycees from 1970-1984, was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Shriners. He served four years on the Kendallville City Council and was a member of Trinity Church United Methodist.

The Hagemans have two children, Kim Bassett of Apex, North Carolina, and Shawn Hageman of Kendallville.

They also have two grandchildren.

R. Alan Roush

1984-1985 Second-generation optometrist R. Alan Roush was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1984-1985.

Born Sept. 15, 1954, in Kendallville, he was the son of Dr. Robert and Margaret Roush.

Roush graduated from East Noble High School in 1973, in 1977 from Indiana University and in 1979 from the I.U. School Roush of Optometry. He is a member of the Indiana University Alumni Association, the Indiana Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. He served as president of the Indiana Optometric Association in 2001-2002.

He joined his father’s optometry business in Kendallville in 1979. The firm was established in 1945.

Roush has been active in civic affairs since returning to Kendallville.

He is active in the Trinity Church United Methodist, and has served on many boards and fundraising campaigns over the years. He was a member of the Kendallville Day Care Center fund drive, a past board member

of Junior Achievement and co-chaired the YMCA Say Yes Campaign. He is a past president of the United Way of Noble County board of directors and served as president of the Kendallville Jaycees. He is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

In 1990, Roush was named Kendallville’s Citizen of the Year by the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Roush and his wife, Jane, are the parents of two children, Matthew Robert Roush, a member of the United States Navy Reserves, currently practicing law in Indianapolis, and Dr. Elizabeth Roush Lichlyter, an optometrist in Kendallville. They also have one grandchild.

Terry G. Housholder

1985-1986 Journalist Terry G. Housholder was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1985-1986.

Born in Kendallville, Dec. 4, 1952, he was the son of Ralph and Wilma (Hoeppner) Housholder.

A lifelong Noble County resident, he was raised in rural Avilla.

Upon graduating from East Noble High School in 1971, he attended Housholder Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne before being drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1972. He served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. After his honorable discharge in 1974, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Housholder joined The News Sun, Kendallville’s daily newspaper, while still in high school and returned to the company after his time in the military.

He worked as managing editor of The News Sun from 1979 until 2001, when he was named president and publisher of the newspaper’s parent company, KPC Media Group Inc. He has received state and national recognition for his journalistic work. He retired Dec. 31, 2017, but remains president and chairman of the board of KPC Media Group.

On June 4, 1977, Housholder married Grace Witwer of Kendallville, who was a classmate of his at East

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Noble. They are the parents of four children. They also have five grandchildren.

Housholder has been active in community affairs for many years. He served on the United Way of Noble County Board of Directors and was president of the board in 1989. He worked on fund drives for the Kendallville Day Care and Cole Center Family YMCA and has served with the Noble County Junior Achievement. He was a youth coach volunteer for the Cole Center Family YMCA, the Kendallville Youth Baseball League, and for St. John Lutheran School. He has been a longtime member of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and served as board president in 1999.

Housholder worked with the late city historian Russell Frehse to get downtown Kendallville on the National Register of Historic Places.

Housholder also wrote “150 Years of Kendallville, Indiana,” a book on the history of Kendallville for the city’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2013.

He is a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Avilla. He is a member of the board of directors of Common Grace Ministries, which serves the needy in Noble County. He and his wife have been active in the AFS foreign exchange student program for many years in Kendallville and have hosted numerous students.

Housholder has been a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club since 1981. He and his wife attended the Rotary International Convention in Munich, Germany, in 1987. And they have hosted a student as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program. Housholder is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

Donald Harris

1986-1987 Business owner Donald Harris was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1986-1987.

Harris was owner of the Kendallville Laundry & Dry Cleaning business, 216-218 E. Mitchell St., Kendallville. In 1983, he purchased the firm from Henry Kimmel, whose family had operated the company since 1907.

In June 1990, Harris sold the business to Hitzeman Betty Brite Cleaners, while Harris retained ownership of the building. The business moved to 524 Professional Way in 1991.

Harris later moved to Minnesota.

Hal Hossinger

1987-1988 Attorney Hal Hossinger was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1987-1988.

Born May 31, 1957 in Kendallville, he was the son of John and Jane (Simon) Hossinger. His parents were owners of Hossinger Refrigeration in Kendallville.

Hossinger was a 1975 graduate of East Noble High School. He Hossinger received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1979. He earned his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1982.

Hossinger passed the Indiana bar

in June 1982 and set up a private law practice in Kendallville.

Hossinger joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1983 and served in various officer roles.

He is the father of two daughters, Shannon Marie Hossinger and Brittany Nicole Hossinger.

Robert P. Wolford

1988-1989 Second-generation Kendallville businessman Robert Paul “Rob” Wolford was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1988-1989.

Wolford was born May 19, 1954, the son of Paul R. and Mary V. “Mindy” (Russ) Wolford. He grew up in Kendallville and graduated from East Noble High School in 1972. He studied at Purdue University.

Wolford He worked for many years with the family business in Kendallville, Kendallville Electric Motor Service Co., at 125 West High Street.

His father, who was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1961-1962, died unexpectedly from a heart attack in 1983 at the age of 59. Rob Wolford and his mother operated the company for several more years. Wolford’s mother, Virginia “Mindy” Wolford, remarried in 1988, to Charles Wayne Wright. He died in 1997, and Mindy Wolford Wright died Feb. 14, 2015, at the age of 90.

Wolford now lives in Fort Wayne and works as a warehouse employee of B. F. Goodrich.

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Mark Peterson

1989-1990 Medical professional Mark Peterson was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1989-1990.

Peterson was born in Attica, Indiana, the son of Charles “Pete” and Carolyn (Watkins) Peterson. He graduated from Attica High School.

He studied business administration at Ball State University and applied health science at Indiana Peterson University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

His wife was Sally K. Weir, a graduate of Lakeland High School in LaGrange, who earned her bachelor’s degree at Ball State University. She was an elementary school music teacher with the East Noble School Corporation for 30 years. She died Aug. 6, 2015, at the age of 61, after a long illness.

Peterson lives in Fort Wayne and is a registered nurse at Parkview Health. His children are Charles Peterson of Indianapolis and Sara Zook of Fort Wayne. He also has five grandchildren.

Brian Baker

1990-1991 Brian Baker was the third generation of his family to serve as president of the Kendallville Rotary Club. He was president in 1990-1991.

Baker was born May 25, 1954, in Kendallville, to David and Norma Jean

(France) Baker.

He graduated from East Noble High School in 1972 and attended Indiana University.

He worked for the family business, Bakers’ Fruit & Flower Farm, for more than 40 years. He served on the Kendallville Baker Board of Works and was a member and president of the Common Grace Ministries board of directors. He also served as board member and president of both the Noble County Community Foundation and the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Baker’s father, David Hugh Baker, was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1957-1958. His grandfather, Laurence D. Baker, was president of the club in 1949-1950.

Baker and his wife, Doris, a retired teacher, live in Kendallville.

David R. Wilson

1991-1992 Professional engineer David R. Wilson was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1991-1992. He also has the distinction of being the only Kendallville Rotarian to serve as Rotary district governor.

Born April 10, 1939, in Wabash, he was the son of Absalom and Elizabeth Lois (Felton) Wilson. He graduated from Rome City High School in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and in 1963 earned his bachelor’s degree in

civil engineering from Purdue University.

Wilson and his wife, Camille, were married July 24, 1960.

Wilson has been a professional engineer since 1970 and in private practice since 1997. He’s been Wilson a Rotarian since 1985 and has more than 30 years perfect attendance at Rotary meetings.

Wilson went through the chairs as an officer of the Kendallville Rotary Club in his early years of service. He was president of the club in 1991-92 and started the Paul Harris Breakfast Club.

He also got the initial reverse raffle event under way, which has remained a successful club fundraiser. He also started the Adopt-an-Agency program with the Kendallville Day Care, which continues.

In the spring of 1992, Wilson planned and directed a Rotary exchange to St. Petersburg, Russia. In October 1992, he helped host Russian couples that had hosted the area Rotarians on their visit.

In 1998, Wilson was selected as the Group Study Exchange Leader for Rotary District 6540. He led a group of young professionals to Japan for 30 days. Upon his return, he was asked to become assistant district governor for eight northeast Indiana Rotary clubs, serving in that role from 1999-2001.

During that time he also served on the district’s long-range planning committee.

Best regards for another century of service.

DAVID R. WILSON, P.E. Professional Engineer Structural, Civil, Construction Consulting 7283 N 450 E Kendallville, IN 46755 U.S.A. Page 40

Phone (260) 347-3821 E-mail: drwilpe@ligtel.com Cell: (260) 582-1081

DISTRICT 6540

David R Wilson, P.E.

District Governor 2002-2003 7283 N 450 E Kendallville, Indiana 46755 U.S.A. Phone/Fax 260-347-3821 E-mail: drwilpe@ligtel.com

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Dave and Camille

In December 2000, Wilson was selected to be District 6540 governor-elect. And in 2002, he took the reins of district governor. He oversaw the district’s 57 Rotary clubs in the northern third of Indiana with more than 3,000 members. He paid visits to all of the district’s clubs during his year as governor, with his wife accompanying him on all of the official visits.

Over the years, Wilson and his wife, have journeyed to over 27 nations, connecting with Rotary friends. He helped raise funds for Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio worldwide and in 2006, served on a Rotary International Polio Immunization Team in Niger, Africa. He also traveled to Mexico to assist with the dedication of water tanks purchased with Kendallville Rotary Club funds and a Rotary International grant.

He has attended nine Rotary international conventions, having traveled to such far-away cities as Barcelona, Spain (2002), Brisbane, Australia (2003), Osaka, Japan (2004), Copenhagen, Denmark (2006) and Sao Paulo, Brazil (2016).

Since his year as governor, he has remained active in Rotary district and international affairs, serving as chair of

the Group Study Exchange for seven years, serving on the district nominating committee for 16 years and on the Rotary International Convention Committee. In addition, he has served two terms as district representative to the International Council on Legislation.

Wilson has received a number of Rotary honors. He is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow several times over, having been a major donor to the Rotary Foundation. He was appointed sergeant-atarms for Rotary at the centennial international convention in Chicago in 2005.

In 2013, he received the Rotary District 6540 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wilson and his wife are active members of Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville. The couple have three sons, 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Nelson W. Harrod

1992-1993 Second-generation Kendallville businessman Nelson W. Harrod was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1992-1993.

Born Jan. 17, 1925, in Menominee, Michigan, he was the son of Sanford and Elizabeth (Nelson) Harrod. He served in the U.S. Army in World

War II. He had worked at The Harrod Company in Kendallville, which was founded by his father in 1939 as the Harrod Roofing Co. When his father retired in 1957, Nelson took over operation of the Harrod business.

Harrod was active in Rotary and was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, Mason Blue Lodge, Shrine and Scottish Rite, Kendallville Elks Lodge, American Legion Post 86, Francis Vinyard VFW Post 2749, Little Long-Round Lake Association and the Mid-American Windmill Museum.

On June 13, 1980, he married Sally (Brown) Babcock in Kendallville. She was a realtor. The two of them enjoyed downhill snow skiing and volunteering with the Windmill Museum.

Harrod died on Dec. 10, 2007. He was 82. His wife, Sally, died Nov. 15, 2016, at the age of 84. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

For 70 years, Hite Funeral Home has made professional integrity, high ethical standards, and personal service a tradition. Trustworthy during life’s most difficult time.

Brian DeCamp, Owner * Proud Member of the Kendallville Rotary Club Lifetime Kendallville Resident

Hite Funeral Home, Brian DeCamp, owner

403 South Main Street, Kendallville, Indiana 46755

260-347-1653

hitefuneralhome.com

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 41

He was survived by a son, Byron Harrod of Williamsburg, Virginia, and a daughter, Melanie Meskel of Santa Ana, California.

Brian K. DeCamp

1993-1994 Funeral director Brian K. DeCamp was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1993-1994.

He was born July 5, 1963, in Kendallville, the son of Russell and Bonnie DeCamp. He was a 1981 graduate of East Noble High School.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in 1985. In 1986, he DeCamp graduated from the AAS Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

A licensed funeral director in Kendallville since 1986, he became the owner of Hite Funeral Home in 2010.

DeCamp first joined Rotary in 1987. After serving in the chairs as an officer of the club, including a year as president, he took a 10-year hiatus from the club, in order to be more involved in his family life. He joined Rotary again in 2007.

DeCamp and his wife, the former JoEllen Glass, are the parents of four daughters.

William J. Soboslay

1994-1995 Businessman William J. “Bill” Soboslay was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1994-1995.

A lifetime Kendallville resident, he was born Feb. 24, 1933, the son of Anton and Florence (Nartker) Soboslay.

He graduated from Kendallville High School in 1952 and attended Soboslay Indiana University. He played minor league baseball and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs as

a pitcher. He played for the California Angels’ minor league team.

On Jan. 7, 1953, in Angola, he married Sallie Gardner, daughter of Kenneth and Marjorie (Emerson) Gardner.

He was the owner of Kendallville Distributing Corp. and co-owner of The Toggery Shop in Kendallville.

Soboslay coached youth baseball in Kendallville for many years. He also was an avid golfer and held the course record on the Elks golf course in Kendallville.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and deacon. He also was a member of Rotary, was past president of the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Kendallville Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge and Shrine.

Soboslay died on Oct. 15, 2007, at the age of 74. His wife, Sallie, died July 22, 2013. She was 80. They are buried in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville. Their children are: Rhae Dazey of Kendallville, Dee-Anna Rathge of Kendallville, Douglas Soboslay of Phoenix, Arizona, Christopher Soboslay of Kendallville and Jay Soboslay of Kendallville.

Happy Anniversary, Kendallville Rotary Club!

Max Platt, 40 Year Rotary Club Member

Since 1973 • KENDALLVILLE, IN

1002 W. North St., Kendallville, IN 46755 Max Platt

Page 42

Jeff Platt

Robin Haines

David Dressler

260-347-3153 • www.maxplattford.com

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Max Platt

1995-1996 Auto dealership owner Max Platt was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1995-1996.

Born May 10, 1946, in Garrett, he was the son of William and Lydia Platt. He graduated from Hamilton High School in 1964.

Platt, raised on a farm between Butler and Hamilton, loved cars when he was a teen. He went to Platt work for a Ford dealership in Waterloo, where he was a salesman and then general manager.

He left Waterloo when he heard the Johnny Roman franchise was available in Kendallville. He bought the Ford dealership in 1973 and operated it at 521 S. Main St., until December 2013, when the firm moved to a new site at 1002 W. North St. Platt is president of Max Platt

Ford-Lincoln Inc. His wife, Carol, and their two children, Jeff Platt and Lisa Bender, also work for the company. The Platts have five grandchildren.

Max Platt Ford-Lincoln was named Business of the Year by the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce for 2016.

Platt has been active in civic affairs over the years. He coached youth baseball and sponsors youth sports teams. He is a past present of the Jaycees; he served on the board of directors of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce, is a life member of the Kendallville Elks Club and a member of the American Legion. He has been a Kendallville Rotarian since 1978.

He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Alvin R. Moore

1996-1997 Agronomy manager Alvin R. Moore was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1996-1997.

Born Oct. 28, 1938, in Marlborough, Massachusetts, he was the son of Robert and Evelyn W. Moore. He graduated from high school in 1956, received his bachelor’s degree at the Agronomy University of Massachusetts in 1960, and earned his master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Connecticut in

1962.

Moore is a U.S. Army veteran. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army 2nd Armored Division.

Moore has served in management and consulting in the field of agronomy for more than 50 Moore years. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 14 years.

Active in Rotary, he first joined the Albion Rotary Club in 1971. He was its club president in 1975-1976. He has been active in the Kendallville Rotary Club for many years and served in various offices over the years. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

While an Albion Rotary Club president, the club hosted its first exchange student. While president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, he helped start the porkburger sale project that has generated income to fund several club projects.

Moore and his wife, Judy, are the parents of six children and have 10 grandchildren.

Congratulations Kendallville Rotary on dedicated service to our communities locally and internationally.

US 6 West, Kendallville • 347-2254

www.atzfurniturecompany.com Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 43

Joseph Atz

earned his bachelor’s degree. He passed the Harris Fellow.

Uniform CPA Examination in 1988 and Atz is a member of the Kendallville 1997-1998 became a licensed CPA in 1990.

Area Chamber of Commerce, is past Third-generation furniture store owner Frick worked for 2 ½ years with the president of the Cole Center Family YMCA Joseph Atz was president of the KendallState Board of Accounts, auditing local board of directors, and is past president of ville Rotary Club in 1997-1998. governmental units. He moved to TL the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce and Born Jan. 9, Wagner PC, Fort Wayne, for 3 ½ years and the Noble County Community Foundation.

1956, in Kendall11/17 nicHe0418 then joined Al Nelson, CPA, in Kendallhas served as chairman of the United ville, he was the ville, in 1992. He formed Nelson & Frick, Way of Noble County fund drive. son of John and P.C., which became Scott Frick CPA, P.C., Atz has one daughter, Jenna Atz. Julie (Schrock) in 2000.

Atz. He was a 1974 Kendallville Rotarian Alan Roush invitgraduate of East ed Frick to Rotary in 1993, and he joined Noble High School. Scott R. Frick the club in April of that year. He served in He earned his bach- 1998-1999 Accountant Scott R. Frick was president the officer chairs, becoming president for elor’s degree from of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1998the 1998-1999 year. He is a Paul Harris Indiana University 1999.

Fellow. in 1978.

Born Oct. 3, Frick and his wife, Cynthia, are the parAtz is owner/ 1962, in Kendallents of three children, Elizabeth, Alexander president of Atz Atz ville, his parents and Austin.

Furniture Store, are Robert Frick Kendallville, a company his grandfather, and Patricia HousJulius Atz, started in Goshen, Indiana. The er. He graduated David Snyder Kendallville store was opened in 1928. fromStreet, East Noble 1999-2000 Scott's Kendallville IN Joe’s father, John, a longtime Rotarian, was on 310 West North High School in Contractor David Snyder was presaffiliated with the family business from 1981. He attended ident of the Kendallville Rotary Club 1946 until his death on March 20, 2006.

Manchester Unifrom 1999-2000.

Joe Atz joined Rotary in 1982. He was versity for a year Snyder was the son of Kenneth and president of the Ligonier Rotary Club in before transferring Helen (Rosenberger) Snyder. He was 1988-1989. He later joined the Kendallville to Indiana Uniactive in the Kendallville Rotary Club Rotary Club and has served in various club versity at Bloomfor several years. He is president and offices, including president. He is a Paul Frick ington, where he owner of Snyder Construction/Snyder’s

Page 44

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Snyder

Lock & Key Co. of Kendallville.

His company offers general contractor services for homes and businesses.

The lock and key business offers burglar alarm systems, security control equipment, and locksmith services.

Lawrence M. Doyle

2000-2001 Banker Lawrence M. “Larry” Doyle was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2000-2001.

Born Sept. 16, 1950, in Chicago, he was the son of William T. and Helen Doyle. He graduated from St. Rita High School in Chicago in 1968 and from Northern Illinois University in 1972.

Doyle joined Campbell & FetDoyle ter Bank, Kendallville, in 1976, when his father, owner of a chain of supermarkets, purchased controlling interest in the bank and became chairman of the board.

In 1988, Larry Doyle became president of Campbell & Fetter Bank.

His father retired in 1993, and in 1994,

Larry became chairman of the board of C&F. Over the years, Doyle has been involved in a number of organizations, including the Kendallville Jaycees, the United Way of Noble County, the Kendallville Elks Lodge, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Kendallville Local Development Corporation and the Kendallville Economic Improvement District.

He is a founding member of the Kendallville Public Library foundation board and also has been a chief supporter of the Cole Center Family YMCA and has helped lead multiple building campaigns.

He is an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kendallville, serving on church committees.

In 2016, Doyle was named Kendallville Citizen of the Year by the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Doyle and his wife, the former Jane Schmidt, are the parents of three children, Michael, Christopher and Kelli.

Doyle has been active in the Kendallville Rotary Club since 1986 and is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

Gerard A. Jansen

2001-2002 Chiropractic physician Gerard A. “Jerry” Jansen was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 20012002.

He was born Dec. 4, 1955, in Garrett, the son of Dr. Bernard W. and LaVon V. (Carteaux) Jansen.

Jansen graduated from East Noble High School in 1974. He attended Indiana University and graduated from The National College of Chiropractic

in 1980. He is a licensed acupuncturist.

In 1980, he joined Jansen Family Chiropractic, Kendallville, a firm founded by his late father. His brother, Thomas Jansen, is also a partner in the Jansen business.

He and his wife, the former Lori Weible, are the parents of two children, Paul Jansen, an attorney in Indianapolis, and Janaya Jansen, a doctor of dentistry in Kendallville. He has three grandchildren, Evelyn and Caroline Bernard and Archer Jansen.

Jansen joined Rotary in 1985 and served in each of the offices of the club. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Jansen’s community involvement has also included Eagle Scout, Cole Family YMCA fundraising and facility activities, past president of the Kendallville Jaycees, United Way of Noble County board member and campaign chair, and various church and neighborhood boards and committees. He served 10 years on the Kendallville Plan Commission, including several years as chairman. He currently is a member of the Noble County Council.

Jacqueline J. Beery

2002-2003 Educator Jacqueline J. Beery, Ph.D., was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2002-2003.

Beery was born in 1950 in South

Jansen Family Chiropractic is proud to support the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Thomas L. Jansen, D.C., FACO Gerard A. Jansen, D.C., L.Ac. 402 N Riley St., Kendallville (260) 347-1150 | Fax (260) 347-1155

Since 1949, our goal has been to provide quality, affordable chiropractic and accupuncture Healthcare Services to the citizens of our community in a friendly caring environment.

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 45

Bend, to Alvin and Dorothy Johnson. She graduated from Bremen High School in 1968.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and business administration from Indiana University Beery in 1980 and 1985 respectively. She earned her education specialist and doctorate degrees from Indiana State University in 1990 and 1995 respectively.

Beery began her career in education as business teacher and business manager for Jimtown High School, Baugo Community Schools, from 1981-1991.

She was assistant superintendent for Smith-Green Community Schools, Churubusco, from 1991-1995 and superintendent from 1995-1998.

On Aug. 1, 1998, Beery was hired as superintendent of the East Noble School Corporation, replacing Dr. Rodger Smith, who left East Noble to become executive director of the Region 8 Northeast Indiana Education Service Center.

While in Kendallville, she was a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club, and became the first female president of the club in its history, serving in 2002-2003.

After a 25-year career in education, she retired in 2006, as East Noble’s superintendent.

Since 2006, she has been a consultant with Educational Services

Company, Indianapolis. Her consultant work has involved financial studies or budget work/training for school districts in Argos, Warsaw, Fremont, Manchester, WaNee, Hammond, Knox, Concord, and Tri-Creek. She had interim assignments for Smith-Green, Knox, Concord, Marion, Hammond, and Tri-Creek.

She was president of Indiana School Business Officials for 19941995 and served as chair of accreditation teams for school districts in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, and South Carolina.

Beery and her husband, Charles F. Beery Jr., live in Columbia City. They have two children, Julie Turpin and Brian Beery, and two grandchildren.

Harry Milton

2003-2004 Landscaper and lawn care owner Harry Milton was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2003-2004.

He was born on March 15, 1959, in Manhattan, Kansas, to John and Teresa Milton.

Milton is a 1977 graduate of East Noble High School, and in 1984 he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Milton Illinois.

He is the owner of Green Side Up, a landscaping and lawn care company in Kendallville.

Milton joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1996, with Rotarian Scott Frick his sponsor.

The year he was president of the club was the 100th anniversary of Rotary International. The Kendallville club planted 100 trees at the new sports complex and placed a rock and plaque at the site.

Milton and his wife, Bonnie, are the parents of one son, Ryan, who lives with his wife, Lizzy, and daughter, Addison, in the Chicago area.

Andrew F. Strack

2004-2005 Fast-food regional manager Andrew F. Strack was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 2004-2005.

A native of Fort Wayne, he was born Nov. 5, 1963, the son of Godfrey F. and Rita M. Strack.

He graduated from Bishop Luers High School in 1982.

Strack was district manager for Pizza Hut of Strack Fort Wayne from 1981-2014. Since 2015, he has been Subway regional manager. He is a board member of the History Center in Fort Wayne. Since 2002, he has been a board member of the Noble County REMC. Strack and the former Yvonne Campbell were married Nov. 23, 1987, in Fort Wayne. They are the parents of four sons.

Strack joined the Kendallville Ro-

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tary Club in 1997. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Randy Kline

2005-2006 Industrial manager Randy Kline was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2005-2006.

He was born in Kendallville, Oct. 2, 1962, to Kenneth and Kay Kline. He graduated from East Noble High School in 1981.

He received his bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Kline He married Jennifer Bherns, July 23, 1988. Their children are Joe, Rachel, Ben and Leah.

Kline is a quality and technical manager in the steel and steel treating industry. He is a past president of the Fort Wayne Chapter of American Society for Materials.

A member of the Kendallville Rotary Club since 1998, he is a Paul Harris Fellow and a past Scout leader. He and his family are members of St. John Lutheran Church, Kendallville.

As president of Rotary, Kline helped maintain a strong level of attendance.

All fund-raising and community service efforts were successful. He said he was pleased to award two Paul Harris awards to two “great mothers” who had a positive impact on the club — LaVon Jansen and Julia Atz.

Douglas A. Jansen

2006-2007 Dentist Douglas Alan Jansen was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2006-2007.

Born March 3, 1968, in Kendallville, he was the son of Dr. Bernard and LaVon (Carteaux) Jansen.

In 1986, he graduated from East Noble High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana UniverJansen sity, Bloomington, in 1990. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1994.

From 1994 to 1998, he practiced dentistry in North Vernon, Indiana. In 1998, he joined his brother, Dr. Jim Jansen, in his Kendallville practice.

Since returning to Kendallville, Jansen has been on the board of directors of the Cole Center Family YMCA, the Noble County Community Foundation, the Kendallville Library Foundation, and has been actively involved in the Immaculate Conception Church and Knights of Columbus.

Jansen, who is a Paul Harris Fellow, joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2000. As president, he started “Service Project a Month,” and revised and updated the Rotary Club bylaws.

Jansen married Susan Wolfrum on Oct. 10, 1998. They are the parents of two sons, Jack and Ben.

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Robert J. Ruse

2007-2008 Bank marketing director Robert James “R.J.” Ruse was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2007-2008.

He was born Feb. 10, 1954, in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Paul and Myrt Ruse.

He graduated from Oelwein Community High School in 1972.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Northern Ruse Iowa in 1977.

From 1977-1984, he was in retail management in Des Moines and Ames, Iowa. From 1984-2007, he was in broadcast radio management and sales for WAWK-Kendallville, and WBTU, WFWI, Fort Wayne. Since 2007, he has been director of marketing for Campbell & Fetter Bank, Kendallville.

He was invited to join the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1984 by longtime Rotarians Garrett Moore and Louis Fisher. He has served in various roles with the club over the years. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

A few of his goals as president were to develop a defined hands-on international service project and teach all club members the Four-Way Test.

As president, the club began the “Claws for a Cause,” project, an international fundraiser (lobster dinner) for a specific international project. The first year $6,000 was raised to place

Congratulation on 100 Years of Community Service!

230 S. Main Street, Kendallville jansenfamilydentistry.com

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

Page 47

fresh water tanks on rural areas of Mexico. The “Claws” projects continue raising funds each year for clean water, dental clinics, education in foreign countries and local projects. These have been the most successful fundraisers in the club’s history.

Ruse and his wife, Darilyn, are the parents of three children, Kari Ruse Rathke, Zach Ruse and Dane Ruse.

They also have two grandchildren.

Glen Bontrager

2008-2009 Human resource manager Glen Bontrager was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2008-2009.

He was born Oct. 3, 1956, in Rolla, North Dakota, the son of Jonas and Gertrude Bontrager.

He graduated from Fairfield High School, Elkhart County, in 1975.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in Bontrager 1980.

Bontrager has been in human resource management for over 33 years.

He joined Rotary in 1995. As president, his motto was “Year of Engagement.”

On July 7, 1984, in Goshen, he married Kimberly J. Eldridge. She graduated from Goshen High School in 1974 and attended Indiana University. The couple moved to Kendallville in 1995. She was an accountant and was employed with Kendallville Iron and Metal for about five years. She died Jan. 17, 2010, at the age of 54. Their two children are Jenna and Blake.

Heidi Ramer

2009-2010 Insurance company owner Heidi Ramer was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2009-2010.

She was born Jan. 25, 1971, in Jos, Nigeria, to David and Karen Doudt.

She graduated from Manchester High School in 1989. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manchester College in 1993.

Ramer and her husband, Jarrod, have been owners of Black & Ramer Insurance LLC, Kendallville, since 2000.

Ramer joined the Kendallville RotaPage 48

ry Club in 2002.

She is the second woman to serve as club president.

She is a Paul Harris Fellow.

She and Jarrod, an Albion Rotary Club member, were married in 2001. They have two children, Jordan and Caleb.

Ramer A few years after joining Rotary, Ramer was instrumental in starting a special service project for the Kendallville Rotary Club — providing pajamas to children taken from their homes because of parental drug abuse. The first year, about 80 pairs of pajamas were collected; the next year the number rose to 200. The project became known as “Warm Fuzzies for Foster Kids.” The project was praised

by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

David C. Hunter

2010-2011 Healthcare manager and executive David C. Hunter was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2010-2011.

Hunter was born Feb. 12, 1952, in Shelby, Ohio, the son of R. Dean and Bertha Hunter.

He graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1970. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, insurance and risk from Ohio Hunter State University in 1974. He was awarded his master of business administration degree from the University of Toledo in 1980.

From 1977-2014, he was a healthcare manager and executive. He was president of Parkview Noble Hospital, Kendallville, from 2002 until his retirement on July 3, 2014.

Hunter became a member of the Wabash Rotary Club in 1996. In 2002, he joined the Kendallville Rotary Club.

As president of the Kendallville club, he increased membership and helped secure a Rotary International matching grant for water wells in Africa. He is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Besides Rotary, his other community

activities have been the United Way of Noble County Board of Directors, the Cole Center Family YMCA Board of Directors, the Kendallville Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, the Regional Work One Board of Directors, and Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Hunter and his wife, Cheryl, were married Dec. 28, 1974, in Columbus, Ohio. They have three children, David, Beth and Alex.

Fred Kreigh

2011-2012 Building contractor Fred Kreigh was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2011-2012.

Born March 3, 1953, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Forest and Carol (Schuelke) Kreigh. He attended LaOtto Elementary School, Avilla School, and graduated from East Noble High School in 1971.

He also graduated from Purdue Kreigh University.

Kreigh has been a self-employed building contractor for more than four decades. He is owner of UrNest, formerly K&F Construction, Kendallville.

He is a member of the Builders Association of Northeast Indiana, the Indiana Builders Association, and a graduate master builder of the National Association of Home Builders.

He has been active in Boy Scouts of America and earned his Eagle Scout honor.

Kreigh was project chairman for the building of the Rotary Pavilion at the Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex. The dedication of the new facility, donated by the Kendallville Rotary Club, was held in June 2016.

Kreigh is the father of three sons, Dustin, Scott and Sam Kreigh, and has one grandson and one granddaughter.

Al Ensley Jr.

2012-2013 Controller and human resources manager Al Ensley Jr., was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2012-2013.

He was born Sept. 16, 1951, in Fort Wayne, the son of Albert and Velma Ensley.

Ensley was a 1969 graduate of Con-

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

cordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Trine University in 1973.

Ensley served as controller for Martin Inc. for 10 years. He has worked as controller, human Ensley Jr. resources and IT manager for Transmission & Fluid Equip Inc., for more than 23 years.

He joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2009. As president, the club built the Rotary Pavilion at the Kendallville Outdoor and Recreation Center. The club also had a significant float in the Kendallville Sesquicentennial Parade in 2013.

Ensley and his wife, Sylvia, are the parents of three children, Christina Perez, Jill Brown and Al Ensley III. They also have five grandchildren.

Alfred L. Huth

2013-2014 Longtime educator Alfred Leonard “Al” Huth was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2013-2014.

Huth was born Nov. 16, 1944, in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, the son of Elmer and Alice (Vigneaux) Huth.

He graduated from Avilla High School in 1963. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Purdue University in 1967 and 1971, respectively.

From 1967-1979, he taught at East Noble High School. From 1979-1997, he worked for World Book. From

1998-2001, he was employed as an instructor for the Freedom Academy. From 2001-2009, he was a math teacher at Fort Wayne Northrop High School.

Huth joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in Huth 1998. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Master Gardeners, Woodworking Club, church choir and has served as Rotary Assistant District Governor from 2015-2018.

On Aug. 14, 1971, he married Barb Heston. They have three children, Kelly, Tracey and Chad, and six grandchildren.

Gerald R. Davis

2014-2015 Former minor league baseball player and Kraft Foods executive Gerald R. “Jerry” Davis was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 2014-2015.

Davis was born March 9, 1931, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the son of Robert and Louise Davis.

He graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1949. While working, he accumulated two years of college credit hours at Marquette University, Stockton Junior College, and the University of Southern California.

After high school, he played baseball for a minor league team until an injury shortened his career.

For 41 years, he worked for Kraft Foods in the following locations: Beaver

Dam, Wisconsin; Manteca, Oakland and Buena Park, California; Pocatello, Idaho; Champaign, Illinois, and Kendallville. He chose Kendallville as his retirement home.

Davis joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in Davis 1984. While he was president, the club raised money to build the Rotary Pavilion at the Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Center. He also increased the Rotary Foundation participation by the local club along with other community/ club projects.

Davis and his wife, Margaret, are the parents of four daughters and a son.

They also have 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

David Hockley

2015-2016 Longtime educator David Hockley was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 2015-2016.

He was born Feb. 16, 1953, in Birmingham, England, the son of James and Florence Hockley.

From 1964-1971, he attended Lordswood Grammar School in Birmingham.

He earned his bachelor of education degree from Nottingham College of Education in 1975. He received his master’s degree in education from Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, in 1981.

From 1975-1977, Hockley was a geography and history teacher at East-

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Hockley

holme Comprehensive School in Peterborough, England. From 1978-2008, he was a social studies teacher at Kendallville Middle School. He retired as an educator in 2008.

Since 2010, Hockley has been government liaison for the American

Red Cross.

Hockley joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2009. While he was president, the club built the Rotary Pavilion at the Kendallville Outdoor Sports and Recreation facility.

Hockley and his wife, the former Debra Moran, of Kendallville, were married Dec. 21, 1975. They met while Debra was studying in England on a Rotary scholarship. They are members of Trinity Church United Methodist, Kendallville. They are the parents of two children, Megan and Mark. They also have two grandchildren.

Casey Weimer

2016-2017 Cole Center Family YMCA executive Casey Weimer was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2016-2017.

She was born in Warsaw, Indiana, and grew up in North Manchester. Her parents are Dan and Susan Manwaring and Kaye Love.

She is a 1991 graduate of Manchester

High School in North Manchester.

She received her bachelor’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University in 1995.

Weimer worked in various human resources roles for Dana Corporation for nearly 12 years before joining the Weimer YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne as its first HR director. In 2011, she became chief executive officer of the Cole Center Family YMCA in Kendallville.

Weimer joined the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2011. One of her achievements as president was to get the club involved in social media.

Other community involvement activities were Fulton County Leadership Academy, Fulton County United Way Board of Directors, Northeast Indiana CASA volunteer, Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentor, Kendallville Library Endowment Board member, and the Oak Farm Montessori School Board of Directors member.

On April 1, 2006, she married Troy Weimer. She has two stepchildren.

Eric D. Blackman

2017-2018 A member of the legal profession since 2000, Eric D. Blackman is the current president of the Kendallville Rotary Club, serving in 2017-2018.

Blackman was born Oct. 18, 1971, in Fort Wayne, the son of David and Carol

Blackman. He graduated from East Noble High School in 1990.

He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and history in 1994 from Valporaiso University.

From 19951997, Blackman was the co-owner Blackman of a Coast to Coast retail store. And in 1997, he was manager of K & L Tool Supply, Kendallville. That’s when he decided to change professions and enter law school.

In 2000, he earned his law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law. From 2000-2002, Blackman was deputy prosecutor in Lake County. From 2002-2003, he was a law partner with Mike Yoder in Kendallville. He served as deputy prosecutor of Noble County from 2003-2010, and from 2010-2014, he had his own law practice and was public defender in Noble County. In 2014, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Noble County.

Blackman was a member of the Kendallville Rotary Club from 1995-1997 and rejoined the club in 2013. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Noble County and Indiana Bar Associations.

Blackman and his wife, Jennifer Higbie, were married Nov. 25, 2000. They are the parents of two daughters, Macy and Erin.

Interested in Rotary? Contact any Rotary member for details or go online at rotary.org.

Jansen Law, a proud member of the Kendallville Rotary Club.

CHRISTOPHER T. JANSEN 260-599-4206 www.chrisjansenlaw.com Page 50

Attorney-At-Law

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228 S. Main Street Kendallville, IN 46755

Rotary in Action

Dr. Tom Jansen presents a Paul Harris Fellow honor to former Kendallville Mayor John Riemke.

These two characters (Fred Kreigh and Tyler Knox) helped entertain the Rotarians at a fundraising event.

This unusual parade float was the Kendallville Rotary Club’s entry into the annual Kendallville Christmas Parade.

The idea was chairman Fred Kreigh’s plan, which was a crowd-pleaser.

Kendallville Rotarians have taken part in the Light the Night fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for many years. In front are Rotarians Larry Doyle, right, and Jerry Jansen, center, with Lori Jansen at left.

Rotary Day Care cleanup crew, May 2017.

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Dr. Doug Jansen gave a Rotary program in 2017 about his family’s trip to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Kendallville Rotarian Harry Milton, left, received replacements for his Rotary trophies (past-president’s plaque and Rotary 4-way test) that were destroyed in his business fire on Jan. 16, 2014.

R. J. Ruse, right, makes the presentation at the club meeting on April 18, 2017.

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Brian Baker, left, hands the gavel to incoming Kendallville Rotary Club President David Wilson at the 1991 inaugural ceremonies. Baker was a third-generation president of the club, serving in 1990-1991.

Heidi Ramer is surprised at a January 2017 Rotary meeting with a birthday cake from fellow Rotarians. Ramer was the second woman to serve as president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 2009-2010.

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Rotarians Matt Rickey, Dave Hunter and Joe Atz entertain Rotarians and their spouses at a gathering at Adams Lake Pub.

Rotarian R. J. Ruse honors longtime East Noble Theatre director Craig Munk with a Paul Harris Fellow honor.

Rotary President David Hockley, left, presents a Paul Harris Fellow honor to Noble County Civil Defense, Emergency Management Agency director Mick Newton.

Al Ensley, right, the incoming president of Rotary for 2012-2013, presents a plaque to outgoing Rotary president Fred Kreigh at Ensley’s inauguration.

Rotarian Alan Roush tries to entice a bid for this item at a Rotary fundraiser.

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Rotarian Jerry Davis tries to stop traffic in order to sell more porkburgers at the annual fundraiser.

Henry Shaffer Kimmel was a second generation Kendallville Rotarian. His father, Camillius Kimmel, was one of the 25 charter members of the club and president of the club in 1925-1926. Henry Kimmel owned and operated the Kendallville Laundry and Dry Cleaning, a business operated by his family for 90 years. He joined Rotary in 1925, the year his father was president of the club, and had over 45 years of perfect attendance. Henry died in December 1999 at the age of 93.

Rotarian Donna Wolfe at the porkburger sale fund drive.

Congratulations Butler Rotary Club

Meets: Thursdays Noon Butler Public Library, Butler Chartered 1938

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Garrett Rotary Club Meets: Tuesdays Noon - 1 p.m.

T&R Junction, Garrett Chartered 1964

Auburn Rotary Club

Meets: 1st three Tuesdays of each month at Bridgewater, Auburn Noon - 1 p.m.

Chartered 1926

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Ending polio forever Rotary International has been working to eradicate polio for over 30 years, and our goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight. We started in 1979 with vaccinations for

6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.

Rotary polio awareness walk in Kendallville, July 19, 2017.

U.S. Rep. Dan Coats, left, was the guest speaker at the Feb. 17, 1987 Kendallville Rotary Club meeting. Coats discussed the challenges American families face today.

At right is Rotarian Ken Napier, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Kendallville. Coats served as a member of the U.S. House from 1981 to 1989. He was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Dan Quayle following Quayle’s election as vice president. Coats served in the Senate until 1999. He was U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2005 and was re-elected to the Senate in 2010. He declined to run for re-election and in March 2017, became director of National Intelligence in the Trump administration.

Past District Governor David Wilson with Group Study Exchange leader from Turkey. The Kendallville Rotary Club planted 100 trees at the Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex in November 2004 to commemorate Rotary’s International’s centennial year in 2005.

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Rotarian Jerry Davis stands outside the Kraft Food plant in Kendallville before the Rotarians were given a tour of the plant. Davis spent his career working as a plant manager for Kraft.

Rotary exchange student Bruno Diaz of Brazil, left, with Palestinan AFS/YES exchange student Omar Dakka at Rotary meeting in September 2014. Both boys were hosted in the home of Terry and Grace Housholder.

Rotary President Fred Kreigh welcomes Dr. Terry Gaff as a new member of the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Mark Cockroft, who inspired the Boomerang Backpack program at East Noble, was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club meeting. At right is Rotarian Glen Bontrager.

Dr. R. Alan Roush, left, passes the gavel to incoming Kendallville Rotary Club President Terry Housholder at the June 1985 inauguration event at Shook’s Restaurant. Roush served as president of the club from 1984-85.

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Kendallville Rotarians, from left, Joe Atz, Andy Strack and R. J. Ruse, ham it up at a Rotary fundraiser.

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Rotarians stand in front of Rotary Club booth at the Apple Festival of Kendallville.

Rotarians tour Airframe Components by Williams Inc. in Kendallville.

Rotarians gather outside the home of Rotarian Doug Jansen for the Claws for a Cause fundraiser. Money raised helped fund clean water and dental clinic projects in Mexico.

Dr. Doug Jansen plays chef at a Rotary fundraiser.

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Turkish Rotary Exchange visitors, seated, were hosted for a dinner at the home of Les and Marilyn Alligood.

Host families in back from left are: Al and Judy Moore,

Rotarian Dr. Jerry Jansen gives a program to the Rotary Club on his 2017 trip to Cuba.

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Larry and Jane Doyle, Doug and Susan Jansen, Dave and Camille Wilson and Terry and Grace Housholder.

Rotarian Dr. R. Alan Roush leads club in singing.

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Kendallville Rotary Club President Glen Bontrager, fourth from left, and Past District Governor David Wilson, far right, together with Rotarians from Turkey, who visited the Kendallville club during the 2008-2009 year.

Outgoing Rotary Club President Heidi Ramer received a plaque from incoming President Dave Hunter at the 2010 inaugural event.

Brian Baker, left is the new president of Rotary (1990-1991).

At right is outgoing president Mark Peterson.

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Kendallville Rotarians participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk each year.

The Rev. Dr. Dan Barker with Kendallville Rotary Club President Heidi Ramer.

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Kendallville Rotary Club President Heidi Ramer, 2009-2010, with Rotary District 6540 Governor Floyd Lancia of the Anthony Wayne Club in Fort Wayne.

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Kendallville Rotarians Dr. Doug Jansen and Heidi Ramer with Guanajuata, Mexico, Rotarians.

Rotary is global organization Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our

communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and

intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

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Rotarians at the Apple Festival booth — Dave Wilson, R. J. Ruse and Al Moore.

Rotarian Terry Housholder with exchange student Daniel Salah of Cairo, Egypt, take part in the Oct. 8, 2016, Adopt-A-Highway cleanup of S.R. 3 North.

Tom Burke, retired Kraft plant manager, is installed as a Rotary Club member at the April 25, 2017, Rotary meeting.

Rotarians Ken Stark, left, and Les Alligood at a Rotary inaugural event.

Longtime Kendallville Rotarians Larry Doyle, left, and Dr. R. Alan Roush, both past club presidents.

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Rotarians from left, R. J. Ruse, Casey Weimer, and Joe Atz.

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Dr. R. Alan Roush, second from right, accepts the chamber’s 1990 Citizen of the Year Award from chamber director Doug Atz. With Roush are his parents, Dr. Robert and Peg Roush and his wife, Jane.

Omar Dakka of the West Bank, Palestine, gave a program about his homeland at the Sept. 2, 2014, Rotary program. At right is his host father, Rotarian Terry Housholder.

Rotarian Jerry Jansen presents a Paul Harris Fellow honor to Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe.

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Dr. Doug Jansen, aided by Rotarian Heidi Ramer, works on a patient at the Guanajuato, Mexico dental clinic.

Rotary works for a better world Rotary is dedicated to six areas of focus to build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever.

1. Promoting peace

Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.

2. Fighting disease

We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/ AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free

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health care in developing areas.

longer and grow stronger.

3. Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene

5. Supporting education

We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day.

We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.

4. Saving mothers and children Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live

More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.

6. Growing local economies

We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.

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Kendallville Rotarians assist with the building of the new playground at Wayne Center Elementary School.

Rotary Club President Heidi Ramer (2009-2010) looks over the Rotary Club songbook prior to a meeting at the Kendallville Pizza Hut.

Kendallville Rotarian Clyde Martin won the Best Beard Contest at the 1963 Kendallville Centennial celebration. Martin was a longtime Rotarian and beloved janitor at East Noble High School.

He died Oct. 14, 1982, at the age of 70.

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Rotarian Brian DeCamp, left, receives a Paul Harris Fellow award from Fred Kreigh, who served as Rotary president for 2011-2012.

For the past several years, Kendallville Rotarians have helped Common Grace Ministries and the Salvation Army with bell ringing to raise funds to help the needy in the community. AFS/YES exchange student Karem Ghanim of West Bank, Palestine, assists his host father, Rotarian Terry Housholder, at the Kroger store.

Rotary Club President Fred Kreigh (2011-2012) presents a Paul Harris Fellow honor to Rotarian Al Huth.

Rotarian Vince Coda lends a helping hand with the Kendallville Day Care project.

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Rotarian Les Alligood enjoying Rotary fellowship.

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Paul Harris Fellows The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

It was established in 1957 to show appreciation for and encourage subLes Alligood Joe Atz (3) John Atz (3) Brian Baker Dave Baker (2) John Berhow Eric Blackman Glen Bontrager Lisa Charles Vince Coda Gerald Davis (3) Brian DeCamp Joyce Diggins Larry Doyle (3) Al Ensley Greg Ensley Craig Fischer Regan Ford Cindy Frick Scott Frick Terry Gaff

stantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.

The first Paul Harris Fellows include 1937-38 RI Director Allison G.

Brush and longtime RI Treasurer Rufus F. Chapin, both for donations made in 1946. Mrs. Adan Vargas was the first woman to receive the recognition, for a gift made in 1953.

Following is a list of Kendallville Paul Harris Fellows:

Barry Graden Nelson Harrod Charles Hosler David Hosler Paul Hougland Terry Housholder Michael Hughes Dave Hunter John Hutchins Al Huth Doug Jansen Jerry Jansen Jim Jansen Tom Jansen (3) Randy Kline Fred Kreigh (3) Robert Kropp Harry Milton Al Moore (2) Garrett Moore Max Platt

Congratulations, Kendallville Rotary Club!

Cleon Point A. Stephen Pyle Heidi Ramer Paul Rehling Rudolph Rehwinkle Alan Roush (2) Glen Rowe Robert “R. J.” Ruse Dave Snyder (2) Deb Snyder Ken Stark Vern Steckley Andy Strack Dave VanderKaay Becca Wilson Cam Wilson (2) Dave Wilson (9) Jeffrey Wilson Lane Wilson Scott Wilson Robert Wolford

Owner Tyler Knox 10 Year Kendallville Rotary Club Member!

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New Windows, Siding and Doors

260-347-1157 • 1-866-347-1157 • Get FREE! no-hassle estimates! www.northernexteriorsinc.com Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

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Kendallville Rotary historical notes The following are from club records and stories published in The News Sun over the years.

• The first meetings of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 1918 were held at the Gawthrop Inn, 115 North Main Street, Kendallville. The organizational meeting was held Friday, March 15, 1918. The United States was heavily involved in World War I at the time of the founding of the club. One of the first acts of the club was to support the war effort through support for the war chest and war bonds programs, the Red Cross and YMCA.

1920s • Beginning in the early 1920s, the club met at the Community Building at the Methodist Church on Rush Street.

When a “No Smoking” sign appeared, the club voted to move back to its original meeting place, the Gawthrop Hotel on Main Street.

• In the 1920s, the Kendallville club and other Rotary clubs in Indiana, helped with funding for the building of the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, which opened in October 1924.

• In the spring of 1921, the Kendallville Rotary Club challenged the Angola Rotary Club to a Rotary attendance contest, which the Angola club won.

The Kendallville club then put on an elaborate banquet at the Community Building (Methodist Church on Rush Street) on May 5, 1921, for the winners.

One hundred and fifty attended the event with 77 present from Angola. An orchestra provided entertainment. The district governor of the Indiana Rotary Clubs, Walter E. Pittsford of Indianapolis, was the main speaker.

• In 1923, the club helped organize the Kendallville Community Club, whose aim was to support the growth of the community.

• The inauguration of Kendallville Rotary Club President John Hart was held Friday, June 3, 1927, at the Spring Beach Hotel in Rome City, with 85 people present. The Rotary Anns, wives of the Rotarians, were guests. The entertainment included singing, dancing, card Page 68

playing and “other diversions.”

• Several Kendallville Rotarians attended the district conference in Fort Wayne, Feb. 21, 22, 1927, where Paul P. Harris of Chicago, the founder the world’s first international service club, addressed the group.

• The annual meeting of Group 2 of the Twentieth District of Rotary Clubs was held in Kendallville on Friday, Sept.

3, 1927, with more than 300 Rotarians attending the event at the Elks Temple, in the 100 block of West Mitchell Street.

Several contests were held as entertainment. Kendallville won the contest for the oldest and youngest Rotarian present. Banker Archy Campbell, 71, won the prize for the oldest; laundryman Henry Kimmel, 20, was the youngest.

Angola Rotarian Raymond E. Willis was introduced as the incoming district governor. A newspaperman who owned the Steuben Printing Co., Willis was elected to the United States Senate in 1940. He served until January 1947.

• Incoming Rotary district governor Raymond Willis of Angola was the guest speaker at the Oct. 15, 1927, meeting of the Kendallville club. He said “Rotary functions in three ways, through fellowship, service and good will.” He added, “I believe the true object in business life today is to serve humanity for the Raymond Willis happiness you get. It is not the financial fortune that we leave our children after we depart from this world that counts, but the good name of honor, honest dealing and high moral standards.”

• The guest speaker at the Nov. 5, 1927, meeting was Alonzo Richard Cole, a prominent Kendallville resident known for his work with needy children in the community. Since coming to Kendallville in 1890, he was the official agent for the Noble County Board of Guardians until it was dissolved in 1936.

Later he worked for the Noble County Welfare Board. He handled hundreds of

cases over the years and provided homes for many local orphans. He said he had not taken a penny for his work. Each person under his care was given jobs to do and each had his or her own bank account. A widower, he died in 1942, leaving no survivors.

• On Friday, Dec. 9, 1927, history was made at the Kendallville Rotary Club meeting. Rotarian Cam Kimmel arranged a unique stunt with George Kihm and the telephone company to set up a temporary broadcast station in the Community Building on Rush Street so the crowd of 200 could hear the broadcast of the high school basketball game in Columbia City between Kendallville and the host team. Kihm used a Stromberg Carlson radio and taped a telephone wire leased from the Bell Telephone Company to it, enabling the guests to listen to the game. Kendallville Rotarian L.S. Brumbaugh, the high school principal, provided the play-by-play direct from the gym. Cheers rose whenever Kendallville scored. The broadcast was a huge success. Kihm, owner of a music store in town, promised to secure a loud speaker if future games are broadcast.

(Kendallville won the game, 43-32.

Kendallville, then called the Red Devils, won the sectional and regional and went on to play in the state finals in Indianapolis that year. Franklin “Tack” Prentice of Kendallville won the IHSAA Gimbel Medal for Mental Attitude at the state finals.)

• The guest speaker at the Aug. 31, 1928 meeting was U.S. Rep. David Hogg of Fort Wayne, who discussed the building of the Boulder Dam, the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Kellogg Peace Treaty, which he said “would practically eliminate war.”

The pact, signed in 1928 by the United States, Germany and most nations, renounced the use of war and called for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Eleven years after the signing, World War II began.

• On Dec. 21, 1928, Boy Scout Troop 103, sponsored by the Kendallville Rotary Club, was installed at the regular Rotary meeting. The scout charter was presented to Rotarian C. H. Kimmel.

During the meeting, Miss Beverly Berhalter (later the wife of Rotarian Myron Hutchins), gave a whistling solo and a

Kendallville Rotary Club • March 2018 • kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

humorous reading, which highly pleased the audience.

1930s

• At the Jan. 17, 1930, meeting, the speakers were Kendallville schools Superintendent H. M. Dixon, and state Rep. H. G. Eshelman of Kendallville.

They spoke to the club about the unfair state tax system. Dixon said with the entire burden of taxation on real estate values in Indiana, owning property has in many instances “become unprofitable.” He also said consolidation of schools must be considered.

• Several Kendallville Rotarians attended the silver anniversary convention of Rotary International in Chicago in June 1930. Sixty-two countries were represented. One of the highlights was the annual message from founder Paul P. Harris.

• Angola newspaper editor Raymond Willis was the guest speaker at the Friday, May 26, 1933, weekly meeting. He gave a pep talk about the tough economic times the country was facing. “Moral and spiritual deflation lowers the society of any community,” he said. “You as an individual should make your business serve the community and you will be assured of success.”

• I.O. Reinoehl, Edgar Kimmel and C. M. Case of the Kendallville Rotary Club attended the Rotary International Convention at the Municipal Casino in Nice, France, June 6-11, 1937. There were 6,000 Rotarians present representing 65 nations. Among the speakers was the President of the French Republic, M. Albert Lebrun. The Kendallville Rotarians were among 150 Rotarians who took a side trip to Rome, Italy, after the convention. They had an opportunity to see Pope Pius XI, who served as pope from 1922 to 1939. In addition, while in Rome, the group had an audience with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, and shook hands with “Il Duce” (“the Leader”).

1940s • A debate on compulsory military conscription was the program at the March 20, 1945, meeting. The Rev. S. L. Yoder, the father of four sons who were all currently serving in the military, was “utterly opposed to peacetime conscription.” Schools Superintendent H. M. Dixon, said he favored some sort of modified form of required military

service for America’s young men.

• Indiana Speaker of the House Hobart M. Creighton of Warsaw was the guest at the May 15, 1945, meeting.

Also addressing the Rotarians at the same meeting was U.S. Navy Seabee Fred Uhl of Kendallville, who had just returned from the South Pacific. He said malaria caused the deaths of 60 percent of the natives of some South Pacific islands. He said he was not optimistic about a quick end of the war with Japan, saying the enemy was well equipped to carry on.

• The regular meeting of the club on Nov. 27, 1945, was a cleanup project at the Kendallville Hardware Store, managed by Rotarian John Molitor. The downtown store sustained water damage when the city fire department battled a fire at the George J. Kaiser & Son grocery store next door.

• Staff Sergeant Guy Swartzlander spoke at the Jan. 8, 1946, club meeting. He recounted war stories from the European Theater. His job was to help run supplies to the U.S. Army units on the front lines. He described how the Germans did everything they could to disrupt the movement of supplies and ammunition. He said while he was in the vicinity of Antwerp, Belgium, he met Clyde Martin, a former Rotarian from Kendallville, who was in a baking unit.

• U.S. Army Sgt. Clyde Martin of Kendallville, who had been recently discharged, was the guest speaker at the March 19, 1946, club meeting. He was a baker during the war, serving in England, Belgium, France and Germany.

His unit baked 94,000 pounds of bread daily. He said the bread was baked with a hard crust, making it edible for 28 days. He saw horrible conditions during and after the war with many people facing starvation.

• War veteran Don Nibbelink, who was stationed in Japan during the occupation, spoke to the club at the March 26, 1946, meeting. He said the conditions in Japan were desperate. He said B-29 bombers had obliterated most of the industry in the country and that there were 6 million workers idle in Tokyo alone. He said since the war, the Japanese people had lost their will to work.

ent were: C. J. Munton of Fort Wayne, the first president; J. E. Lang, the second president; I. M. Kann; P. C. Emmons of Mishawaka; and Dr. O. E. Stiver. Of the 25 charter members, 12 are deceased.

Only Kann was still affiliated with the local club.

• Club President Winfred Gaskill attended the 37th annual Rotary International Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in June 1946. He said 44 countries were represented at the event with 900 delegates present.

• Attorney George Mountz of Garrett spoke at the club’s July 22, 1947, meeting. He was one of six assistant prosecutors in the war crimes trials of Japanese generals. He described in detail some of the atrocities and massacres, including massive beheadings that witnesses reported.

• Fort Wayne Rotarian R. Nelson Snider was the guest speaker at the Aug. 3, R. Nelson Snider 1948, meeting of the club, presenting a humorous program concerning religion and education. He is the South Side High School principal in Fort Wayne.

• Dr. C.B. Goodwin, 87, the oldest practicing medical doctor in northeastern Indiana, was the guest speaker at the Feb. 8, 1949, club meeting. He said he always took his profession seriously and never went fishing, hunting or played golf. “All I knew for entertainment was work,” he said. (Doc Goodwin died in December 1957, at the age of 95. He was one of the nation’s oldest physicians and had practiced in Kendallville for over 50 years, serving six generations of some families.)

• On May 28, 1946, the club honored the charter members of the Kendallville Rotary Club. The charter members pres-

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Mel Taube

• Purdue University’s men’s basketball coach Mel Taube was the featured speaker at the club’s meeting on March 22, 1949.

Taube praised Kendallville basketball coach Robert Igney who Page 69

played basketball at Purdue. To be successful in basketball and in life, Taube said requires sacrifice, discipline and dedication.

1950s

• During the 1950s, past president Dave Baker remembers that the decade “represented the change from the revered community leaders to the young, ex-Jaycees and family men.” It was during this period, he said, that the thrust of the club turned more toward contributing to the financial needs of the community. The club raised money for the expansion of McCray Memorial Hospital.

• State Rep. L. D. Baker spoke to the club on Oct. 3, 1950, about the state budget. One topic he focused on was the need to improve mental health facilities. “Fifty-two percent of people in hospitals are mental patients,” he said.

He noted that $22 million had been allocated for a new mental hospital in Westville. It will be ready for occupancy in 1954 and will relieve the conditions in some other state hospitals.

• Judge Donald H. Hunter, the LaGrange-Steuben Circuit Court judge, spoke to the club on Nov. 21, 1950, about his fears for the future of America that is embroiled in another war (in Korea). “There never was a time when the spirit of freedom is needed more than it is today. We are pouring out billions to build those nations abroad and today we are standing alone. It is time we have some national leadership that will speak for America instead of apologizing for America. With the proper leadership we would not be in the mess we are today.” (Hunter was a World War II veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star for bravery and the Purple Heart.

In 1966, he was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court and served from 1967 to 1985.)

• On Aug. 15, 1951, Mrs. Camillus H. (Ada Valetta) Kimmel, gave the program on the history of her company’s laundry business, Kendallville Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co. The business was started by Henry S. Kimmel and his son, Cam, in 1892. The business moved to 128 E. Mitchell St. about a year later and then in 1907, the building at 218 E. Mitchell St. was erected. Mrs. C. H. Kimmel’s son, Henry S. Kimmel, who grew up in the business, took over as manager after his father’s death in 1944.

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• At the Nov. 4, 1952, meeting, the club endorsed the plan to build the Kendallville Youth Center on South Oak Street. Rotarian Jesse Newkirk related the history of the first city recreational center, which was known as the Kendallville Athletic Club. Its facilities were located in the Mitchell block on Main Street, located over the former Princess Theatre. He said $7,500 has been spent on the new project and $10,000 more is needed for its completion.

• Phil Olofson, affiliated with the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons NBA team, spoke at the club meeting on Dec. 16, 1952. He talked of the team’s success and securing Dick Groat of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as a new rookie basketball prospect. He said team owner Fred Zollner had recently purchased a plane for team travel, which should be a valuable asset.

• At its Sept. 22, 1953, meeting, the club agreed to add four more sections of bleachers at the Kendallville High School’s new athletic field with money from several Rotarians. Contractor Charles Hosler offered to construct the new bleachers at no cost. The Kendall Lumber and Coal Co. will furnish the lumber at cost.

• On Nov. 17, 1953, the board of directors of the Kendallville Rotary Club agreed to send a letter to Indiana Gov. George N. Craig to ask that the new proposed Indiana Toll Road be built on the south route, between U.S. 6 and U.S. 20. (The northern route was later chosen. The Indiana Toll Road opened in 1956.)

• At the club meeting on Oct. 26, 1954, club members agreed to pledge $1,000 to the Kendallville Youth Center within the next year to mark the 50th anniversary of Rotary, which was founded in 1905.

• Dr. Herman Hepner of Kendallville spoke to the club at the Nov. 23, 1954, meeting about the dangers and symptoms of polio and about the newly discovered vaccine. (Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine was licensed in 1955 and the polio cases fell from 35,000 in 1953 to 5,600 in 1957. By 1961, there were only 161 polio cases recorded in the United States. Rotary International began an effort to eradicate polio worldwide in 1979. Since then, with help from its partners, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent worldwide.)

• At the Feb. 23, 1955, meeting, the club commemorated the golden anniversary founding of Rotary. Rotarian R. V. Fischer, who joined the club in 1922, was given a special honor for 32 years of perfect attendance and for his many years as editor of the Rotary Razz.

1960s • The club participated in the city’s centennial celebration in June 1963 with a float and by publishing a historical tour pamphlet of the community.

• At the Jan. 10, 1964, meeting, Rotarian John Thrapp prepared a resolution to honor Rotarian Rudolph J. Rehwinkel, for completing his term of office as mayor of Kendallville. Rehwinkel was cited for his “character, Rudolph honesty, loyalty Rehwinkel and integrity.” The resolution was adopted by the club unanimously.

• On May 15, 1964, the club held a Past President’s Night. A number of past Kendallville Rotary Club presidents told some interesting stories at the meeting.

Glenn Thrapp, president in 1923-1924 and 1937-1938, explained how it came about that a past president automatically becomes a director after his term of office. It seems that Rube Adams, president in 1921-1922, had made some enemies during his presidency and was voted down as a director after his term as president expired. The club, however, was so embarrassed by what it had done that it changed the charter to automatically make the immediate past president a director. John Hart, president in 1927-1928, bragged that he made a hole-in-one on the golf course the year he was president. He claimed the feat was witnessed by two Rotarians. The Rev. Ralph Graham, president in 19351936, described a near revolt in the club during the Great Depression days when the Kendall Hotel raised the price of meals from 50 cents to 75 cents. He also described a birthday prank played on Rotarian August Fetter. The birthday cake the club presented to Fetter turned out to be a cardboard box covered with icing. By the 1940s, Rotary was considered the old man’s club in Kendall-

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• On Sept. 16, 1969, Craig Fischer presented a program on the Boy Scouts with leader Dr. Bernard Jansen discussing the national jamboree held at Sun Valley, Idaho. Among the guests was Eagle Scout Jim Jansen.

• At the Christmas Party held on Dec. 9, 1969, at the Elks Temple, “The Changing Seasons,” a singing group made up of talented East Noble students, provided the entertainment.

• On Dec. 16, 1969, program chairman Cleon Point reported that his speaker canceled at 2 p.m. Feeling bad about having no program, Cleon gave all the Rotarians a free pass to the Strand Theatre.

1970s • At the Feb. 27, 1973, meeting Rotarian Glenn Thrapp was the speaker. He was given a 50-year Rotary pin. Thrapp, a prominent Kendallville attorney, had actually been a member of the club for 52 years.

Kendallville Rotarian Dr. Robert Roush stands next to the Kendallville Rotary float in the June 1963 Kendallville Centennial Parade.

ville, but Jess Newkirk, president in 1943-1944, recalled that the old men in Rotary challenged the younger Lions Club members to a baseball game and the Rotarians won. The best received talk was by Larry Baker, president in 1949-1950, who read a poem he had written on the population boom among Rotarians when he was president.

• On May 20, 1964, charter night was held for the new Garrett Rotary Club. Kendallville was the sponsoring club. Over 150 Rotarians and their wives from the district attended.

• The meeting on Dec. 12, 1967, was held at the East Noble High School gym. The program was a basketball game between the Rotarians and the Kendallville Lions Club. The game was a “cliffhanger” and ended in a tie, 31-31.

• On Aug. 27, 1968, Kendallville librarian Lucile Williams gave the Rotarians a tour of the new Kendallville Public Library on Rush Street.

• Rotarian Paul Wolford spoke on Sept. 18, 1964, about his experiences at the 55th annual Rotary International Convention in Toronto, Canada. There were over 15,000 participants from 72 countries.

• At the June 18, 1965, meeting, a slide show of the Palm Sunday destruction in LaGrange County was presented

by John Zink, the Noble County civil defense and Red Cross disaster chairman. He was one of the crew members who worked all night at that never-to-be-forgotten Palm Sunday of April 11, 1965. Nineteen people were killed in the storm in the Shipshewana area.

J. Edward Roush

• At the Oct. 22, 1968, meeting, Fred Gage presented Ed Roush, the Democratic candidate for Congress.

(Roush lost that race to Congressman E. Ross Adair, but won the rematch in 1970.)

• At the July 15, 1969, meeting, the new East Noble boys basketball coach, Jim Calvin, was the guest speaker. He had a positive outlook on the future of East Noble basketball.

• On March 20, 1973, Lois Swartz of the Kendallville Youth Center, gave the Rotarians its trophies and ribbons that members won at the recent Service Club Olympics.

• On June 25, 1974, perfect attendance awards were given to: Cleon Point, 26 years; Bob Kropp, 26 years; Garrett Moore, 26 years; Dean Colter, 25 years; Bob Marshall, 19 years; Paul Rehling, 13 years; and Craig Fischer, 10 years.

• On June 10, 1975, Lee Witwer gave a program on China. She and her husband, Rotarian George O. Witwer, recently returned from a trip to the Asian country.

• At the Sept. 16, 1975, meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Craig Munk gave a program about the Miss Limberlost Pageant.

• On Dec. 21, 1976, the club’s board of directors was forced to find a new meeting place since at the end of the month the Publix Cafe was closing. The Publix Cafe had been the Rotary’s primary meeting location since at least the 1940s. It was decided that both Miller’s Restaurant and the V&A Restaurant should be tried on a two-month basis.

Meals cost $3.50 at both locations. The club later decided the V&A Restaurant was the preferred meeting place.

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1980s • Sometime in the mid-1980s, Noble County native and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz was the guest speaker at the Kendallville Rotary Club.

Butz gave his typical stump speech to the club, using a loaf of bread as a prop for his talk. He praised the American farmer who works hard to earn a small slice of what a loaf of bread costs. “With a bushel of wheat you can make about 70 onepound loaves of bread,” he said.

“So if you take wheat at about $3.50 a bushel — there’s a nickel’s worth of wheat in a loaf and that Earl Butz bread costs 75 cents, so a nickel into 75 cents equals 1/15. That 1/15 is a slice and a half of the loaf. It costs more to move that loaf of bread past the checkout counter than it costs to put the wheat in it. Then people complain about the farmer getting the heel and one slice.” (Butz made his last visit to Noble County in 2000 for the Noble County 4-H Alumni Banquet.

He died Feb. 7, 2008, at the age of 98.)

• On Sept. 3, 1985, the club made history when it installed three brothers at the same meeting. They were Dr. Thomas L. Jansen, Dr. James S. Jansen, and Dr. Gerard A. Jansen. The brothers, all Eagle Scouts and past members of Boy Scout Troop 103, which the Rotary Club had sponsored for decades, graduated from East Noble High School and from Indiana University.

• U.S. Rep. Dan Coats was the guest speaker at the Feb. 17, 1987, meeting.

Coats discussed the challenges American families face today. The ranking Republican on the Children, Youth and Family Subcommittee in the U.S. House, Coats said the instability of the American family is causing serious problems in the nation, including increased drug abuse, crime, physical abuse, and soaring Dan Coats Page 72

teenage pregnancy rates. “We need to find ways to build healthier families,” he said.

• Rotarian Terry Housholder spoke to the club at the Aug. 13, 1987, meeting, reporting on his experiences at the Rotary International Convention held at Olympiapark in Munich, Germany.

More than 24,000 Rotarians and guests from 104 countries were present, many of them dressed in their own native costumes. Housholder and his wife, Grace, along with Albion Rotarian David VanMeter and his wife, Alvena, were among a group of Rotarians hosted for dinner at the home of a prominent German businessman, a baron, whose family came from the old German nobility.

• On Aug. 18, 1987, the Rotary Club was honored to have as its guest speaker, Charles “Chuck” Redman, the assistant U.S. Secretary of State, and the official U.S. Department of State spokesman.

Redman, son of retired East Noble Superintendent Edgar Redman, a past Kendallville Rotarian, was a 1962 graduate of Kendallville High School. Redman Charles Redman spoke about the current state of world affairs and said “democracy, not communism, is on the rise worldwide and is the wave of the future.”

• At the Nov. 3, 1987, meeting, retired Indiana State Police officer Bob Moran of Kendallville gave a talk about being an original member of the first U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus. The ship, commanded by Admiral Hyman Rickover, was launched in Groton, Connecticut, on Jan. 21, 1954, and christened by first lady Mamie Eisenhower.

Jill Long

• U.S. Rep. Jill Long was the guest speaker at the club’s meeting on Dec. 5, 1989.

Long was upset that a pay raise was put into effect

for the members of Congress in her first months of office. She said she would set up a scholarship fund and send her raise back to the U.S. Treasury Department.

1990s • Gene Rhodes, former principal of East Noble High School, discussed his 1988 heart transplant at the Jan. 16, 1990, Rotary meeting.

He had heart bypass surgery in 1987 and the transplant at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne the following year.

(Rhodes died in Gene Rhodes September 2007 at the age of 76.)

• On Feb. 27, 1990, Mayor John Riemke gave his “State of the City” address to the Rotary Club. He cited the success of the past year, including industrial, retail and housing growth.

• Indiana State Trooper Les Alligood spoke to the club on March 11, 1990, about hypnosis for police investigative work. Alligood learned the technique through training with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is called in to help when a crime victim is not able to recall important details of a crime.

• History was made at the June 26, 1990, inauguration of a new Rotary Club president. Brian Baker took the reins of the club. He is the first third-generation president of the Kendallville Rotary Club. His late grandfather, Laurence Baker, and his father, David Baker, both served as president of the club (19491950 and 1957-1958 respectively).

Brian introduced his special guest at the event, his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Laurence (Frances) Baker, and also his parents.

• On Oct. 23, 1990, Bert Hamilton, one of only five survivors of the Air Florida Flight 90 Bert Hamilton plane that crashed into the 14th Street bridge and into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on

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Jan. 13, 1982, spoke to the club. Seventy-eight people died in the crash. He had only 32 seconds of warning before the disaster. He said despite his injuries, he had no pain but had to wait in 20-degree water before being rescued by a rope fastened to a helicopter. He said the tragedy changed his life. He said in the past when he had a disagreement with his wife, he would pray that the Lord would change his wife’s attitude. Now his prayer is “Lord, change me.” He says it really works! (After the crash, Hamilton moved to Florida and became a motivational speaker. He died in April 2002.)

• The inauguration of David Wilson as president of the Kendallville Rotary Club was held June 25, 1991, at the Olde McCray Mansion Inn, 703 E. Mitchell St. Wilson, who later became the only Kendallville Rotarian to serve as Rotary District Governor, noted a goal of his was to start an adopt-anagency program. He chose the Kendallville Day Care Center as the community service project.

• The 75th anniversary commemorative dinner for the Kendallville Rotary Club was held June 4, 1993, at the Rose Garden Banquet Room (formerly the V&A) in downtown Kendallville. Entertainment was provided by Mr. “G” and the Big Band Sound.

2000s, 2010s • The Kendallville Rotary Club began a relationship with the Rotary club in Guanajuato, Mexico, in 2007. Kendallville Rotarians raised money to purchase water tanks for the rural communities of Guanajuato. The next year, Dr. Doug Jansen of the Kendallville Rotary Club went to Guanajuato with a five-person dental team for the first dental mission.

Since then, they have visited Guanajuato three more times performing dental missions focused on children and providing quality dental equipment and supplies to the dental clinic in Guanajuato.

Through local, regional and international Rotarian donations, the dental clinic and schools served by the missions have received more than $50,000 in dental equipment and supplies as well as school resources.

• At the Oct. 6, 2009, meeting, lots of stories were shared about the success at the Apple Festival. The club sold boneless chicken wings, which netted a profit of around $3,400. Fred Kreigh’s

live rooster on the roof helped the club win the award for “Best Booth” at the event. No one was more surprised than Fred. President Heidi Ramer was so pleased about the club’s success at the Apple Festival that she opened the Pizza Hut bar to the members. David Hockley’s only comment was “Cheers!”

• President David Hunter gave a positive report on the first half of his year at the Oct. 5, 2010, meeting. He was pleased with the success of the Downtown Car Show, the Duesenberg Race event at the airport, $600 raised at the Light the Night event, the activity of the Interact Club under Matt Rickey’s leadership, participation in the Indiana Rotarian Service Day and the club donations of $1,000 each to the American Red Cross and to the South Side Elementary School’s literacy program.

• The “Service Above Self” Rotary award was presented to Kendallville Rotarian Tyler Knox at the Oct. 5, 2010, meeting. Knox was the chairman of the Rotary Apple Festival Committee, which made $3,428 at the event. Previous “Service Above Self” recipients were Fred Kreigh and Dr. Robert Roush.

• Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe addressed the club on Oct. 12, 2010.

She was upbeat about the outlook for the economy, despite Noble County’s 12.2 percent unemployment rate. She said she makes regular visits to local manufacturers and is finding many firms are bringing back laid-off workers.

• Kendallville Rotarians helped spruce up the Kendallville Day Care Center at 342 Listle St., on Sept. 6, 2011. This has been an annual project since Dave Wilson’s presidency back in 1991-1992.

• At the Nov. 27, 2012, meeting, school teacher and genealogy researcher Amanda Blackman brought to life the story of three African-American brothers who were downtown Kendallville businessmen in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Zimriah, Alonzo and Jeremiah Anderson, descendants of freed slaves, moved to Kendallville between 1860-1875. In 1890, Alonzo and his wife, Emma, purchased the land at 113 N. Main St., Kendallville, and erected a brick structure for their barber shop and women’s hair salon. Jerry Anderson opened his own barber shop in the Mitchell Block at Main and William streets.

Blackman said the African-American men and their families were well treated

by Kendallville residents and made many friends.

• On July 8, 2014, Rotarians Al Huth and Dr. Doug Jansen reported on the recent successful Rotary trip to Guanajuato, Mexico. They participated in a dental clinic. The club’s relationship with the Guanajuato Rotary Club dates back to 2007 with the donation of water tanks for the rural communities of Guanajuato.

• East Noble High School student Nathan Shortridge, a Rotary Youth Exchange participant sponsored by the Kendallville Rotary Club, spoke to the club at the Aug. 19, 2014, meeting. He recently returned from a 10-month exchange experience in Taiwan. He said he enjoyed his stay immensely and was grateful for the club’s support.

• Beginning Aug. 18, 2015, the club meetings moved to the American Legion Post 86 building at 322 S. Main St. Chef Dave is moving on and the Impact Institute location will not be available.

• The Kendallville Rotary Club completed a major project, the Rotary pavilion at the Outdoor Sports Complex in Kendallville, in November 2015. Rotarian Fred Kreigh was the project chairman and master builder.

• Kendallville Rotarian Harry Milton had been missing his Rotary trophies (his past-president’s plaque and the Rotary 4-way test) since his devastating business fire on Jan. 16, 2014. Thanks to R.J. Ruse and the Rotary board of directors, he got them back at the club meeting on April 18, 2017. The presentation was made by R.J. at Jerry Jansen’s “after-the-highway cleanup party.” Harry was president of the Kendallville Rotary Club in 20032004.

• The club welcomed District 6540 Governor Lisa Waterman to the meeting at the American Legion on July 25, 2017. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne. She highlighted Rotary International’s continued efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. There were over 350,000 polio cases in the world in the late 1980s. This year there have been only 10 cases worldwide, but the fight continues for full eradication.

She “walked the walk” by leading the Kendallville Rotarians on a one-mile walk around Kendallville after the dinner meeting, with an aim to bring more local attention to Rotary’s efforts to fight polio worldwide.

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Rotary’s ongoing commitment For more than 110 years, Rotary members have been addressing challenges around the world. Grassroots at the core, Rotary links 1.2 million members to form an organization of international scope. It started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on Feb. 23, 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities.

Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating

meetings among the offices of its members. Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves Rotary members have not only been present for major events in history — we’ve also been a part of them. Three key traits have remained strong throughout our history: We’re truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Today, members in nearly every country work to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems.

We persevere in tough times.

During World War II, Rotary clubs in Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain were forced to disband.

Despite the risks, many continued to meet informally, and after the war, Rotary members came together to rebuild their clubs and their countries.

We’re committed to service, and we’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only three countries — down from 125 in 1988.

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