OU Circle K History
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Prepared by Jamie Kaufman, M.D. and E. Co-Chair 2000-2001 The following recollection of the History of the Ohio University Circle K Club is the work of 2000-2001 Membership Development and Education Co- Chair James F. Kaufman. The information was found in old club scrapbooks that have been donated to the Ohio University Archives, old yearbooks found in the Ohio University Archives, and recollections from Faculty Advisor Dr. Howard Dewald and past Faculty Advisor Dr. Cliff Houk, both of the Downtown Athens Kiwanis Club. The Ohio University Circle K was originally chartered in December of 1953 and was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Athens. It was the 66th club in Circle K International with its Charter Number being 66 (Source??). The club lost its original charter after 1966 and before September 8, 1972, the birth date of the current club charter. The last record of the club was the club picture on page 160 of the 1966 Athena yearbook. The Ohio University Circle K Club was re- chartered on September 8, 1972 by the Kiwanis Club of Athens under the direction of Clifford Houk. By the 1973-1974 administrative year, the club had their first Governor, Robert Gamble. When the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Athens was chartered on January 25, 1973, also under the direction of Clifford Houk, the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Athens became the co-sponsor of the Ohio University Circle K club. This will be a complete history of the Ohio University Circle K Club and will start with the early years of Circle K in the Ohio District and the history of the 66th club in Circle K International, the original Ohio University Circle K Club. The Ohio University Circle K Club has a rich history and has always produced strong leaders. Ohio Senator and former Governor George Voinovich was a member of the club in its fledgling years and served as its 4th President during the 1956-1957 school year. Charter Number 66 1953-954 President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer 1954-1955 President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: 1955-1956 President: Gordon Keller Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Advisor: S. A. Rose The members of the 1955-1956 Ohio University Circle K Club as listed on page 236 of the 1956 Athena Ohio University Yearbook are Ray Shasteen, Don Reppa, Mike McKinley, Jerry Kindsvatter, George Voinovich, Gordon Keller, Daniel R. Stricker, John P. Wood, Richard A. Gourley, Al Ludlum, Robert Wertz, Robert Moore, Tom Schmidt, Dick Schnelker, Duane Emerson, Alan Brooks, Bob Horn, Frank Gillespie, and Raymond Jurgens. The Athena had this to say about the club: "Only three years old at Ohio University, Circle K has already founded the first "'Grey Men's'" group east of the Mississippi. Corresponding to the "'Grey Ladies,'" the men apply recreational therapy to mental patients. Circle K men supervised the Halloween decoration of the Athens' store windows, helped collect cancer funds, and assisted the Red Cross on the Blood Donor Days. " 1956-1957 President: George Voinovich Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: The Athena listed the following men as members of the 1956-1957 Ohio University Circle K Club: Paul E. Weber, David Bunts, Bob Horn, George Voinovich, Mike McKinley, Scotty Rodgers, Don Reppa, Jerry Knox, Al Ludlum, Al Brooks, Merv Haft, Gordie Keller, Bill Ellers, Steve Hamm, Bob Kalal, John Lebold, Dick Schnelker, Bill Bowlers, Dave Larcomb, Cick Burns, George Eistetter, Don Schultz, Dennis Sudnick, Duane Emerson, Jerry Kindsvatter, Tim Driscoll, and Willis Siferd, III. The club was described in the Athena by the following quotation: "The familiar rhythms of Count Basie were heard on the OU campus through the courtesy of Circle K, sponsors of the Count's concert 2 in Memorial Auditorium. The service fraternity, sponsored by Kiwanis International, also aided in the cancer fund and all campus blood drives. Members ushered at campus events, counted ballots in school elections, and sponsored various recreational cleanup projects in Athens County institutions." 1957-1958 President: Bob Horn Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: The members of the 1957-1958 club were Bill Ellers, Bill Bowlers, Bob Horn, Willis Siferd, Louis David Bunts, Dave Stockman, Laurence Wise, Fred Wagner, Earl Dunn, Conrad Miller, Jim Fricker, Jim Raudabaugh, John Cook, and Ivor Balyeat. On page 237 of the 1958 Athena the club biography said: "Now five years old at Ohio University, Circle K continued the work of the "'Grey Men's"' society; recreational therapy for mental patients. Service was their by-word as they counted ballots in the school elections, sponsored recreation and cleanup projects in Athens County Institutions and aided in the blood drive. Service......by a service organization.....Kiwanis International." 1958-1959 President: Larry Wise Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Faculty Advisor: M. F. Aukland The 1958-1959 club had the following members: Earl Dunn, Bill Ellers, Larry Wise, Ivor L. Balyeart, Nick Miller, Jim Raudabaugh, Ricky Reeves, Brad Bliss, Neil A. Dick, John Hale, Frank Straight, Bob Beggs, John Cook, Hal Dickinson, Bill Bowlers, Bob Horn, Mark Semonitsch, Phil Muck, Bruce Hrudka, and Rollin Dill. The following passage was quoted from page 176 of the 1959 Athena Yearbook. "A jazz concert, conduction of an election, a dance, a charity drive, service all are part of Circle K's diversified activities. 3 The crowd of people who filled Memorial Auditorium to hear the Kai Winding Jazz concert in November can thank Circle K for sponsoring that concert. This service organization monitors elections for Political Week and J-Prom, acts as marshals for Christmas caroling, sponsors a blood drive for the Red Cross and compiles a blood drive for dormitories, fraternities, and sororities. Probably the outstanding service this group performs is under the auspices of the "'Grey Men's Society'" which is the male counterpart of the "'Grey Ladies Society,'" an auxiliary of the American Red Cross that performs services in hospitals throughout the nation. It is thought to be that the '"Grey Men's Society'" is the first of its kind ever formed. The "'Grey Men,'" members of Circle K, spend each Wednesday evenings at the Athens State Hospital. The primary purpose of their visits is to break the monotony of the patients every day existence, to stimulate their interest in living. While at the hospital, the "'Grey Men'" play ping pong, chess, or shuffleboard with the patients or perhaps just talk with them." 1959-1960 President: Earl Dunn Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Advisor: Mr. Merrill F. Aukland The 1959-1960 membership included the following men: John D. Miller, Dave Paul, James Tate, Bob Strausburg, Bill Ellers, John Hale, Earl Dunn, Brice Hrudka, Terry Russell, John Cook, Dick Alderdice, Ed Wright, John Hofstatter, Michael Preston, Bob Sims, Ned Raudabaugh, Sam Beetham, Chuck Abookire, Ward Holdridge, Fred Larson, Bob Moorehead, and Henry Green. The 1960 Athena had this to say about the club: "At Ohio University, Circle K was synonymous with service. The club brought the "Juvenile Six Plus One" from Dayton for a Dixieland jazz concert to build their scholarship fund. On Odd Jobs Day, members did everything from hanging pictures to raking leaves to raise money to further Athens youth activities. They conducted many of the campus elections 4 and marshaled at the Christmas caroling. The club entertained the children of the Athens Children's Home. Both the men and the children enjoyed the party given by the Circle K Club, an affiliate of Kiwanis International and Circle K International." 1960-1961 President: Terry Russell Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Advisors: David Vaughan Lt. Colonel John Lucas The members of the 1960-1961 club were Dave Paul, Terry Russell, Ed Wright, John Hofstatter, Bill Ellers, H. Arbaugh, Sam Beetham, D. Barth, C. Hussey, T. LaRue, R. Diedrich, L. Gress, S. Hesse, A. Jones, D. Thomas, James Mishey, J. White, and J. Keck. The following write-up appeared on page 264 of the 1961 Athena: Circle K Features Odd-Job Day Athens residents found eager porch-scrubbers, window-washers, and car polishers in Circle K members. The odd-job day was only one of the service groups' many fund raising projects. Circle K is a university group organized under the Athens Kiwanis Club. The organizations' purpose is to promote better relations between campus and city by serving both. Members ushered at convocations and the Guy Lombardo concert. 1961-1962 President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: 1962-1963 President: James Mishey Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: 5 The following members appeared on page 264 of the 1963 Athena Yearbook: John Hofstatter, James Mishey, Brooke Seckel, C. Hussey, B. Lanier, B. Jones, Ted Hamilton, Robert Beseda, Craig Rhodes, Ronald Kuch, and M. Hamper. The Athena caption said: "Circle K is a national service organization which is sponsored by Kiwanis International. The purpose of the club is to perform services for the campus and community. Projects included a Halloween Party at the Athens Children's Home. The members also serve as marshals in the campus voting." 1963-1964 President: Robert Beseda Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Members of the club listed on page 29 of the 1964 Athena were: Keith P. Straka, Larry D. Mickley, Ronald F. Kuch, Mary I. Brinkman, Robert J. Beseda, Brooke R. Seckel, David A. Crowther, William A. Jones, James A. Strand, Joseph L. Haberfeld, Craig T. Rhodes, Ted M. Hamilton, and John K. Limoli. The Athena caption said: "Circle K is a national service organization which is sponsored by Kiwanis International. The purpose of the club is to perform services for the campus and community. Projects included a Halloween Party at the Athens Children's Home. The members also serve as marshals in the campus voting, and each year Circle K helps with the Pancake Supper given at the Methodist Church." 1964-1965 President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: As they appeared on page 130 of the 1965 Athena the members of the Circle K club were: W.