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ROTARY CLUB OF ORLANDO COMPLETING A CENTURY OF SERVICE 1995 - 2020 Service Above Self (This page represents inside front cover-blank) ROTARY CLUB OF ORLANDO COMPLETING ROTARY CLUB OF ORLANDO A CENTURY OF SERVICE COMPLETING A1995 CENTURY - 2020 OF SERVICE The continuing story of the Rotary Club of Orlando and the men and women who served their club, their vocation, their community and the world from 1995 to 2020 thus completing a century of service. The creation of this book was managed by Rotary Club members: Bert McCree, Dr. Byron Thames and Jim Stowers Copyright © 2020 The Rotary Club of Orlando All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission. Printed by Aloma Printing, Inc. Winter Park, Florida ii Dedicated to the past and present members of the Rotary Club of Orlando who have contributed greatly over the last One Hundred Years in making their community the finest place in the world to live. A NOTE TO READERS It is important to note that most of this book was near completion when the world was struck with what became known as the Covid-19 virus, or Coronavirus Pandemic. It literally infected people around the world and as of this writing on May 19, 2020, more than 4,800,000 cases had been reported with more than 316,500 deaths. In reading some sections you may find reference to this event; additional information may be found in the Addendum on page 91. iii iii INTRODUCTION The first Century of Service to our community and to the world, May 1920 to May 2020, is now complete and what a remarkable Century it has been! It is truly inspiring to think of the hundreds and hundreds of leaders and members who’ve come and gone but, in the meantime, have given of themselves in countless ways along the way. Rotarians – men and women from all walks of life – who truly believe in their core that “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” and that this is not just a nice saying but is a way of life. The Rotary Club of Orlando is proud of the impact we have had on our community over the last 100 years, the lives we’ve helped, the legacy we’ve left and, yes, the fun we’ve had. It is exciting to look back at all that has been accomplished in this past century but it is even more exciting that we can now look forward to the next 100 years, the second 100 years, and imagine the even greater accomplishments that lie ahead for this wonderful club. Yours in Rotary, Jim Stowers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Without the tremendous effort over the past several years by Bert McCree, RCO club Historian, our book would not have been possible. He spent many hours poring through files in our club office digging and retrieving the data that was then used by the Book Committee to create “Completing a Century of Service”. In 2018, (then) President Pat Phillips and (then) President-Elect Bill Peeper recruited and organized the Book Committee under the leadership of Dr. Byron Thames. The committee was composed of George Huffman, Thomas Tart, Mary Ann Dean, Jon Stine, Byron Thames, Jim Stowers, Heidi Isenhart, Joe Stine, Bob Blackford and Tom Reich. In addition, Bert McCree (Historian) and Doug Doudney (initial Editor) completed the committee. Over a period of many months, important decisions were made by the committee as to the direction, tone and construction of the book as well as the actual writing of the history. In addition, Special Thanks must be given to Bob DeGrilla for his assistance with the club members who have served in the military, to Ron Tyo who has faithfully maintained those members with perfect attendance, to Richard Ungaro whose diligence in maintaining the club member database has been of invaluable help, to David Abrams who gave invaluable technical help and finally to Jason Frazier for his amazing photographic assistance. The baton for the next (and final) phase was handed off to Jim Stowers who became “Ring Master” leading to the completion and printing of the book. iv iv WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Orlando, the oldest and largest civic service club in The City Beautiful, was founded on May 12, 1920; and WHEREAS, in the ten decades since then, the club and its Rotarians have been committed to serving our community, our nation and the world; and WHEREAS, the foundation of the club’s activity is its five Avenues of Service – club, vocational, community, international, and youth service; and WHEREAS, since its inception, the club has helped young residents thrive through its support of Orange County Public Schools literary activities, food pantry contributions, and holiday gift programs; and WHEREAS, the club and its foundation annually distribute financial grants to local organizations serving the health, humanitarian and educational needs of the community, including Rotary International’s partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio worldwide; and WHEREAS, while demonstrating its belief in the Rotary International motto of “Service Above Self,” the club and its foundation have provided innumerable other service projects that have benefited our community; and WHEREAS, the City of Orlando and our residents are grateful for The Rotary Club of Orlando’s 100 years of service and thank the club and its Rotarians for their compassionate role in building a stronger community; NOW, THEREFORE, I, BUDDY DYER, Mayor of the City of Orlando, hereby do proclaim May 12, 2020, as “The Rotary Club of Orlando 100th Anniversary Day” in the City of Orlando. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto have set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Orlando to be affixed this 12th day of May 2020. v Charter Members Rotary Club of Orlando May 12, 1920 Bottom Row (L to R): C.G. Brown, W.L. Tilden, H.S. Wilson, J.P. Holbrook, J. Dean Adcock, Eugene G. Duckworth, Nixon Butt, Wm. M. Glenn Top Row (L to R): C. DeWitt Miller, S. Walter Howe, Carey Hand, Mayor Vernon W. Estes, F.G. Rush, John S. McEwan, Sam Y. Way, Moses O Overstreet, Don A. Cheney, S. Kendrick Guernsey vi CONTENTS Title Page ...................................................................i Copyright Page...........................................................ii Dedication Page .........................................................iii Introduction & Acknowledgements ...........................iv Proclamation from Mayor Buddy Dyer .....................v Table of Contents .......................................................vii Chapter 1 Twenty-Five Year History’s ......................1 Chapter 2 Essay Stories .............................................49 Christmas Parade – 2018 …………………………49 Literacy ………………….……………………. 59 African School Project …………………………....51 H.E.A.R.T.……………………………………...59 The Great Orlando Rotary Airshow ……………...52 Ivey Lane Elementary School ………………….60 The Central Florida Blood Bank …………………54 Poker Tournaments …………………………….62 Bob Neel Endowed Scholarship ………………….54 RCO Foundation ……………………………….63 District Grants …………………………………....55 Swan Boat Race ………………………………. 64 Earth Day …………………………………………56 Salvation Army Kettle …………………………65 Gift of Life Central Florida ………………………56 Orlando Street Painting ………………………. 66 Grants …………………………………………….58 Youth Exchange ……………………………….67 Chapter 3 Members of Note .......................................69 Wilhelm “Bill” Peterson ………………………….69 Oliver “Ollie” Phipps …………………………. 73 Ken Chapman …………………………………….70 William “Bill” Peeper ………………………….74 David Henry ……………………………………...71 John P. Taggart, M.D. ………………………….75 Don Moody ………………………………………72 Byron Thames, M.D. ………………………….75 Richard Harris ……………………………………72 Emerson R. Thompson, Jr. ……………………. 76 José A Fajardo …………………………………....73 Richard “Rich” Ungaro ………………………...77 Appendix .....................................................................79 Presidents ....................................................................79 Perfect Attendance ......................................................80 Paul Harris Fellows .....................................................81 Members in Military Service ......................................82 Index ...........................................................................87 Addendum ..................................................................91 vii "SERVICE ABOVE SELF" __________________________________ 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: 1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service, 2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as opportunity to serve society, 3. The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life, 4. The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. ________________________________________________ "He Profits Most Who Serves Best" viii Chapter 1 The Annual Stories ROTARY YEAR:1995-96 OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Britt Lovett Larry Fegebank Carl Bauchle Past President: Dorsa McGuire Bert McCree Tom Cook President Elect: George Huffman Charlie Shuffield Art Miller Secretary: Sheri Brown Linda Palmer Paul Knepper Treasurer: Ken Scott Jay Hebert Sergeant at Arms: Bob MacLeish Executive Secretary: Barbara Hollis BRITT LOVETT grew up in Adel, GA, graduated from Cook High School and from Valdosta