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2021 Parade of Flags

The Wooster Rotary Parade of Flags will begin its 13^th year with Memorial Day 2021. We invite you to subscribe to a flag placement or renew your current subscription.

By committing to a new flag subscription for the year 2021, you will be helping to support community organizations like 4-H groups, scout troops, youth athletic teams and many others that raise funds by helping place the flags. In addition, proceeds from the project are used to fund Veteran initiatives, civic projects and local school scholarships. Plus, you will be part of the patriotic display of red, white and blue across town for all five flag holidays next year. Thank you for your support!

Help create a community of red, white and blue! Join others on your street to honor our country with a parade of flags in all our neighborhoods. Call 330-439-2029 or place your order through our flag website: https://app.helpingwithflags.com/WoosterRotary.

The Wooster Rotary Club, assisted by local community groups, will place a 3’x 5’ flag in your front yard for 5 holidays per year, and pick it up again after the holiday. A plastic pipe will be buried in your front lawn permanently, flush with the ground, to hold the flagstaff. A cap will cover the pipe when not in use. The City of Wooster has approved the flag to be placed on “tree lawns” where available. The flag and staff will remain the property of the Wooster Rotary Club.

Wooster Rotary provides 2020 Scholarships to Extraordinary Students

Including this year, the Wooster Rotary Club has made 191 scholarship awards for nearly $346,000.

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the traditional senior awards assembly was replaced with a pre-recorded video that first aired on Thursday June 4 and awardees were also recognized at the Rotary weekly Zoom meeting on June 8, 2020. This year, Wooster Rotary Club awarded $18,000 worth of scholarships to 10 Wooster High School seniors as listed below.

Congratulations!!!

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - A Series

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

This starts a series on the history of Wooster Rotary, the first of which addresses the founding of Rotary International.

The first Rotary Club was formed when Paul P. Harris, an attorney, called three of his business acquaintances in downtown Chicago together for lunch at the office of Gustave Loehr, a mining engineer and a freemason. The other two attendees were Hiram E. Shorey, a tailor, and Silvester S Schiele, a coal merchant. The members choose the name “Rotary” because they initially decided to rotate subsequent meetings between their respective offices. However, the Club soon began to grow so quickly that they decided to select a permanent meeting place.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 2

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

In 1915, Walter D. Foss, President of the Wooster Brush Company, after the death of his wife, decided to retire and move to Cleveland. Once he arrived in Cleveland, he decided to take up residence at the Hotel Carter in downtown Cleveland. He commuted back and forth to Wooster once or twice each week to keep in touch with the Company and family in Wooster.

At some point, he joined the Cleveland Rotary Club and soon decided that Wooster could benefit as well with a Rotary Club.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 3

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

After receiving Charter No. 834, Wooster Rotary elected the first officers of the Club:

L. Albert Woodard, President
William Harris, Vice President
Walter R. Foss, Secretary
Robert R. Woods, Treasurer
Herman Freedlander, Sergeant at Arms

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 4

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

This week, and for the following two weeks, we will be featuring a short biography of the twenty-four founding members of Wooster Rotary in 1921.

Clarence L. Allis 1883-1950 was born in Valpariso, Chile. He attended the College of Wooster, Columbia University and Stanford University. He began his career with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and then Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. He returned to Wooster in 1910 and married Miriam Hurd in Wooster in 1911. She passed away suddenly in 1912. He married Marguerite Bange in 1921. She died in Wooster in 1965. He had returned to Wooster in 1910 to become general manager, secretary and treasurer of Wooster Light and Power Company. Upon his retirement he moved to Massillon, Ohio. He died in 1950 and is buried in the Wooster Cemetery. Classification: Light and Power.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 5

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

This week we are featuring a short biography of eight more of the twenty- four founding members of Wooster Rotary in 1921.

Frank C. Gerlach (1870-1948) was born in Wooster. He attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and began his career in Wooster as a pharmacist. He also joined the Ohio National Guard and quickly achieved the rank of Captain. In 1898, the 8th Oho National Guard, based in Akron, was ordered into duty as the 8th Ohio Infantry and sent to Cuba to serve during the Spanish- American War. After his release from duty Gerlach returned to Wooster, his pharmacy career and married Florence McClarran. They had two children, Mary Frances and Harry McClarran Gerlach. From 1909 to 1913 he served as superintendent of the Ohio Boys Industrial School in Lancaster but then returned again to Wooster. In 1918, the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) was again called up for active duty in France at the start of World War I. This time Gerlach was promoted to Colonel of Company D of the 146th U.S. Regiment of the Army Infantry. The United States Congress awarded Col. Gerlach the Distinguished Service Medal for the Ypres Offensive. He returned to Wooster again in 1920 and served as Wooster Postmaster from 1920 to 1924 when he became a Director and Treasurer of the Wayne Building and Loan Company. Gerlach died in 1948 and is buried in the Wooster Cemetery with his wife who died in 1954. Classification: Postmaster.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 6

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

This week we are featuring short biographies of the last eight of the original twenty-four founding members of Wooster Rotary in 1921.

Harry A. Reiman (1886-1968) was born in Wooster and graduated from Western Reserve University and the Western Reserve Dental School. He moved to Toronto, Canada to complete his studies and married Della Sara Morganroth from Easton, Ohio in Toronto in 1915. They returned to Wooster where Dr. Reiman opened a private dental practice in the Peoples Bank Building in downtown Wooster. Della Reiman died in 1963 and Dr. Reiman died in 1968. They are buried in Wooster Cemetery. Classification: Dentist.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 7

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

A few Rotary members have been asking about the Rotary Youth Exchange program, no doubt prompted by the excellent article about our current inbound and outbound students in the Daily Record last week.

The Rotary Club of Denmark initiated the first Rotary youth exchange in 1927 with the Rotary Club of Nice, France following in 1929. The exchanges then usually took place during summer or school vacations and only lasted for a few weeks. Exchanges were abandoned in the mid-1930’s because of economic conditions and the impending unrest which ultimately led to World War II.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 8

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

As you may note by the occupations of the original twenty-four members of the Wooster Rotary Club and their contacts throughout the Ohio business world, the Wooster Rotary Club held the promise of great things to come with special emphasis on “Service Above Self”. By 1924, the Wooster Rotary Club had grown to 55. That same year a Motion was made to pay the expenses of a Wooster Delegate to the National Rotary Convention. The second Wooster President, Charles Gary was sent as Wooster’s Delegate to the St. Louis Convention. Also, at that time the fiscal year for each Rotary Club ended on March 31st.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 9

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The year 1931 marked the completion of the first decade for Wooster Rotary and the 25th anniversary of the founding of Rotary itself which had reached 200,000 members worldwide. Wooster Rotary had grown from 24 members to 80 members. The Wooster Rotary Secretary at the time, George Coffey, called the 1930s the “Years of Stress” due to the worldwide Depression and the beginnings of fascism in Europe and militarism in Japan.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 10

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

Wooster Rotary entered the 1940s with nothing except more bad news from Rotary International and the quickly declining world-wide membership.

“In a small dark malodorous tunnel of Corregidor, shortly before its fall (May 6, 1941), seven Rotarians met. Remnant of the Rotary Club of Manila.”

Soon a call went out from the American Red Cross for help. Under the Presidency of James Rahl, Wooster Rotarians began to respond.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 11

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

“Gala Party Marks Wooster Rotary’s 25th Anniversary” was the headline of a special insert of the Wooster Daily Record dated Friday, March 22, 1946. Of course, it helped that E.C. Dix, Editor of the Wooster Daily Record, was still a member of Wooster Rotary. Of the original charter group of 24 members, eight still remained as members: Emmett C. Dix, Herman Freedlander, George C. Maurer, James B. Rahl, Guy Richard, Robert Woods, Clarence Allis and Alvin Rich. Officers for the Anniversary Year were Ray Dix, President; Hobart Henry, Vice President; Harry Sands, Secretary; and Harry Domhoff, Treasurer. Board of Director members were Blake Battles, Dave Edwards, Oscar Martin. Dick Mayberry and Don McGuire.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 12

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1945-46 Wooster Rotary Year took off where our 25th Anniversary Year ended. It was an ambitious year as Ray Dix became President with our returning service men and new opportunities for service.

The request of the Wooster, Dalton and Orrville Clubs to change Districts from District 157 to 158 was granted by Rotary International. The request was made because of easier travel arrangements. Unfortunately, the new opportunity for local service became the polio outbreak. A Wooster Rotary member quietly gave President Ray Dix $500. to aid another Wooster Rotary member to care for his child. The member returned the entire sum to President Ray as he was able to handle the finances of his family on his own. The money was then given to a local family whose son had become partially paralyzed by polio to purchase a wheel chair and for other needs. No one ever knew who had donated the money or how it was finally distributed.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 13

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The year 1950 was a very busy year for Wooster Rotary beginning with the election of William C. Craig as Wooster President. Soon after his election the Wooster Rotary hosted its first District Assembly. The daytime sessions were held at Taylor Hall on the Campus of The College of Wooster. The evening session was held in the assembly hall of the Wooster Methodist Church. Wooster Rotary was also awarded the Governor’s Award for being the outstanding club in District 229.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 14

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The year 1951 was another special year for Wooster Rotary. The 30th Anniversary Party was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Wooster on Monday night, February 26th. The Woostarian had this to say after the event: “A most delightful combination and excellent program, combining recognition and entertainment…and a very full attendance. An occasion like this reminds us of how we are indebted to other people. The anniversary of our Club reminds us of Paul Harris and all the other Rotarians who have made Rotary what it is today. It also reminds us of the founders and charter members of the Wooster Club and of what Rotary had done for us and of what it has enabled us to render in the way of service to others.”

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 15

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

In 1954 Harold Freedlander became the 34th President of Wooster Rotary. 1954 was also the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Rotary International. The occasion was celebrated with the laying of the cornerstone of a new headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. Engraved on the cornerstone was, and is, “Service Above Self - He Profits Most Who Serves Best”.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 16

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

Ford Ross became the 1955 Rotary Year President. Harold Freedlander pinned the President’s Pin on Ford. This was the same Pin bought by George Coffey for himself twenty years earlier and which had been passed down by each succeeding President since then.

One of the more interesting programs for the year was presented by Albert Dix, brother of Ray Dix. But, the presentation almost did not happen. Ted Evans had arranged to fly from Wooster to Martins Ferry to pick up Albert Dix on the morning of the meeting. Because of poor visibility, Evans was forced to land in Cadiz on the trip back. They borrowed a car and began to drive towards Wooster. As the visibility improved, they borrowed another plane and landed in Wooster only a few minutes late. Talk about service above self!

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 17

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1956-1957 began as J. Garber Drushal took the helm as President of Wooster Rotary. Dr. Drushal, PhD., was, at the time, Professor in the Speech Department at the College of Wooster. Membership in Wooster Rotary at that time stood at 161.

A very active topic for discussion at the September 21, 1956 meeting was the use of Weitzel Hall as a noon meeting place for Wooster Rotary. President Drushal began the discussion because of the poor attendance recently at Wooster Rotary. It was noted that the main reason seemed to be the inaccessibility of the stairs to the Hall for many of Wooster Rotary’s aging members. Earlier, Paul Weitzel had been approached about installing a small elevator, but he evidently declined. Another possibility floated for discussion was buying a building on the ground floor for Rotary’s exclusive use. This would permit larger meetings such as Ladies’ night. That idea also evidently went nowhere. The Masonic Lodge was approached as well to rent their ground floor room out, but they declined. The Board of Directors was directed to continue the search for a suitable ground floor meeting place. As an added to note to this issue, we hope everyone had a chance to read page A8 in the 7/2/2020, Sunday Daily Record. There you would have noted Dr. Edward Brown, a polio survivor and Wooster Rotary member, being carried up the stairs to Weitzel Hall by Ivan Steiner, Jr., also a Rotarian.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 18

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1957 to 1958 began with the passing of the gavel to President E. B. “Ted” Evans. The noon meeting for July 22nd was cancelled in favor of Family Night at 6:30 pm held at the Wayne County Fair grounds where 270 Rotarians, family members and guests enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Mrs. Lawrence and her staff followed by a Little League Baseball game.

The speaker highlight of the fall program schedule on September 22nd was Lou “The Toe” Groza from the Cleveland Browns who “…made it clear that brains as well as braun are a prime prerequisite in professional football.”

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 19

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1958 to 1959 began with Howard Yoder as President. Charles Franks also became a member of the Club on June 2, 1958. He is still a member! The Annual Family Picnic was held on Monday, July 28 at the Walter Jones residence.

The speaker at the Rural-Urban Annual Program was Med Maxwell from Maxwell Productions of Forth Wayne; introduced by Clyde Moore. Another notable program for the year include J. Homer Winkler of the Batelle Memorial Institute. Other social programs for the year were Ladies Night, the Thanksgiving Party and the Annual Children’s Home Christmas Party.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 20

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1959-1960 Wooster Rotary Year began with new President, Sam Shapiro. President Sam encouraged Wooster Rotarians to nominate a deserving young person to apply for Rotary Foundation Scholarships. During the International Rotary Year 1958 to 1959 scholarships for advanced study abroad in the amount of $2,600 each were awarded to 83 young men and 39 young women for study abroad. Since the program was inaugurated in 1947 to honor Paul Harris, 1,318 scholarships had been awarded up to 1959.

On Tuesday, February 9, 1960, Wooster Rotary hosted a Benefit Bridge Tournament at the YMCA to raise funds for a building for a school to benefit handicapped children, later to be known as the Ida Sue School. As usual for the times, the Woosterian did not report the sum raised.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 21

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1960 to 1961 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Club President, Al Burger Sr. In his first order of business, President Al pointed out that Wooster Rotary would observe its 40th Anniversary on January 21, 1961 and he was appointing a special committee to provide a suitable recognition of that date.

Of special interest were some of the programs for the year presented by Luke Sewell who recounted his 33 years in baseball with the Cleveland team and many other teams ending as manager of the St. Louis Browns; Albert Dix who spoke about his travels in Africa; Norman Auburn, President of the University of Akron, who spoke about his recent trip to Russia; Dr. Earle Kay of Cleveland and a leading heart surgeon who spoke about new advances in heart surgery (with slides); C.H. Lawrence, nuclear specialist, who spoke about the nuclear ship Savannah; Jerry McKeel, engineer with Goodyear Aircraft, who presented a program about the new space program; and Carl V. Weygandt, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, and a native of Wooster, who spoke about his reflections upon Memorial Day.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 22

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1961 to 1962 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new President, Ralph Young; Classification “Senior Active." A new Editor for the Woosterian was also in place, Dick Talbot, with an appropriate classification of “Printing.” Harry Sands remained as Secretary and Orden Smucker remained as Treasurer.

The Annual Family Picnic was held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on Monday evening July 28th at 6:00 pm with an excellent dinner prepared at the Grange Hall by Mrs. Lawrence and her staff. It was noted that, if tickets had been bought in advance, members could attend the Arena Fair and see the play “Charley’s Aunt” as staged by Wooster Summer Theater Company. Another social event for the year was Ladies Night held at the YMCA on Monday on the evening of November 17th. The speaker was Paul Reinhold speaking about the Pennsylvania Dutch.

At this time there were four original members still members of the Wooster Rotary Club: Walter Foss, Herman Freedlander, Jim Rahl and Guy Richard.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 23

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1962 to 1963 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, Ed Myers, Classification Office Equipment. Newly elected Board Members, with classifications, were Lowell Bourns (College Education), Judge Adrian Miller (Senior Active), John Owen (Brass Products Mfg.), Arden Ramseyer (Potato Farming) and William Sadler ( Public School Education).

The first speaker of the year was Dick McCann, Director of the Canton Football Hall of Fame, who was in turn introduced by Earl Schreiber, president of the Board of the Hall of Fame and a director of Timken Roller Bearing who was introduced by his long time friend Wooster Rotary member Hank Critchfield.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 24

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1963 to 1964 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, William Schultz. The Wooster High School Debate Team presented the program on January 21, 1964. Wooster Rotary had been sponsoring the Debate Team already for many years. We still do.

The Club continued the policy of inviting a Wooster High School student and College of Wooster student to each meeting of the Wooster Rotary Club during times when the respective schools were in session as “Junior Rotators.”

The Canton Club hosted the District Conference in May, 1964. The Wooster Club came away with several awards: Club Service (First Place); Attendance 91.35% (First Place); Club Bulletin (Honorable Mention); and International Service (Honorable Mention). The Club also hosted its first Student Ambassador from South America for eight weeks. Unfortunately the name and country are not mentioned in the Woosterian. Eventually, in 1966 the stays were extended to one year and Wooster began to accept and send more students.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 25

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary year 1964 to 1965 began with Henry Hyle, Director of the Wooster Post Office, as President. Harry Sands continued as Secretary and Orden Smucker continued as Treasurer.

On August 14, 1964 Wooster Rotary member Kingman Eberhart introduced his son Edward Eberhart for induction into the Club. Of course, Ed is still a member.

Ted Evans bought a new hat and, before he had a chance to break it in for anyone, it seemed to be missing after Rotary. Someone has a hat that is not properly broken in. Ted promises that after he breaks it in he will bring it to Rotary and let someone have a crack at it, but he does want to break it in himself.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 26

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1965 to 1966 began with the installation of new President Bill Lytle by former President Ford Ross. The membership for Wooster Rotary stood at 172. President Lytle brought up an idea presented to him by District Governor Hulbert for a student exchange program. The Board voted to pursue the idea and recruit students for the 1966-1967 Rotary Year.

The City of Wooster decided to place a Wooster City Income tax on the Fall ballot. Debating the issue at the October 14th Wooster Rotary meeting for the tax was Garber Drushal and on the opposition side was Bob Anderson.

One of the more notable speakers to Wooster Rotary that year was on November 11th when the Club was addressed by Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Jr. Chaplain of Yale University. He was well known as a writer for Life Magazine and had appeared on several television shows as a well known Christian lecturer. He was also an advisor to the Peace Corp. His address to Wooster Rotary concerned the admission of China to the United Nations and negotiations over the war in Vietnam.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 27

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1966-67 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new President, Winford Logan.

Although the following pertains to Bill Lytle's year as President (65-66), it is worthwhile to list the accomplishments for that year by Wooster Rotary, as Win Logan did at the start of his year. Next week we will return with accomplishments of Win’s year.

International Service:
1. An Open House for Cuban and other foreign [sic] families of the Wooster area.
2. Hosted Peter Waters from Australia for the year.
3. Paid to install a new floor for the International Student Room at the College of Wooster.
4. Donation to Dr. Wertz for a new operating table for the Landon Hospital in India.
5. Sent three Wooster Exchange students from Wooster to Sweden.
6. Won first place for International Service from the District.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 28

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

As we noted last week, the Wooster Rotary Year of 1966-67 began with Wynn Logan’s elevation to President. President Wynn welcomed the new Rotary Exchange student from, Argentina, Rosa Del Fina Sanchez and wished good luck to the first of Wooster’s Exchange students Linda Chapman, Carol Nuenschwander and Paula Gathright who were all leaving for Sweden.

On August 4, 1966 the Rural Urban Committee put on a great program about milk testing. Many of the programs at that time were organized and presented by individual committees.

A new Wooster Rotary Flag was presented to the Club on October 27, 1966 by Harold Arnold Chair of the Rotary Education Committee. It was in the form of a map of Ohio with a star located where the City of Wooster fit on the map. The main device was a Christmas Tree with the notation “Home of America’s First Decorated and trimmed Christmas Tree”. Eventually, that story was proven not to be true and Wooster Rotary developed a new flag in 2000, but it was fun while it lasted. The flag was used primarily as a gift for visiting speakers and Rotarians and for incoming and outgoing Exchange Students. It is undetermined how many were given out, but just think how many are out in the world still with Wooster Rotary on the map and a little bit of harmless misinformation.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 29

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary year 1967-1968 began with a new President Clyde Miller, who at that time was Vice President of First Federal Savings and Loan.

Urban Renewal of downtown Wooster was starting at that time, so the first program was Paul Willour Director of the Urban Renewal Program for the City of Wooster and also a Wooster Rotarian. A total grant of $1,033,000.00 came from the Federal Government and was matched by $480,000.00 from the City of Wooster. Rotarian Willour explained the money was to prevent the deterioration of South Market Street and South Bever. The results are still standing.

It should be noted that the meetings at those times began with singing from selections in the Rotary Song Book, usually directed by Ted Crawford and the noon news delivered by Ted Evans. President Clyde reminded every member that this Rotary year is the 50th Anniversary of the International Rotary Foundation and urged each member to include an extra $3.00 on their quarterly statement to go to the Rotary International Foundation. It was announced that Rotary International had inaugurated a new program for Undergraduate Scholars which provides for a year abroad of undergraduate study.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 30

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1968 to 1969 began with a new President, Ivan Steiner Jr. Secretary Harry Sands presented a Wooster Brush paint brush to Clyde “Lefty” Miller to gloss over the “errors” of the year and a paint pail in which to pick up some of the “loose ends”. It was announced that Wooster Rotarians Clifford Morrison was elected as President of the Wayne County Chapter of the Red Cross and Joe Retzler was elected Second Vice President.

On September 16, 1968, Wooster Rotarians joined Kiwanis, Evening and Day Lions, 20-30 Club and the J.C.’s as 400 members of those clubs enjoyed a dinner and program to open the new Lowery Center at the College of Wooster. A representative of each Club, including Ivan Steiner Jr. of Rotary made a short address.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 31

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1969 to 1970 began with a new Wooster Rotary President Lowell Bourns, Of course that was the week of the great Wooster July 4th flood. At the Monday meeting on July 14th the members voted to donate $1,000.00 to the Wooster Relief Fund. It was announced that a “special” Teapot offering would be collected on July 21st to be added to the Relief Fund. The special Teapot solicitation raised an additional $335.00 for flood relief.

The traditional “Ladies Night” was held on August 7th. It began with a dinner at the YMCA and then a trip to attend the Arena Fair at the Wayne County Fairground.

The highlight of the September 11th meeting were the additional 110 guests for lunch. They were the singers and hosts of “Up With People” who were in town for a special performance. They also performed a short program at the Wooster Rotary meeting.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 32

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary year 1970 to 1971 began with a new Wooster Rotary President Ken Rhode. The change was made at the July 2, 1970 meeting. Also inducted at that meeting into membership was Roger Cook, sponsored by Ted Crawford. Both are still members of Wooster Rotary. At the same meeting President Ken reminded all members to turn in their donation of $7.50 as soon as possible to support the benefit baseball game which in turn will raise $1,000 for the Meals on Wheels project.

The August 20th meeting featured a presentation by Musical Director Terry Woodings concerning a new outdoor drama beginning earlier in the summer in a new amphitheater near New Philadelphia. The new drama was “Trumpet in the Land.” It was also reported that over 300 Wooster Rotarians and their families attended the annual Family Picnic at the OARDC. Tim Webb and Doug Drushal were introduced as Rotators for the month.

At the November 5th meeting. Wooster Rotary for the first time hosted a group of football players from Wooster High School and Orrville High School to discuss the impending great rivalry in football. Each group consisted of two team captains, Coach Mays from Wooster and Coach Tipton of Orrville and Orrville Mayor Hostetler and Wooster Mayor Tilford. This tradition continued for a number of years.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 33

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1971 to 1972 Wooster Rotary year began with a new President, Pete Bogner. The new incoming Board members were Keith Remy, Vic Dix and Francis Varga. President Pete’s first official pronouncement was for all Wooster Rotary Committees to meet and prepare a written report concerning the Committee’s project plans for the year. President Pete also called upon all Wooster Rotarians to make contributions to the Wooster Police Blue Coat Fund established to honor Wooster Police Officers Goodrich and Nisely, both of whom died during the July 4, 1969 flood trying to rescue others.

The annual family picnic on July 22nd at the OARDC drew over 350 Wooster Rotarians and their family members. The Wooster Rotary Club hosted the annual all-city club meeting at Lowry Center on Thursday evening, September 2nd. The speaker was Perle L. Whitehead, retired regional Boy Scout Executive. Members of Wooster’s eight service clubs packed the ballroom for an excellent program. Over 400 people were in attendance.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 34

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1972-1973 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, Bill Drumm. In his first presentation President Bill pointed out that Wooster Rotary was one of 15,306 clubs worldwide in 149 countries with 719,500 members.

The proposed budget for Wooster Rotary was balanced at $28,255. Dates were also announced for the Annual Family Picnic and for the Annual Rotary Golf Outing. Members were urged to sign up quickly.

At the July 26th meeting, Honorary Membership was conferred upon P. T. Raju, retiring Professor of Indian Studies at the College of Wooster and a Wooster Rotary Member. Professor Raju received his BA, MA and PhD from the University of Calcutta and taught philosophy and psychology at the University of Rajasthan before his appointment to the College of Wooster Faculty in 1962.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 35

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

This week will be a change from the year by year chronicle of Wooster Rotary’s history for a history of the death of the last founding member of Wooster Rotary. The following is a verbatim reprint found in the “Woostarian.”

Last week Rotarians bade farewell to Herman Freedlander, the last living charter member of Wooster Rotary and beloved benefactor of the community in which he lived and worked for nearly a century. Herman, who faithfully attended Rotary until early this year when declining health made it an impossibility, died May 30. [1974] Services were held June 3 with Rotarian J. Garber Drushal assisting Rabbi Paul Mandel. The following excerpts from the Wooster Daily Record are an appropriate tribute to a Rotarian, who perhaps more than any other followed Rotary’s motto to the letter, and for his entire life put “Service Above Self.”

Born in Buffalo, New York, Herman Freedlander came to Wooster with his family as a child and built a department store business recognized as one of the largest west of the Hudson River.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 36

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1973 to 1974 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new Wooster Rotary President, Bill Drumm. The Secretary remained W. Lee Culp, the Treasurer remained Frank Hayes and new Board members were Roger Cook, Tony Biggio and Norm Herzog. I must apologize for my mistake in naming Bill Drumm as President in 1972 to 1973, the President that year was Tom Wonderling. As part of the first meeting for President Drummn, Vocational Chair Harold Freedlander reported on a new project which began in the 72-73 year in which students were paired in their potential profession with Wooster Rotarians in that profession for interviews and career advice. There were 25 interviews with selected students from Wooster High School, the Joint Vocational School and Waynedale High School. All of the counselors from those schools enthusiastically support the program. Hope was expressed by Harold to continue the project.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 37

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

We hope that you enjoyed the Holiday Season last week while the Club Historian took a brief Holiday. Needless to say it has been a strange and trying year for everyone due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. Let us all hope that 2021 will be a better year.

This week we feature Wooster Rotary Year 1973 1/2 to 1974. If you checked your Wooster Rotary Yearly Handbook, which is no longer printed for the information of our newer members, or you were a member in 1973, you will note that two Wooster Rotary Presidents are listed for 1973-1974; Bill Drumm and Ted Crawford. Bill Drumm officially resigned as President of the Club at the November 15, 1973 meeting as he had accepted a new job in Columbus, Ohio. Ted Crawford had been Vice President and automatically was sworn in as President pursuant to the Wooster Rotary Constitution. The nominating committee was activated and later nominated Walter Grosjean as Vice President to be elected by the membership.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 38

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

Happy New Year!

The 1974 to 1975 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new President of Wooster Rotary, Walter C. Grosjean. His classification was “Corporation Law”. He was an Attorney with Critchfield, Critchfield, Critchfield and Johnston. Walt is still a member of the Wooster Rotary Club and will be celebrating his 59th year as a Wooster Rotary member. He was introduced to Wooster Rotary by his father, George F. Grosjean, who had joined Wooster Rotary in 1941. In taking over his new post Walt said “I’ve had the opportunity to make up at clubs throughout this country and other parts of the world and I’m convinced Wooster Rotary Club is one of the best anywhere.” President Walt also went on to advise Club members that the price of meals was being raised from $20 per quarter to $22.

At the September 19th meeting Wooster Rotarian Keith Remy brought to the attention of the members a local family including four children. All four of the children attended Wooster Schools. Through no fault of their own they have ended up with only the clothes that they were wearing. They have been established in a good house and have clothing provided by local agencies, but Keith advised that a large amount of furniture was needed. Wooster Rotarians should contact Keith to make arrangements of any furniture that they were able to donate to the family.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 39

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1975-1976 Wooster Rotary Year began with new President Paul Ladd at the helm. Many current Rotarians will remember Mr. Ladd as Principal of Wooster High School. President Paul’s first address was to report on his trip to the Rotary International Convention held in Montreal.

The first program of the new Wooster Rotary Year was presented by Congressman of the 16th Ohio District, Ralph Regula. The program on August 7th was presented by Jennifer Moorhead who represented Wooster Rotary the past year as an Exchange Student to Saltillo, Mexico. Wooster Rotary also welcomed Ignacio Garcia from Tehuacan, Mexico as an Exchange Student for the academic year.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 40

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1976 to 1977 Wooster Rotary Year began with the induction of a new Wooster Rotary President Roger Cook. President Roger began by thanking all of the Rotarians for their participation in the 1976 Bicentennial events and parade. Wooster Rotary sponsored a Wooster Rotary display in the windows of Real Estate Showcase managed by Don Pritchard. Wooster Rotary also had a float in the parade.

The speaker for the meeting on September 13th was Don Brown, President of the Wooster United Way. Brown explained that the Wooster United Way was formed in 1957 with 24 Board Members. Over the years Wooster Rotary members have been very involved in campaigns and as Board Members. Brown announced that the campaign chairman for the 1976 drive was Wooster Rotary’s own Clyde Webb.

New members inducted into Wooster Rotary included Al Van Wie and Charles “Chuck” Dougherty. Both would play significant roles in Wooster Rotary in the coming years. Al was the basketball coach for the College of Wooster and Chuck was Director of Sales and Marketing at Diamonite in Shreve. Of course, Wooster Rotary eventually became the sponsor for the Al Van Wie Rotary Basketball Classic and Chuck went on to be one of the key managers for the Wooster Rotary Gallery Antique auction.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 41

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary began as usual with a new President for the Wooster Rotary Year 1977-78, Victor Dix, who announced that the Wooster Club budget for the year 1977-78 year would be $39,100.00. The “Teapot” was expected to add an additional $1,450.00. Disbursements were to be International Service $800.00; Community Service $800.00; Crippled Children $200.00; United Way $375.00; An additional sum for the following from the General Fund was allocated to: International Service $800.00; Vocational Service $100.00; International Service $100.00; and Community Service $400.00.

The October 3, 1977, meeting included a tour of the new Justice Center hosted by Sheriff Jim Frost. Walt Grosjean was in charge of arranging the tour and most Rotarians took advantage to visit the new Justice Center as guests. The Rotarian Editor was quick to point out that the Rotarians first had their usual meal provided at the YMCA,

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 42

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Club began the first meeting of July, 1978, with the passing of the gavel to our new Wooster Rotary Club President Bob Weiss. A special announcement was made about the grand opening of the Tri-Dent building in downtown Wooster with four dentists being recognized. Three were Rotarians and a fourth was the son of a Rotarian, later to become a Rotarian: Dr. Ted Crawford, Dr. Tony Biggio, Dr. Brian Lacey and Dr. Doug Webb, son of Clyde Webb and future Wooster Rotarian. An announcement was also made concerning the Wooster Rotary Club Golf Outing to be held at Julie Fe View golf club followed by a dinner at the club. The Club wished Rita Mykrantz “good luck” as she was leaving for a year in Brazil as a Rotary Exchange Student and welcomed Tina Hallin from Sweden for her year long stay in Wooster. Wooster Rotarian Lowell Bournes made his “official” visit to Wooster Rotary as District Governor.

The month of December, 1978, was a busy month for Wooster Rotary beginning with the Annual Christmas Party for senior citizens. Over 400 meals were served in the YMCA gym. The Wooster Rotary Club was forced to expand seating also to accommodate the growing membership at 203 with 90% attendance rate. The Club also bought trophies for the Wooster Basketball Classic at the College of Wooster.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 43

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The Wooster Rotary Year 1979-80 began with a new Wooster Rotary President, David Briggs. President Dave began the new Rotary year with a club assembly where all club committees met with their chairmen and committee members to plan for the coming year. A new committee was added with Pete Bogner as chair to plan a celebration of Rotary International's 75th Anniversary. President Dave and Past President Bob Weiss also shared a slide program outlining Rotary International’s 3H program for the 75th to help hunger and health programs. Although local Rotary Clubs were not set specific goals, Wooster Rotary voted to contribute $1,500 to the project.

The July 18th program was one to remember presented by Wooster Rotarian Gerhard Soeseman who shared his experience as a member of the Hitler Youth Brigade, German youth 10 years or older were pressed into service in the Hitler Youth Brigade. Gerhard was pressed into service at the age of 13 working in a munitions factory. Then in the summer of 1944, with no notice, Gerhard and his fellow corpsmen were loaded onto a train and sent to Holland. Once there they were set to digging tank traps and machine gun nests. After D Day they were sent back to Germany and conscripted into the German Army to defend Berlin and Hitler. They retreated towards Berlin driven by American forces and soon came up against the Russian forces. When they heard that Hitler was dead, Gerhard and 10 of his friends surrendered to the American forces. They spent three months in a prisoner of war camp. Gerhard and his wife came to the United States in 1955 where he worked for Moore’s Bakery until he opened his own store, Gerhard’s Bakery.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 44

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1980-81 Wooster Rotary Year began with Leonard Schnell taking over as President. President Len announced that the Wooster Club gave $1,500 to the Rotary International 3-H program in honor of Rotary International’s 75th anniversary. Overall, Rotary International had raised $5.5 million to date. President Len also announced that a Group Study program was being put together for the District to go to Bangladesh. The members must be non-Rotarians. The leader will be a District Rotary Member.

Brothers Dennis Webb and Doug Webb, sons of Rotarian Clyde Webb, both were sworn in as members. It was announced that Ted Bogner will be in charge of this years United Way Run. Rotarian Gene Buehler announced the grand opening of the new Buehler's store on Milltown Road.

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 45

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1981-82 Wooster Rotary Year began with the administration of a new Wooster President, Gene Buehler. The program year began with an address by Justice Anthony Celebrezze of the U.S. 6th District Court of Appeals. He had just ended three years as Director of the United States Health, Education and Welfare Department. Prior to that he had been Mayor of Cleveland and U.S. Senator from Ohio.

At the August 31st meeting, Dan Parmalee was presented with his 50 year pin, at little late in time. Rotarian Dan had been a member of Wooster Rotary since 1926. We were also reminded by the District Governor of the original of the Rotary Wheel. It was first used as a simple wagon wheel beginning in 1905. The cogged version was accepted in 1919 at the national convention. A keyway was added in 1929 to show that the wheel was a “worker” and not an “idler”. The comment was also made that “…it will not act alone, but needs energy, a force behind it to set it in motion.”

100 Years of Wooster Rotary - Part 46

Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian

The 1982-83 Wooster Rotary Year began with a new President, Gerhard Soesemann taking office. Rob Rollers, son of Warren Rollers, was the first guest speaker of the season to Wooster Rotary. Rob graduated from Wooster High School and Mt. Union College. He finished 11th out of 584 competitors in the Hawiian Iron Man Triathlon. He swam 2.4 miles in the ocean off of the “big Island,” rode his bicycle along 112 miles of the coast and then ran 26.2 miles. Rollers added that he is now in training for the 1983 Triathlon by riding 300 miles per week, running 60 miles per week and swimming 10 to 15 miles per week.

The last meeting of August provided a special focus on the Rotary Youth Exchange program. Returning Wooster Exchange students Beth Corbett (Columbia), Robert Noll (Germany) and Joel Kreps (Finland) each reported on their experience abroad. Each agreed that the year abroad was an excellent experience and not one to ever be forgotten. Joining the trio were two current inbound students Lisa Grainger (Zimbabwe) and Niclas Thalen (Sweden). Since the Wooster Rotary Club has participated in the Student Exchange program starting in 1966, this year 2020-21 will be the first year that the Wooster Rotary Club has not either sent or received an Exchange Student. Of course there are obvious international reasons, but it is an opportunity greatly missed by the students and Rotary members at each end of the exchange.

History of the Rotary Bell

In 1922 U.S. Rotarians organized an attendance contest; the challenge was that the losing clubs would join in giving the winning club a prize. The Rotary Club of New York City was declared the winner and to them was awarded a bell from a popular patrol boat, which was placed on wood that came from HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson’s vessel at the battle of Trafalgar.

2019 Veterans Day Meeting

Wooster Rotary honored our members, our family members (i.e. spouses, children) and community members who are veterans at our November 11th meeting. Major General (Ret) Tod J. Carmony was the day's speaker. He noted the impact that a nation of WWII veterans had on the generation after them, as parents and as community leaders, and how many of those veterans shaped his own passion to serve. MG Carmony is a Wooster native who served 39 years in the US Army; in addition to numerous deployments around the world, he also deployed to Mississippi as part of the Katrina Relief mission in 2005.

2019 Community Service Project

In the Spring of 2019, President Matt Long and Community Service Chair Chad Bailey oversaw the installation of 3 bike kiosks along the new Wooster bike path. The Rotary Club of Wooster donated approximately $10,000 and some leg work to purchase the kiosks for the City of Wooster.

Wooster Rotary Honors Member Service