History

CHARTERED MAY 18, 1945

**CHARTER OFFICERS**
*Joe Mead, President**
*Gene Ray, Vice-President**
*Ray Duer, Secretary-Treasurer**

**CHARTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS**
Albert Strong*
G.W. Sitton*
E.G. England*
Gerald Russell*

**CHARTER MEMBERS**
Charles Calkins*	Walter Wageman*	N. A. Christensen*
J.W. DeLapp*	James Monk*	W. L. Owings*
James Leister*	M. C. Grant*	Louis Edwards*
Charles Schab*	Emory Liston*	Mel French*
O. E. Tracy*	L. W. Pray*	Woodrow Estes*
Wiley Wahl Sr.*	C. A. Thompson*	Wes Cole*

* Deceased

**PAST PRESIDENTS**
45-46	Joe Mead*	68-69	Jim Edwards	89-90	Walt Bender
46-47	Gene Ray*	69-70	Bill Dempsey	90-91	Roy Ellis
47-48	Buck Sitton*	70-71	Wayne Loveless*	91-92	Dar Meyer
48-49	O.E. Tracy*	71-72	Bob Druley	92-93	Al Lotspeich
49-50	Claude Alexander*	72-73	Gilbert Moss	93-94	Bernie Hieptas
50-51	Vernon Fish*	73-74	Arley Howsden	94-95	Don Bowlby*
51-52	Mel French*	74-75	Marvin Hasty	95-96	Jim Pattersen
52-53	Bob Edmiston*	75-76	Jerry Walters	96-97	Norm Larson
53-54	Gene Harris	76-77	Garrett Starmer	97-98	Richard Hothem
54-55	Don Phillips	77-78	Bob Birdseye	98-99	Steve Greenwood
55-56	Henry Morgue*	78-79	Jim Mitchell	99-00	Dave Jessen
56-57	Echo Lambert*	79-80	Hank Marsh*	00-01	Don McNelis
57-58	Gene Rideout*	80-81	George Boggs	01-02	Jen Liu
58-59	E.G. England*	81-82	James Moore	02-03	Larry Bradley
59-60	Stan Anderson	82-83	Rick Landess	03-04	Dave Mulqueeney
60-61	Pat Murphy*	81-82	James Moore	04-05	Jane Ziad
61-62	Del Birdseye*	82-83	Rick Landess	05-06	Bill Apger
62-63	Fred Montgomery	83-84	Greg Scott	06-07	Andy Farrar
63-64	Briant Woolley	84-85	Jim Patterson	07-08	Daryle Polk
64-65	Barry Bowen	85-86	Dan Davis	08-09	Glenn Pulliam
65-66	Austin Tozier	86-87	Bruce Norlie	09-10	Mike Crump
66-67	Jim Errington*	87-88	Ray Meighan
67-68	Jim Petersen	88-89	Rick Farley

"Serving Durham since 1945”

HISTORY

Rotary Club – “ Durham Rotary Seeks Rotary Charter At Dinner Meet

“ Durham , April 5. – Forty business men and guests met Tuesday evening for dinner in I.O.O.F. social hall to discuss the organization of a permanent service club for the Durham district. A.M. Strong opened the meeting and introduced Joe Mead who in turn presented the special guests from Chico Rotary club.

“It was voted to apply for a charter in Rotary International and until the provisional chapter is formally admitted to membership, it will complete its organization, meeting every Monday at 8 p.m. in I.O.O.F. hall.

“Officers elected were Joe Mead, president, Gene Ray, vice president; Ray Duer, secretary-treasurer and Albert Strong, G.W. Sitton, E.G. England and Gerald Russell directors.” [ Chico Enterprise, Thursday, March 5, 1945 , pg 3.]

CHARTERING DATE

Durham Rotary was officially chartered on Friday, May 18, 1945 . The dinner, served to the members and guests for the charter evening, prepared by Mrs. Sarah Franklin included Cole Slaw, Chicken and Noodles, Sweet Potatoes, String Beans, Sliced Tomatoes, Tea Rolls, Apple Pie and Coffee. Other charter members were: Charles Calkins, J.W. DeLapp, James Leister, Charles Schab, Wesley Sitton, O.E. Tracy, Walter Wageman, James Monk, Alva Fenn, M.C. Grant, Emory Liston, L.W. Pray, Charles A. Thompson, Wiley Wahl, Sr., Walter L. Owings, Nels A. Christensen, Louis Edwards, Mel French, Woodrow Estes, and Wes Cole. [Program: Charter Night, Durham Club, May 18, 1945 .]

PROGRESS

The 65-year history of Durham Rotary in Durham in 2010, also shows multiple years of well-led projects: Sidewalks at Durham Elementary (1963-1964); Putney Street (1984); Parking lot at the Memorial Hall (1987), which was co-sponsored by Durham American Legion Post 673; and the Canopy at Community Park (1987). Finally, 31-member strong group of individuals continues the now 30-year tradition of Rotary’s Harvest Festival, which funds the multiple-year and multiple recipient scholarships to graduates of Durham High School .