1959—1960

O E Gookins Jr President 1959-1960

The Club continued to sponsor worthy civic projects.  Over $1,100 was used to send boys to Camps Geiger and Hillyard; about $400 for Myrtle Miller School, Boy Scouts and for Little League Baseball; $300 to District Scholarships; and the Club holds a 100% rating in contributions to the Rotary Foundation Fund.  A special gift of $500 was made to the Boy Scout Camp Geiger for building improvements.  Christmas baskets were given to several needy families. 

College students home for the Christmas holidays were luncheon guests, five of them speaking about their school activities.

Our secretary and executive secretary Bernice worked out a new streamlined form for the weekly bulletin which could be folded and mailed with an annual savings of over $100 postage. 

Club assemblies were held in July to get the new officers and the committee chairmen and co-chairmen coordinated for the year’s projects and again in November, when our District Governor Perry Porter visited and addressed us. 

Singing was started again under the fine direction of several of our members.  A start was made to revive Fireside Meetings, several being held.

 Rotary magazine monthly reviews were given, as well as talks by some of our members on the meaning of Rotary.

 The Annual Golf Tournament was held August 13 and was a gala event with 88 players and 98 at the dinner, many from other Rotary Clubs.

 On November 7 we sponsored a meeting and refreshments for the Little United Nations Club at Y.W.C.A., with 100 present.

 The 48^th anniversary of our club was celebrated with wives and guests at a banquet at the Hotel Robidoux.  A string ensemble played fine music during the dinner.  Dr. Walter Kimball, our one remaining charter member, was honored in a talk by Secretary Earl Miner.  Don Spalding gave a good review of Rotary International’s book Seven Paths to Peace, and our widely traveled Jim McAdoo gave a most interesting talk about the many unusual things he had observed while in England and Europe.

 Our First Vice-President Dwight Dannen was chairman and Monty Mead, secretary, of the largest and one of the most successful United Fund Drives ever conducted in St. Joseph.  Many of our club members were active in this campaign, as they were also the Club’s team for the Y.M.C.A. membership drive.

 Four of our members passed away during the year:  Honorary members Dr. John C. Whitsell and Sam G. Mannschreck, and active members Fred G. Batcher and Charles J. Feeney.

 New memberships were about offset for the year by men being transferred out of town, some resignations and deaths.

 Dues were increased $8 from $108 to $116 annually on April 1, because of an increase in the cost of our luncheons.

 The District conference was held April 23 and 24, 1960, at Unionville, Missouri.

 Our program committee arranged many good commercial programs, interspersed with excellent craft talks by members, music by the high school bands and choirs, and guest speakers such as Rotarian Roy Gromer, of Grant City, Mo., who told us about the Air Force Academy.  Rev. Bonney who braved a severe snowstorm on March 15 to come up from Kansas City, Connie Voss (winner of an oratorical contest on “Americanism”), and Paul Jones an outstanding speaker and Director of Public Relations for the National Safety Council.

 Four new highway Rotary signs were purchased with three being installed and the other to be installed at a later date.  A new 50-star American Flag and a new Rotary Banner were purchased and put into use.

 A letter from Arthur J. Meers, Mayor of St. Joseph, asked Rotary’s cooperation in organizing a Citizen’s Committee to serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and City officials.  Director Robert L. Shackelford and Second Vice President Frank H. Gee were appointed to serve as members of this committee.

 A five-foot high wall of floodwater smashed towns in Mercer and Grundy counties in August 1959.

 There was a $400,000 fire at a Tarkio College dormitory in Tarkio, Mo.

 A $1,120,000 bond issue was approved for the construction of a natural gas plant at Cameron, Mo.

 A study of the City Charter was authorized.

 There were two major downtown fires:  October 30, the Logan Building, Eighth and Edmond Streets and one quarter of the block estimated at $1,000,000 damage.  December 31, the three-story Center building located at Sixth and Edmond Streets, damage estimated at $1,000,000.

1960—1961 

Dwight L Dannen   President 1960-1961

At the start of the year each director had an assembly with his committee chairmen and co-chairmen in order to get the year’s activity off to a good start.

The first main event of the year was the Annual Golf Tournament held August 11, at the Moila Club, with invitations issued to all clubs in the District to send their golfers to the meeting.  Charles Mannschreck was chairman of the tournament committee, which consisted of Chris Ellinger, Barent Springsted and Bernice Johnson.  There were 97 golfers entered in the tournament, and 108 Rotarians were on hand for the buffet dinner.  Many clubs outside of St. Joseph were represented, and District Governor Tom Eagle was present.

During the year the Rotary Club continued to sponsor civic projects as it has in the past.  One of the most important was the sending of worthy boys to Camp Geiger and to Camp Marvin Hillyard.  In addition we sponsored a Little League baseball team, and paid the expenses of two students from St. Joseph, Ronald R. Russell and Marilyn Jean Thompson, to the University of Missouri two-week conference for 30 superior Missouri High School junior students.

In order to finance these various activities, dues were raised $2.50 per quarter, with the promise to members that the taking up of collections at various times throughout the year would be discontinued.

Other activities included a Rotary Team in the Y.M.C.A membership drive headed by Don Chew.

The Annual Pinochle Tournament between the South Side Rotary Club and our club was held at the Moila on Wednesday evening, April 26, with the usual results.

Several special meetings were held during the year.  On Wednesday September 20, we met with other service clubs at the City Auditorium to get a bird’s eye view of the various phases of the St. Joseph Interstate Baby Beef and Pig Club show which was going on at the time.

On October 4, we had a Club Assembly and a visit from District Governor Tom Eagle.  A regular meeting was held after the Club assembly, with Tom Eagle bringing us a very interesting message.  The meeting was held at Moila because of a banker’s convention and a Kiwanis District Convention scheduled for the Hotel Robidoux.

The traditional Birthday Party with our Rotary Anns was held in the Hotel Robidoux on November 16.  Rev. Lawrence Bash, pastor of the Country Club Christian Church, Kansas City, was the speaker, and the Central High School Choir provided the music.  It was the highlight of our Rotary year—our 49^th Birthday Party.

The annual Christmas party for college students home on vacation was on the program for December 27.  Harold Niedorp was the Master of Ceremonies at the program, and the speakers included Steve Mitchell, son of Past District Governor Orestes Mitchell, jr., Eddie Herman, Marshall Cowles, Robert Hastings and Claire Taylor.

Perhaps the outstanding development in our Rotary year was the series of Fireside Meetings, which was organized under the capable direction of Rotarian Ed Hoover.  Starting on January 13, it was a most successful revival of the Fireside program, with almost every Rotarian participating in one of the 18 Fireside Meetings held in Rotarians’ homes during the year.  It was such a successful program that, under Ed’s guidance, a skit was put on at the District conference showing how Firesides were planned, organized, and put on, and what value they were to Rotary.

We had an excellent representation of our Rotary Club at the District Conference held in North Kansas City the weekend of April 15 and 16.  St. Joseph Rotarians were prominent in their participation in the meeting.  It was one of the best District Conferences ever held in this district.

Early in February a committee was appointed to work on a 50^th anniversary party to be held in November of 1961.  Chairman of this committee was Barent Springstead, Jr.

Attendance at meetings was good throughout the year.  The peak was in May when we averaged 90.37%.  At the start of the year, the membership was 147; it dipped to a low of 145, but ended the year at 150, which was a net gain of three members.

One member was lost through death:  Reverend Josiah W. Able, an honorary member due to ill health, on December 14, 1960.

• The Federal Government filed legal action against the City of St. Joseph on September 29, under the 1956 water pollution control act.
• November 1, 1960:  St. Joseph voters by a healthy 8 to 1 majority authorized a study and revision of the City’s 50-year-old charter.
• Continental Can Company announced plans to construct a metal can plant in St. Joseph.
• In September, Richard Nixon, Vice President of the United States and Republican presidential candidate delivered a speech at City Hall to a crowd estimated at 10,000.  Senator Lyndon Johnson, Democratic Vice-President elect, also spoke before a capacity crowd at the Electric Theater on October 1.
• December 15, 1960:  Ceremonies dedicated and opened Interstate Highway 29 between St. Joseph and Kansas City.  Earlier in the year the new stockyards route was dedicated.
• The count showed population gain in St. Joseph from 78,788 in 1950 to 79,763 in 1960.
• An experimental balloon, “Echo I,” was launched by the United States late in September.

 Notable Events During 1961

• The new City Charter was approved
• Sewage plant and sewer extension authorized.  Voters approved a $5,955,000 bond issue to provide sewage treatment facilities, also, $3,650,000 to provide main sewer extensions.
• Past Director Waldo Y. Burger, jr., was elected President of the Chamber of Commerce.
• Dwight L. Dannen was elected President of the United Fund Campaign.

1961—1962 

Frank Gee  President 1961-1962

 This was the year to celebrate our 50^th  Anniversary.  The committee appointed by Dwight Dannen continued with their plans:  Barent Springsted, Jr., Chairman, Orestes Mitchell, Jr., Rod Fletcher, Harold Niedorp, Dr. Walter F. Kimball, and David P. Hornaday.

 We started our year without the services of our loyal executive secretary Bernice Johnson.  She took her vacation the first two weeks of July, and then when she came back from vacation, she started a brush fire in her back yard.  She used gasoline to light the fire, the gasoline flashed, she did not jump high enough, so her legs were burned and our first V.P. Dr. Tom Potter ordered her to the hospital.

 At the first meeting of the year on July 11, 1961, International President, Joseph A. Aye, presented his program to our club in the form of a recorded message:

Aim for Action

Communicate for Understanding

Test for Leadership

Our year started off by losing our Director-Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, J. Ira Pendleton.

 Our first club assembly was held August 8.  This enthusiastic group of officers, directors, chairmen and co-chairmen all attended except two or three who were out of town or were ill, and this is the group of men that has made this Rotary year a wonderful success.

 This Rotary year found our Safety Committee headed by Andy Ziph active with a Rotary sponsored safety program in the form of a community project attacking the hazards of falls.  The programs were furnished to many other civic clubs and community functions by this committee.

 August 10, the Annual Golf Tournament was held with all Rotarians in District 603 invited.  A movie of the action on the links was filmed by Rotarians Springsted and Wadlow.  161 attended the meeting that evening.  This was held in Moila’s Walnut Room.  The film was used as our program on March 27.

 The District Institute at Bethany, August 17, was attended by Vol Whaley, Al Houchin, Warren Letts, Secretary and Frank Gee, President.

 Our September 12 meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A.  Our team worked hard in the Y Drive.  We had loads of fun, little glory, but we did not finish in last place.

 Our September 19 meeting was in the pavilion at the stockyards, being transported by us, with a box luncheon by the hotel.  We enjoyed the exhibits and talks associated with the Interstate Baby Beef Show.

 In October, the admission fee was increased from $20 to $30, the additional $10 to go to the Rotary Foundation Fund.  We became a 200% club in the Rotary Foundation.

 Our Fireside Meetings were a highlight of the year under the able direction of Mel Brown.  Rotary International asked for complete details of Mel’s program.  The last meeting was November 13, in ten different Rotarians homes, with an address by Rev. Hauser Winter and discussions held on “Rotary Through the Years” at the meetings followed by this broadcast.  This developed into a stimulating discussion of our club, and we looked under our carpets and much action developed.

 November 17, we celebrated our 50^th anniversary and this was one of our finest days in Rotary.  Everyone worked; the Rotary Anns, all the committee chairmen and every available Rotarian.  This event started by picking up President Joseph A. Abey at Topeka, Kansas, in Jim McAdoo’s Beech Travelair on Thursday afternoon, November 16.  The reception committee was Bob Finch, Jim and yours truly.  Activities of the celebration started at noon on Friday with a luncheon for the visiting District Governors, Forrest P. “Flip” Carson, Holton, Kansas; Dr. Cecil S. “Jack” Compton, Cameron, Mo.; Harold O. Hegland, Ames, Iowa; Harry Finds, Jr., Clinton, Mo.; and Past District Governors G.F. Hatcher, Grinnell, Iowa; and Orestes Mitchell, Jr., St. Joseph, Mo; and the club directors and committee chairmen where an informal discussion was held with International President Joseph A. Abey, and great inspirations for the years work were left with these Rotarians.

 The banquet on Friday evening was attended by Rotarians from our district and the five adjoining districts 565, 571, 600, 605 and 607, with Joseph A. Abey as the featured speaker.  A plaque was presented to Walter Kimball, our only charter member present, for his many years of service to Rotary.  There were five clubs represented from Iowa, seven clubs from Kansas, five from Nebraska, and twenty-four from Missouri, a total of 400 Rotarians and their Rotary Anns.  On Saturday, I had the privilege of spending a large portion of the morning with President Abey in an informal discussion of Rotary and our club problems.  This was my finest week in Rotary.

 December 19 was the official visit of our District governor of District 603, Dr. Cecil “Jack” Compton.  A club assembly was held at 11:00 prior to the meeting with the various committee chairmen reporting and discussing the activities of their committees with the District Governor.  Again our committees responded and attended as true Rotarians.

 December 26 was the Annual Student Christmas Party.  We had 65 college students as guests representing many out of state colleges and universities.   Our world always looks better after hearing these fine young people talk to us for a few minutes.

 Our mid year club assembly (our third) was held February 19, in Parlor “C” of Hotel Robidoux, immediately after the regular Board of Directors Meeting to review what we had done and survey what could be done for the balance of the year.  It was decided we would appoint a committee to explore and determine the possibilities of getting a four-year college operating in the City of St. Joseph.  This assembly also decided that we should sponsor two Explorer Scouts to attend the national Explorer Scouts Conference at the University of Michigan.

 Russell Peck again headed a special committee and worked with Jim Hower and Rosie Rosen making extensive classification surveys of potential members.  The results were:  Thirteen new members as of this date, with five additional proposed members in the process of clearance through the Classification and membership Committees and final Board approval and the process of the survey will be continued.

 Our committee on International Service recommended, and the club purchased, a quantity of bulletins entitled “You and Your Flag” to be presented to new citizens of the United States when they receive their citizenship papers in Judge Duncan’s court.  Each member of the Club also received a copy of the booklet.

 Tying in with the Rotary International World Photo Contest, our Special Activities Committee arranged with the Topeka Rotary Club for a flying caravan to the Topeka club.  Fourteen Rotarians from our club and two from our neighboring South Side Rotary Club attended the Topeka Rotary Club meeting on March 1, and wonderful fellowship was in abundance.  The Topeka club went all out to receive us in style.

 The photo contest awards were made on March 17.  Winners in interclub contests between our club and the South Side were:

Chet Venard and Ernie Justus—St. Joseph Rotary Club

Ervin Branson and Ethan Campbell—South Side Rotary Club

 The Club decided to underwrite the expenses of two or three high school students to attend the Freedom Forum at Wentworth Military Academy, July 22 through July 26, 1962.

 The Annual Pinochle Tournament between the Uptown and South Side Rotary Clubs was held January 23, with South Side again the winners.

 The District Conference at Cameron on April 28 and 29 was attended by 24 Rotarians and Anns from our club.

 Past District Governor Orestes Mitchell, jr., won a Rotary Quiz at the District Conference and was awarded a 3 foot by 5 foot 4-Way Test Banner.

 $1,200 has been budgeted for worthy and needy boys to be sent to Camps Geiger and Marvin Hillyard the week of June 12 through June 18.

 $150 has been sent to the St. Joseph Little League for the annual sponsorship of a Rotary Little League Baseball Team.

 The South Side Rotary Club has challenged the Uptown Club to a second Pinochle Tournament to be held at the Moila Club the evening of May 22.

 The Rotary International Convention at Los Angeles, California, June 3—7, 1962, was attended by President Frank and Mrs. Gee, Immediate Past President Dwight and Mrs. Dannen, and David and Mary Jo (daughter of President Joe Abey) Hornaday, all from the St. Joseph Rotary Club.  The Club ended the year with 160 active members.

 Notable Events During Fiscal 1961—1962

·        The Decennial Census of 1960 counted 179,323,175 noses in the United States as of April 1, 1960.

·        The downing of a U.S. U-2 intelligence plane over the Soviet Union and the conviction of its pilot 1^st Lt. Francis Powers made headlines for months.  Lt. Powers was convicted by the Soviet court but was released in the spring of 1962.

·        May 5, 1961, Commander Alan B. Sheppard, jr., 37, of the U.S. Navy became the first U.S. Astronaut, May 5, when he rode a 2,300 pound Project Mercury capsule dubbed the “Freedom 7: into a sub orbital flight and came back to earth safely.  Sheppard’s capsule was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, by means of a Redstone Rocket at 9:34 EST and made a maximum speed of 5,000 MPT.  He landed in the Atlantic Ocean 15 minutes later, some 302 miles from the launching point.  For about five minutes he was in the “weightless stage.”

·        Dr. Thompson E. Potter was elected president of the St. Joseph Civic Music Association.

·        James M. Hower was elected president of the St. Joseph Underwriters Association.  Both men are members of the St. Joseph Rotary Club.  Dr. Potter is now President-Elect for 1962—1963.

·        July 21, 1961:  Captain Virgil (Gus) Grissom, 35, of the U.S. Air force, rode a Mercury Capsule to an altitude of 118 miles, July 21 in a 16 minute flight that made him the second American, and third known human being to rocket into the edge of space.  He came down safely, but his 4,040-pound capsule sank into the Atlantic Ocean 303 miles from the launching point.  A Redstone rocket was used.  Grissom achieved a top speed of 5,280 MPH.

·        The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce elected Rotarian Kenneth L. Johnson as president for the year 1962.

·        The Civic Music Association is headed this year by Rotarian James M. Hower.

·        February 20, 1962:  U.S. Astronaut orbits three times.  Marine Lt. Col. John Glenn, Jr., 40, circles the earth three times in orbit in a Mercury Capsule and comes down safely in the Atlantic Ocean.  Glenn was the first American to go into orbit.  He and his bell-shaped capsule, which he had named “Friendship 7” was shot skyward from Cape Canaveral’s pad 14, at 9:46 a.m. EST in the nose of an Atlas Rocket booster 109D with a thrust estimated at 360,000 pounds, and went into orbit at a top speed of 17,555 MPH.  Each circuit of the earth took 88.2 minutes. Glenn traveled a total of 81,000 miles.  A few days later, Glenn and his wife were given one of the largest parades ever held in New York, and this parade was viewed by millions over the several TV networks.

·        April 11, 1962:  Fire of undetermined origin destroyed a building housing considerable equipment at Memorial Park Cemetery.  The damage was expected to be about $40,000, said Past President Carl Schuchardt, manager.

·        Past President Dwight L. Dannen was elected president of the St. Joseph School Board and again heads the United fund for 1962.

·        May 9, 1962:  One of the largest crowds in the 36 year history of the apple Blossom Parade watched this afternoon what was called one of the best parades in a third of a century.  A crowd estimated at 50,000 to 55,000 lined the parade route through the business district.  The queen was Miss Jeannie Birt, a 14-year-old Gower High School freshman.

1962-1963

* Whaley replaced Earl Miner

Dr. Thompson E. Potter   President 1962-1963

 The president of Rotary International was Nitish C. Laharry of Calcutta, India.  Everett Brown from the Maryville club was governor of District 603.

Our 1962-63 Rotary year started out with a bang, after my own inauguration, with a report of the 1962 convention by Frank Gee, retiring president.  Early in the year, Rotarians Jake Ford, Mont Mead, Stan Cox and James Hower were chosen for and played important positions in the United Funds Drive, the first two named being director and executive director, respectively.  At this time, we were saddened by the departure of one of our oldest and most respected Rotarians, Dr. C.M. Chilton, who passed away at the age of 94.

Bob Barrie and Stan Cox were honored by supreme achievements in the Safety Organization, and the “I like St. Joseph” group, spearheaded by Carl Schuchardt and Waldo Burger, started the movement to bring a branch of the Tarkio College here.  Our newly elected first vice-president, Earl Miner had to resign because of his transfer to New York City, and the Club felt a distinct loss in this.  He was ably replaced by Vol Whaley, who will assume the presidency of the Club next year.

Death and transfers and many new members seemed to be a mark of my year in the presidency.  We took in more new members than we had for many years, but also lost a good many.  However, the membership increased approximately eight, despite the tremendous turnover.

In the early part of the year, one of our respected members, Lester Miller, past president and president emeritus of the Boy Scouts, died after a long illness.  Rev. John Cowan was appointed to the newly created City Health and Welfare Board, and our golf tournament at Moila Country Club was even more of a success than previously.  We were saddened by the death of Harry Korns in a street accident.

At about the same time we had our memorable deer hunt in Sheridan, Wyoming, in October 1962, in which about 25 members participated, all getting a deer and having a splendid time, thanks to the arrangements of a committee headed by Dr. Ernest Wadlow and Glen ridges.  About this time the Cuban missile crisis was on us, and at our annual banquet, Dr. Nicholas Nyaradi of Bradley University presented a most memorable address, which made a great impression on all the Rotarians present.

A summer activity, that was enjoyed by a large number of Rotarians and their Anns, was a special bus trip to the Kansas City Starlight theatre.  This committee was ably headed by O.E. Gookins, and represented a lot of planning on the part of the committee.

Our old friend and Rotarian, Erba Smith, passed away after a long illness, and also, in November 1962, Rotarians Wilbur McDonald, Herb Warres, and President Tom Potter were recognized in the paper as among the 12 members in this community of the American College of Surgeons.

A memorable program was given on December 4, 1962, by Donald Voorhees, nationally known conductor of the Bell Telephone Hour, who also was here to guest conduct the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra.  The year was brought to an end with our traditional successful students Christmas Party.  This seemed a fitting climax to a year in which we had increased our participation as a 200% club in the Rotary Foundation program for the year 1962.  It was also a fitting climax of many fine programs secured by our hard-working program committee under the continued able leadership of Dr. Walter Kimball.

In January 1963, Past President Frank Gee was nominated for Rotary District Governor by our club, and also a very extensive article on Rotary International appeared in several national magazines.  Rotary took large steps forward this year under the leadership of the first Asian president of Rotary International, Nitish Laharry.

Many business successes, promotions and notable achievements of various Rotarians were continuously listed in our papers, resulting in more than the usual number of recognitions and fines at our weekly club meetings.  In the spring, club president, Dr. Tom Potter was elected president of the St. Joseph Symphony Society in the beginning of its fifth year, and Rotarian Carl Schuchardt was elected president of community Concerts for the coming year.

Our club gave a tremendous contribution to the community with the Free Enterprise Forum, at which Dr. Hyaradi returned and spoke not only to the general public in an all-day forum, but to each of the High School assemblies.  This extensive enterprise, which required much planning, was ably headed by second vice-president Mel Brown.  The Rotary District Conference in April, in Maryville, was a very inspiring and well-attended affair with about 20 Rotarians and their Anns attending.  It was held on the campus of Northwest Missouri State College, under the fine leadership of District Governor Everett Brown.  Dr. Nyaradi appeared on the program.

A few days later, under the sponsorship of our club, he gave an address at a joint Civic Club meeting of all the service clubs of St. Joseph, attended by 900 people.

Again we were saddened by the death of one of our former presidents, Fred Karr.  As previously mentioned, our club was most unfortunate during the year in losing many of our long time outstanding and faithful members.

A fitting climax to the 1962-63 year took place in two different spheres, the first being our traditional enterprise, the Rotary Boys Camp at Camp Marvin Hillyard, attended by 80 underprivileged boys, and the second being the first Rotary International Convention to be held close to home in many years, at St. Louis, Missouri.  This was attended by the president, Dr. Tom Potter, Vol Whaley, Frank Gee, Leon Rosen, Mel Brown, William Guenther and our own executive secretary, Bernice Johnson.  The convention was the usual tremendous affair attended by approximately 13,000 Rotarians from all over the world, a very worthwhile and inspiring experience for all.

My year in the presidency was culminated by this convention, and in handing over the reins in June, 1963, to newly elected president, Vol Whaley, I am sure that the Club has been strengthened, has had a worthwhile year, and will continue forward to new accomplishments, charitable and community activities, and valuable experiences for all.  As a contribution to the more proper functioning of the club, the president formulated and introduced for passage a comprehensive by-law revision in two spheres that were brought into focus more sharply y two main overall events of the year, namely, the International Convention, and the designation of Frank Gee as District Governor.  These two by-laws had to do with choosing, sending and financing delegates to Rotary International Conventions, so that we would always be represented, and brought some order out of no previous specific method of doing this.  In regard to the District Governor, the amendment was adopted in that he, or any officer of Rotary international, including a Rotary International committee, would e a member of the board as long as he held such office, irrespective of any office held in the local Rotary Club.

The members, officers, board of directors, committee chairmen, and hardworking members of committees did a splendid job, and we are very thankful for all their energy and efforts.

Notable Events of Fiscal 1962—1963

·        July 7:  Lester B. Miller, past president of this club and retired Boy Scout Executive died at the age of 65.

·        July 18:  The largest space vehicle ever sent aloft, a balloon which inflated to the height of a 13-story building, was rocketed 922 miles above the Atlantic Ocean as a forerunner of an advanced Echo communications satellite.

·        October 23:  President J.F. Kennedy ordered a United States “Quarantine” blockade of Cuba.  Continental Can Co. doubled the size of its plant on the Easton Road.

·        August 23:  Annual golf tournament at Moila.  114 golfers; 173 attended dinner.

·        October 9:  The Club donated $225 to the Bantam Football League.

·        October 23:  Thirty Rotarians and their wives left for Sheridan Wyoming, for a Rotary Deer hunt sponsored by the Sheridan Rotary Club in the Big Horn Mountains.  Dr. E.E. Wadlow and Glen Bridges were in charge of the arrangements.

·        January 23:  12 degrees below zero on January 23, 1963

·        January 22:  James M. Hower was reelected as president of St. Joseph Community Concert Association.

·        January 16:  Fire swept through a Woodbury Chemical Co. warehouse at 720 South 4^th Street, destroying the building and its contents.

·        January 22:  A bill calling for a Missouri University branch here to provide third and fourth year college work was introduced into the Missouri House of Representatives.

·        January 30:  Barent Springsted, Jr., was elected chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

·        January 31, St. Joseph tied for second place in its population class in a National Safety Council rating of cities with low traffic fatality rates.  Walter D. Ladd is head of the Safety Council in St. Joseph.

·        November 16:  Don K. Spalding, potentate of Moila Temple, welcomed George M. Klepper, imperial potentate of the Shrine of North America.

·        December 6, 1962:  Donald Voorhees, conductor of the Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra, was the guest conductor of the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra.

·        May 4:  By Laws amended.

·        June 1963:  Rotary International Convention held in St. Louis, Mo.  The Rotary Club entered a float in the Apple Blossom Parade.

1963—1964

 Rotary International President:  Carl P. Miller, Los Angeles, CA

District Governor, District 603:  F.O.R. (Fork) Keeney, Liberty, MO

 President Volney Whaley was in the Missouri Methodist hospital on July 7 when the officers were to be installed.  District Governor F.O.R. Keeney had charge of the installation.  Officers absent, besides the president, were Al Hansen, Milt Taylor, Don Chew and Gil Pickett.  All installation proceedings were recorded on a tape recorder and then taken to the hospital for President Vol to hear.  The dedication service was handled by Rabbi Myron Meyer.

 Members on July 1, 1963 were 153.  Members on June 30 1964 were 154.

Donations and Gifts

Fiscal 1963-1964 Events 

·        August 21, 1963:  Annual district Golf Tournament at Moila.  Golfers, 103: Banquet, 168.

·        October 1963:  President Vol was in the Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, MO for two weeks.

·        October 3, 1963:  A special train to Kansas City to see the Chiefs play the San Diego Charges.  Total cost $9.50.

·        October 20, 1963:  R.I. President, Carl Miller, spoke at the American Royal building in Kansas City; several members attended.

·        November 5, 1963:  The Club honored all past presidents at the annual birthday party.

·        November 19, 1963:  Meals to guests and visiting Rotarians were raised from $1.65 to $1.80.

·        November 19, 1963:  Dr. E. Stanley Jones, noted Methodist missionary and Evangelist was the speaker at the Club’s regular meeting.

·        April 1, 1964:  Dues were raised from $32.40 to $36.00 per quarter to cover the increased cost of meals.  Meals were raised from $1.80 to $1.85.

·        April 24—26, 1964:  The St. Joseph Club was the host at the “House of Friendship” at the District Conference at Excelsior Springs and Liberty.

 Other Events of 1963—1964

·        Carroll Proctor left for Salzburg, Austria to study voice.

·        The Club won 1^st place in the Service Club Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive.  The Club received an engraved bell.  Milton Taylor was chairman of the Club team.

·        The Uptown and South Side rotary clubs entered a “Rotary Float” in the Annual Apple Blossom Parade.

·        Leon Rosen, club secretary, arranged with the Post Office to have the club bulletins sent at “Non Profit Organization Rate.  This was a saving to the Club of about $170 per year.

·        Frank Gee, Mel Brown, Fred Neudorff, Wally Burger and Carl Schuchardt presented a “pro Free Enterprise” program at the Maysville Rotary Club.

·        St. Joseph was host to the NAIA National Collegiate Baseball “World Series”, June 8 through June 12.

·        The Club sponsored 30 youngsters at the “Y” Camp.

·        Ed Michel passed away.

·        Rabbi Myron Meyer presented retiring President Vol Whaley with his past president’s pin.

1964-1965