Service above Self
Rotary Club of
History
Officially,
the
Rotary
Club
of
Silver
City
was
formed
in
1923,
but
the
oldest
available
picture
of
club
membership
dates
to
1937.
Club
members
shown
are:
(Standing,
left
to
right)
Harold
Kelsey,
Fred
Parrish,
Clyde
Ely,
John
O’Leary,
Dr.
Arthur
Gill,
Seth
Larson,
T.A.
Shutte,
George
Johnson,
Jack
Wilson,
Ross
Calvin.
(Sitting,
left
to
right)
Frank
Parrish,
Fred
Smith,
Julius
Becker
(visiting),
Jack
Amy,
Dr.
Nate
Frazin,
Melvin
Porterfield
Sr.,
Bob Noble, Hadden W. James, J. Vernon Glenn, Milton Stovall.
The Club was chartered on November 2, 1923
CHARTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President - Earl Sprague, Physician, NM Cottage Sanatorium
VIE-PRESIDENT - A.O. Bowden, President, NM Normal University
SECRETARY - William R. Warner Insurance Agent & Forest Ranger
TREASURER - E.A. Woodhull, Editor of the Silver City Enterprise
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS - William Murray, Merchant, store in Central
CHARTER MEMBERS:
Harry E. Bassett, Ford auto dealer
John H. Blackwell, book and jewelry store owner
Frank B. Brewer, physician, executive officer, Fort Bayard
W.S. Cox, hardware store and mortuary owner
James B. Gilchrist, banker, cattleman, banker, engineer
Roland A. Laird, house painter
Don W. Lusk, newspaperman, editor
Raymond B. Ryan, lawyer, district judge
John Schadel, bakery owner
A.D. Seitzler, saddle maker
Frederick Winn, forest supervisor
Ira L. Wright, mining engineer
More history is represented by the following listing of club presidents since 1923 and, in the case of recent years, some Rotary activities
during those years:
2017-18
President: Joe Heidrick
A successful Auction was held in October and raised about $32,000, with $9,700 going to each of the
following beneficiaries Life Quest, the Gila Valley Library, and the Silver City Gospel Mission.
Our End Polio reception in early November raised over $2,000 for Polio Plus.
We received a Community Grant from the District for a Water Catchment project at the Volunteer Center’s
Commons.
2016-17
President: Suzanne Kavanagh
The Club worked on preparations for the Auction to be held in October.
$1,500 college scholarships were awarded to Maryssa Young and Raelynn Botello. In addition, two WNMU
students received $1,000 scholarships from the WNMU Rotary Scholarship Fund.
Donations from our club to The Rotary Foundation amounted to $12,729 for the past year.
The second Murder Mystery Dinner raised over $2,200 split evenly between the Silver City Community
Theater and the Silver City Rotary Foundation Scholarship Fund.
The End Polio Reception in October raised $3,000, which with matching funds from the Gates Foundation
and the District added up to about $10,000.
We received a $2,000 Community Grant from the District for the School
Gardens Project, and participated in the construction of equipment for the
school gardens.
Hosted Swiss Rotary Youth Exchange Student Felicitas Zehnder for half a
year.
2015-16
President: Leslie Bush
Membership increased to 33 active members.
The Club started the process of applying for a District Grant for a School Gardens project at three
Elementary Schools in Silver City.
We awarded a $1,500 college scholarship to Morgan Weber and two smaller WNMU scholarships to
Serena Pack and Camille Dalton at WNMU.
The club received several recognitions at the District Conference:
o
Best club social media award for a mid-sized club.
o
Anna Pajala was star in the International Student talent show.
o
Sunny Yates received the Outstanding Active Rotarian Award
Our Valentine’s Dinner raised $2,239 for the High Desert Humane Society.
We updated our Strategic Plan.
We held our first Mystery Dinner fundraiser in cooperation with the Silver City Community Theater. The
event raised $1,640 for the Silver City Myseum Society and an equal amount for the Community Theater.
We sponsored Josh Saenz for RYLA.
Hosted Finnish Rotary Youth Exchange Student Anna Pajala
The Silver City Rotary Foundation came into full operation with its approval as a 501.c.(3) charitable
foundation by the IRS.
2014-15
President: Peter Falley
We received several awards at the District Conference:
o
The Presidential Citation
o
Sonny Brown Business of the Year for Lawley Motors in the large business category and
Gila Hike and Bike in the small business category.
o
Membership increase recognition.
o
Best website for a medium-sized club
o
2014-15 Outstanding Achievement Award to recognize our
many accomplishments and particularly our involvement at the District and
International level.
We hosted the district-wide meeting of Rotary Youth Exchange students in December.
We adopted a new club banner.
We started the process of establishing a 501.c.(3) charitable foundation, the Silver City Rotary Foundation.
The Club was once again one of the clubs supporting the Guatemala Water Project
Active membership increased from 28 to 31 during the year.
We had two students, Mikaela Newman and Molly Nix, attend in RYLA camp in July.
Hosted German Rotary Youth Exchange Student Kilian Schwabe
2013-14
President: Sunny Yates
Rotary Auction produced sufficient funds to enable the club to award $12,000 to each of the following
nonprofit organizations: Literacy Link - Leamos, The Imagination Library of Grant County, The Grant
County Volunteer Center.
Club received Presidential Citation with Distinction.
Club was named Small Club of the Year at District Conference.
Alotta Gelato receive Small Business of the Year award at District Conference.
Two Students awarded Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and sent to RYLA camp in July 2014
Awarded two $1,500 college scholarships to graduating high school students
Hosted Belgian Rotary Youth Exchange Student Emilie Charlez.
2012-13
President: William Knuttinen
Four students awarded Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and sent to Camp RYLA.
Alicia Edwards named Local Hero.
Club received Presidential Citation.
2011-12
President: Wayne Barnard
Successful Rotay Auction raising $40,000, with four non-profit organizations receiving $9,000 each.
Hosted South African GSE Team (Rotary District 5520 sent a GSE team to South Africa, but a member of the
team from Silver City had to drop out due to business obligations.)
Four students awarded Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and sent to Camp RYLA
Successful participation in Gila Monster Challenge
2010-11
President: Christy Miller
Successful Charity Golf Tournament with proceeds going to local fire departments
Hosted Rotary Youth Exchange Program student Benjamin Snaafs from Finland
2009-10
President: Tony Macias
2008-9
President: Jim Callender
Successful Charity Auction which raised $5,000 each for six different non-profit organizations, plus $3,000 for the Polio
Plus program. The auction also produced side-benefits for some of the applicants who were not selected as beneficiaries
of the auction.
The annual Golf Scramble raised funds for El Refugio and the Humane Society.
Three Rotary college scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to graduating high school students.
An ambulance plus $2,000 were donated to support the Guatemala water project.
Three RYLA awards were made to high school students.
Presidents 2007-2008 and Before:
2007-2008 Phillip “Chris” Farren
2006-2007 Ray Davis
2005-2006 Kathy Eaton
2004-2005 James Edd Hughes
2003-2004 Laura Howell
2002-2003 Mark Erickson
2001-2002 Cynthia Bettison
2000-2001 Steve Maxwell
1999-2000 Lanny Olson
1998-1999 Dennis Hunter
1997-1998 Teri Gatton
1996-1997 Celia Foy Castillo
1995-1996 Kevin Thompson
1994-1995 Dan Tressler
1993-1994 Steve Jacobson
1992-1993 Laura Wygant
1991-1992 Robert Taylor
1990-1991 Don White
1989-1990 Richard “Dick” Rhoades
1988-1989 William “Bill” Harrison
1987-1988 Tom Turner
1986-1987 Librado Maldonado
1985-1986 G. Dean Martin, Librado Maldonado
1984-1985 John Butler
1983-1984 Bob Keil
1982-1983 Hilton Dickson
1981-1982 Murray Ryan
1980-1981 Earl Hathorn
1979-1980 Tom Lloyd
1978-1979 Ollie McCrary
1977-1978 Elton C. Smith
1976-1977 Bill W. Nichols
1975-1976 R.E. “Bob” West
1974-1975 William G. “Bill” Word
1973-1974 Fred A. Crawford
1972-1973 Ed Walkey
1971-1972 William J. “Bill” Colby
1970-1971 Tom Hilton
1969-1970 Richard C. “Dick” Johnson
1968-1969 Frank Woodruff
1967-1968 J.W. “Wes” Stebbins
1966-1967 Jess Bingaman
1965-1966 Sid Curtis
1964-1965 J. “Joe” Welsh
1963-1964 H.O. “Hubert” Robertson
1962-1963 B. “Blaine” Nolan, William D. “Dave” Reams
1961-1962 M.L. “Maurice” Parrish
1960-1961 N. “Newt” Glenn
1959-1960 C.L. “Chauncie” Snyder
1958-1959 J. “Jack” Saunders
1957-1958 C. “Clyde” Betts
1956-1957 David Holt
1955-1956 M.W. “Maurice” Davis
1954-1955 R.E. “Bon” Demming
1953-1954 Hank Romney
1952-1953 M.H. “Maurice” Conner
1951-1952 Art Gill
1950-1951 C. “Carl” Elayer
1949-1950 Nacho Galindo
1948-1949 C. “Clark” Doherty
1947-1948 J. “Joe” taylor
1946-1947 Ben Shantz
1945-1946 J.G. “John” Harlan
1944-1945 George Johnson
1943-1944 F.N. “Frank” Parrish
1942-1943 T.H. Schutte
1941-1942 Edwin E. Slover
1940-1941 Clyde Ely
1939-1940 Milton Stovall
1938-1939 H. James
1937-1938 Mel Porterfield
1936-1937 John O’Leary
1935-193 Ross Calvin
1934-1935 J.V. “Vernon” Glenn
1933-1934 J.H. “Jack” Amy
1932-1933 W.E. “Bill” Park
1931-1932 Seth Larson
1930-1931 N.D. “Nate” Frazin
1929-1930 R.S. “Ray” Sensanbaugher
1928-1929 P.H. “Harvey” Harsh
1927-1928 R.P. “Bob” Noble
1926-1927 A.O. “Dean” Bowden
1925-1926 W.R. “Bill” Warner, E.A. “Woody” Woodhull
1924-1925 W.S. “Billy” Cox
1923-1924 Earl Sprague, Dr. Earl “Pop” Bullock