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*	78-79	Jim Mitchell	11-12	Ryan Sutton
46-47	Gene Ray*	79-80	Hank Marsh*	12-13	Steve Plume
47-48	Buck Sitton*	80-81	George Boggs	13-14	Bruce Miller
48-49	O.E. Tracy*	81-82	James Moore	14-15	Mary Sukuma
49-50	Claude Alexander*	82-83	Rick Landess	15-16	Mike Wacker
50-51	Vernon Fish*	83-84	Greg Scott	16-17	Ravi Saip
51-52	Mel French*	84-85	Jim Patterson	17-18	Larry Bradley
52-53	Bob Edmiston*	85-86	Dan Davis	18-19	Dave Jessen
53-54	Gene Harris	86-87	Bruce Norlie	19-20	Steve Heithecker
54-55	Don Phillips	87-88	Ray Meighan
55-56	Henry Morgue*	88-89	Rick Farley
56-57	Echo Lambert*	89-90	Walt Bender
57-58	Gene Rideout*	90-91	Roy Ellis
58-59	E.G. England*	91-92	Dar Meyer*
59-60	Stan Anderson	92-93	Al Lotspeich
60-61	Pat Murphy*	93-94	Bernie Hieptas
61-62	Del Birdseye*	94-95	Don Bowlby*
62-63	Fred Montgomery	95-96	Jim Pattersen
63-64	Briant Woolley	96-97	Norm Larson
64-65	Barry Bowen	97-98	Richard Hothem
65-66	Austin Tozier	98-99	Steve Greenwood
66-67	Jim Errington*	99-00	Dave Jessen
67-68	Jim Petersen	00-01	Don McNelis
68-69	Jim Edwards	01-02	Jen Liu
69-70	Bill Dempsey	02-03	Larry Bradley
70-71	Wayne Loveless*	03-04	Dave Mulqueeney
71-72	Bob Druley	04-05	Jane Ziad
72-73	Gilbert Moss	05-06	Bill Apger
73-74	Arley Howsden	06-07	Andy Farrar
74-75	Marvin Hasty	07-08	Daryle Polk
75-76	Jerry Walters	08-09	Glenn Pulliam
76-77	Garrett Starmer	09-10	Mike Crump
77-78	Bob Birdseye	10-11	Jim Kirks

"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 .