World Polio Day-Rotarian's Survivor Story (D5910)

Join local Rotarians at an informative talk on World Polio Day to hear from Polio Survivor Wayne Staton. We'll learn about his childhood journey, living with the long term effects of the disease, and why he continues to support immunization initiatives championed by Rotary. Following the Q&A with our speaker, we will gather for a group picture and quick video to support our #StompOutPolio Challenge (stomping on red balloons to symbolize the end of polio). Donations towards the EndPolioNow campaign are appreciated but not required to attend the talk.  

What is Polio? 

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5.

Most know it as poliovirus. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine – one which Rotary and our partners use to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide.

Our program speaker will be Wayne Staton. Wayne was born in the Lynchburg, Virginia area in 1951 and lived there most of his life. He contracted polio at the age of 8 months. It left him with a weak right hip and leg.

He graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Physics with honors. After college, he started his career in computers and has worked in that field ever since.  Since 1999 he has worked at BMC Software, where he is a Lead Technical Support Analyst. 

In Virginia, he was a Briefing Leader for the Hunger Project and President of the Boonsboro Ruritan Club in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Here in Texas, he is active with Rotary International and Landmark Education. He is a past president of the Rotary Club of Sharpstown.

Wayne has 3 grown children and two grand-children. He is married to Gwen Corolla – his partner in Come Together Promotions – where we help YOUR plans come together, a fellow Rotarian and his partner in making the world a better place.

Wayne is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris Society member, a Polio Plus Society member, the Bequest Society and a Major Donor level 2. He has twice been his club Rotarian of the Year and once District 5890 Rotarian of the Year. In 2016 he was a recipient of the Rotary Foundation Regional Service Award for a Polio Free World. He is the past District 5890 Chair for Polio Plus and District 5890 Immunization Chair.

Questions? Contact Distirct 5910 Public Image Chair, Bunny Pratt at (979) 571-9826 or bunny@bcins.net.