PDG Bio - Sam Wilbanks
sam wilbanks
Sam "Woody" Wilbanks (Kim)
District 5190 Governor 2012-2013
R.I. President, Sakuji Tanaka
International Theme: “Peace Through Service”
Sam grew up in the urban setting of Southern California. He attended West LA College in Culver City where he played football before receiving a scholarship to play at Tulsa University in Oklahoma. He left football behind after his sophomore year to pursue a degree in Forestry, earning his Bachelor of Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1976.
After graduating, Sam started his career in Forestry with the USDA Forest Service on the Sequoia National Forest. For the next 32 years Sam served on various National Forests throughout Northern California. In 1983 he took two years off to obtain his Masters Degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis. Sam moved to his final assignment with the Forest Service at the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest in 1996, where he retired in 2008.
Sam joined the Rotary Club of Loyalton California in 1997 serving as President in 2001-2002. During that year the club was District 5190's Small Club of Excellence, earning a total of 6 district awards. He has served the District as Assistant Governor, Community Service Chair, and RYLA Co-Director. Sam is also on the District Training Cadre, assisting with assembly training and other district needs. He is a Major Donor, a member of the Paul Harris Society, and he is a Bequest Society member.
Sam and his wife, Kim, have been married since 1976. Kim has a K-12 teaching credential and is currently a substitute teacher. She is very active as a Rotary Partner and chaired District 5190’s Read by Nine Book Drive in 2008, helping to set a Guinness World record for book drives at the Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles. Kim is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Major Donor, and member of the Bequest Society.
Sam and Kim have had the pleasure of hosting six RYE students over the years. Daughters Viola, Emily, Maggie and Lucy are all Paul Harris Fellows. Maggie, a past President of the Interact Club at Portola HS went on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Belgium in 2010-2011.
In addition to Rotary, Sam serves as a Safety Officer on a National Interagency Incident Management Team that responds to large forest fires and other national disasters. He is involved locally with the Quincy Library Group. This grass roots organization promotes community economic stability and healthy fire resilient forests through responsible forest management. Sam has also coached youth sports for many years including softball, basketball, and volleyball.
District 5190 Governor 2012-2013
R.I. President, Sakuji Tanaka
International Theme: “Peace Through Service”
Sam grew up in the urban setting of Southern California. He attended West LA College in Culver City where he played football before receiving a scholarship to play at Tulsa University in Oklahoma. He left football behind after his sophomore year to pursue a degree in Forestry, earning his Bachelor of Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1976.
After graduating, Sam started his career in Forestry with the USDA Forest Service on the Sequoia National Forest. For the next 32 years Sam served on various National Forests throughout Northern California. In 1983 he took two years off to obtain his Masters Degree from Oregon State University in Corvallis. Sam moved to his final assignment with the Forest Service at the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest in 1996, where he retired in 2008.
Sam joined the Rotary Club of Loyalton California in 1997 serving as President in 2001-2002. During that year the club was District 5190's Small Club of Excellence, earning a total of 6 district awards. He has served the District as Assistant Governor, Community Service Chair, and RYLA Co-Director. Sam is also on the District Training Cadre, assisting with assembly training and other district needs. He is a Major Donor, a member of the Paul Harris Society, and he is a Bequest Society member.
Sam and his wife, Kim, have been married since 1976. Kim has a K-12 teaching credential and is currently a substitute teacher. She is very active as a Rotary Partner and chaired District 5190’s Read by Nine Book Drive in 2008, helping to set a Guinness World record for book drives at the Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles. Kim is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Major Donor, and member of the Bequest Society.
Sam and Kim have had the pleasure of hosting six RYE students over the years. Daughters Viola, Emily, Maggie and Lucy are all Paul Harris Fellows. Maggie, a past President of the Interact Club at Portola HS went on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Belgium in 2010-2011.
In addition to Rotary, Sam serves as a Safety Officer on a National Interagency Incident Management Team that responds to large forest fires and other national disasters. He is involved locally with the Quincy Library Group. This grass roots organization promotes community economic stability and healthy fire resilient forests through responsible forest management. Sam has also coached youth sports for many years including softball, basketball, and volleyball.