Famous Rotarians
(...a Rotary Awareness Month article...)
Throughout the years, Rotary has attracted a number of famous Rotarians. In addition to our own ‘famed members’ (including past and present Governors, esteemed Judges, police commissioners and lawyers from Conyers) the following famous people have been Rotarians:
Admiral Richard E Byrd, the intrepid Arctic explorer was a member of the Rotary Club of Winchester, Virginia.
There were a number of US presidents, including Warren G Harding who was a member of Washington DC Rotary Club, Gerald R Ford, a member of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Honorary Members including Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Dwight E Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Harry S Truman and Wilson Woodrow. The question is though, did PP Gordon vote for any of them?
Founders of large stores including JC Penny, a member of Rotary Club New York, Charles R Walgreen Jnr, a member of Rotary Club of Chicago, Sam Walton who was a president of Rotary Club of Bentonville, Arkansas and Konosuke Matshushita who was president of Matshushita Electric Company was a member of Osaka; and of course, PP Woody.
Dr Charles H Mayo was a member of the Rotary Club of Rochester and Minnesota and my favorite Harlan Sanders, who belonged to many Rotary clubs but is, of course, best known as the Kentucky Colonel. Good thing Mayo was there to treat those who indulgenced in KFC!
Sir Harry Lauder, Vaudeville comedian was also a member of Rotary in Glasgow. For all of you who do not know, he was only slightly funnier than Nigel.
Aviation pioneer, Orville Wright was an active member of Rotary Club of Deaton Ohio. But really, who cares, we have Olsen.
Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless was an active member of Rotary Club of Bologna, Italy (if he were only around today, he could teach LIME what wireless was all about). And lets not forget our own Tony C’s mafia connection.
Rotarian Joyce C Hall, the founder of Hallmark cards was a member of Rotary Club of Kansas City. We thank Rotarian Hall for all those wonderful cards that bring joy to us on those occasions for which our Sergeant usually imposes fines!
Finally, the list of Honorary Rotarians also includes Sir Richard Hillary, Neil Armstrong, Thomas Edison and Walt Disney. This means that Rotary not only reaches to the top of the world, but all the way to the moon. We bring light to the world and every once in a while, we are just plain Goofy.