History at 50 - --History at 50 page 2 |
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DISTRICT AWARD
- D.D.MONROE
The D. D. Monroe Award is made annually by the District Governor to recognize the BEST Club in the District. While recognizing a Club as the best Club of the year, it also pays tribute to D. D. Monroe for his many contributions to Rotary.
D. D. Monroe, a native of Indiana, joined the Clayton, New Mexico Rotary Club in 1927. He was elected District Governor of old District 113 in 1940. The District included all of Colorado, a bit of New Mexico, the South West corner of Nebraska and eastern Wyoming. At the 1947 San Francisco International Convention, D. D. Monroe was elected to the Board of Directors of Rotary International.
Even though Clayton, New Mexico is no longer a part of District # 5470, the Award continues to be the most prestigious award at the District Conference.
ROY A. DAVIS
"FATHER"
ROTARY CLUB OF
NORTH COLORADO SPRINGS
Roy A. Davis was born in Greenburg Indiana, on September 29, 1987. He came to Colorado Springs in 1905 and founded an office machine business in 1909 which he operated until his retirement in 1948.
At age 33, Roy was elected Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives and ten years later, he was elected President pro-tem of the Colorado State Senate. When the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs was organized in 1916, he was one of 42 Charter Members. He served as President (1923-1924) District Governor (1926-1927), Editor of the Club's 50th Anniversary history and an Honorary Life Member of his Club (1972).
Roy
served on the Colorado State Board of Public Welfare for 30 years - seventeen years as Chairman of the Board. During World War II, he was chairman of a committee which promoted the sale of more than $50,000,000 worth of war bonds. For this service, he received a medal and citation from the Treasury Department of the United States.
Roy
also served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board; the Colorado Springs City Council; Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors of Sunnyrest Sanatorium Winter Nights and other civic organizations. By precept and Example, Roy lived the Rotary Motto: SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
THE BEGINNING
The Rotary Club of North Colorado Springs is the fulfillment of the dream of Lester R. Howard, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs and past president of the Rotary Club Colorado Springs. (Robert Howard, son of Lester was a member of the East Rotary Club for many years.)
In late August of 1954, Lester advised District Governor Harold R. Koster of the possibility of organizing a club in North Colorado Springs. Governor Harold wired Rotary International of the plan and designated past District Governor Roy A. Davis as his special representative.
On August 28, 1954 ten members of the Colorado Springs Club met with ten prospective members from North Colorado Springs and decided to proceed with the organization. On October 22, 1954, twenty-four prospective members met with a small group of Colorado Springs Rotarians and agreed unanimously to ask for a charter. At that meeting officers were elected and it was further agreed that applications for charter members would be held open until November 1, 1954. At that time thirty-three potential members had signed applications. Five of the Charter Members were former Rotarians of five different clubs.
On November 3, 1954 special representative Roy recommended the granting of a charter to North Colorado Springs. His recommendation was approved by Governor Harold and on November 22, 1954 the provisional club was officially admitted to membership in Rotary International and the charter was granted. The Charter was presented to the Rotary Club of North Colorado Springs December 15, 1954 at a Banquet held at the Broadmoor Hotel on the evening of December 15, 1954. All 33 members were present with their RotaryAnns, together with many fine Rotarians from other clubs in the District.
Past District Governor Roy A. Davis presided during the Program which included messages from Rev. Ben Lehmberg, then President of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs and Past District Governor, James H. McDonald. Bernard C. Vessey, Past District Governor, a member of the Parent Club, delighted those in attendance with his singing. The high light of the evening was the presentation of the Charter by District Governor Harold R. Koster. Wendell C. Spear, first president of the Rotary Club of North Colorado Springs, received a number of handsome gifts to the club from other clubs in what was then District 169. One unusual and unexpected gift was a goose, Myrtle, presented to Wendell from the Rotary Club of Wapakoneta, Ohio - Wendell's home town. Myrtle's brief role in the club was to encourage attendance. Members who were absent from meetings had to provide Myrtle care for the week. In time, Myrtle went the way of all geese.
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