District 5060 (1991-present)
Past District Governors (* Deceased)
 
District Governor (2022-2023) - Karl Ruether (Denise)
 
Karl was born and raised in Germany and came to North America in 1986. He has three grown sons and is married to Denise. They live in Peshastin,  Washington.
Karl started his career in the Hospitality Industry with a Restaurant Apprenticeship in 1976 at the Sport Hotel, Droste, Germany. As is mandatory in Germany, the required Military Service came next followed by achieving the Serviermeister  (Master of Service) Certification in 1984.
 
In preparation for going to the US he worked as restaurant Manager in Southampton England after which Karl went to Cornell University in New York for the summer program. At the completion of this program he worked at one of the hotels at JFK airport, followed by moving to Tucson Arizona to open a new All Suite Property.
 
In 1987 Karl obtained the CFBE (Certified Food and Beverage Executive) designation.
From Tucson it was on to Portland Oregon and then Banff, Canada managing various types of hotels. From here it was San Bernardino California and then Leavenworth Washington’s Bavarian Village where being from Germany was not a pre-requisite, but it helped. Here he opened the Best Western Icicle Inn (1992) which is now known as the Icicle Village resort where he is the General Manager/Partner. In 1995 he obtained the CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator Designation) and after a successful career spanning 40 plus years and four countries, Karl retired from Hotel/Resort operations in December of 2019. Yippee I made it!
   
Along the way came various volunteer/appointed positions with Best Western International as a Regional Governor, a board position on the Washington State Hotel and Lodging Association board, serving as Chair in 2005-2006. Board member and President Leavenworth Lodging Association. Founding Board member Leavenworth Summer Theater serving here for over 10 years. A Rotarian since 1994 and member of the Leavenworth Rotary Club, President of this Club in 2000. (Presidential Citation Achieved). PDG Jim Adamson Senior was his mentor and friend. Jim sponsored Karl to join Rotary (Thank you Jim). Karl served as Board member of the Leavenworth Chamber of commerce twice, since 1992, and was Chamber Board President for three years.
In July of 2000 he was selected to serve a one-year term on the newly formed Washington State Tourism Advisory Committee.  He was the recipient of the ‘Outstanding General Manager of the Year Award’ from the Washington Lodging Association in 2005, as well as the ‘All Star Governor Award’ in 2003 from Best Western International. Karl accepted several Committee assignments in his role as a Best Western Governor that included the Chair of the Education and Training Advisory Committee, a few years back, and then Chairman of the Quality Assurance Advisory Committee (2015).
On July 1st, 2019, Karl was appointed Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 5060.
Fellow Rotarians, thank you for the confidence you have placed in me for this important role. I am really looking forward to meeting many if not all of you in this exciting continuation of my Rotary Journey. PDG Marvin Monroe used to say “Rotary is a Journey not a Destination” and it is an honor to serve in this role and work closely with many of you!
 
 
   District Governor 2020-2022 - Richard DeRock (Robin) 
[Note - Due to COVID pandemic, Richard is serving 2 terms]
 
Richard was born in Germany while his father served in the US Army. When his family moved to the US, they settled in Nebraska prior to relocating to Davis, California in 1969. While in High School, Richard obtained a certification as an Automotive Service Excellence Master Technician, the first 16-year old to achieve this certification. Richard attended the University of California at Davis (UCD), graduating with degrees in Geology and History.  While attending UCD, Richard took a part-time position with the University Transit System and progressed from a driver to the system Manager prior to graduating.
After graduation, Richard went to work as a Project Manager for a private transit contracting company, running transit systems in Union City, Eastern Contra Costa County, East San Diego County and Orange County California.  While he was managing the Orange County Transit service, he met his wife, Robin when she came to his office to complain about one of his drivers.  After his Orange County experience, Richard went to work for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority as a regional planner with responsibilities for specialized transportation (elderly and disabled transit) and air quality programs (alternative fuels projects).  During his time at the LAMTA, Richard married Robin and they had both of their two children, Alicia and Alex.
In 1990 Richard obtained the agreement of 66 local city governments and the County of Los Angeles to create a Countywide specialized transit agency. In January of 1991, Richard was hired as the first Executive Director of Access Services and led the agency for 11 years during which time it expanded to include some 2,300 employees and provided over 4 million passenger trips per year.  In 2000, Access Services was named the best transit operation in North America. 
In 2002, Richard and his family relocated to Wenatchee where he took the role of the General Manager/CEO of Link Transit, the public transit system for Chelan and Douglas Counties.  At the same time, Robin resumed her nursing career at the Wenatchee Valley Hospital.  With his relocation to Wenatchee, Richard joined the Wenatchee Rotary Club and began his Rotary career.  In 2003, Richard became the Youth Exchange Officer for the Wenatchee Club and served on the Board of the Wenatchee club for 6 years. In 2004, Robin served as a bus trip chaperon and joined Rotary and the District Youth Exchange Committee in 2005.  Richard joined the District Youth Exchange Committee at the same time and served on the committee for 11 years including 4 years as the Committee Chair.  Richard and Robin have been active host parents, hosting 17 exchange students over the past 15 years.  Both of their children were Youth Exchange Students.  Alicia went to Switzerland in 2005-2006 and Alex went to Turkey in 2009-2010.
 
Richard and Robin are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Bequest Society members and Richard is a Paul Harris Society Member. In 2016, Robin transferred to the Wenatchee Sunrise club due to changes in her job.  Soon after, Richard transferred to the Wenatchee North Rotary club (now Wenatchee Confluence) to serve as its 2017-18 President.  Richard continues in his role as the Link Transit CEO and has been very active in State and National transit associations and interfacing with both State and National legislators.  Both Richard and Robin look forward to their experience as Governor and Spouse to expand their Rotary friendships and Rotary service.   To Contact Richard:  1-509-885-8510  DerockRichard@gmail.com
 
2019-2020 - Dr. Peter Schultz  (Susan)
 
Peter grew up in Toronto before attending the University of Guelph, where he met his wife Susan who was from Vancouver. His professional career began as a Research Scientist with the U.S. Department of Energy (Brookhaven N.Y.), followed by a Faculty position at the University of Western Ontario as a Professor of Physics. His team’s research resulted in approximately 100 academic articles and dozens of invited presentations and consultancies around the world. In 1992-93 Peter was awarded one of only two University of Western Ontario Distinguished Research Scientist positions.
 
Following academic life Peter & Susan relocated their family to western Canada and created a holding company and restaurant business, both of which they ran for 20 years until selling in 2015. Currently Peter remains active as a Research Advisor to a BC Tech startup Metabolic Insights Inc developing highly sensitive saliva-testing technology for insulin and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.   In addition to private enterprise, Peter devoted considerable time & energy to various community associations and projects, including the Downtown Kelowna Association (board member & President), various benefit events, and civic committees for the Planning and Transportation departments of Kelowna’s municipal government.
 
Peter joined the Kelowna Ogopogo Rotary Club in1997, and after a leave for a few years rejoined the Rotary Club of Kelowna in 2009, and finally the Rotary Now! Kelowna Club in 2020 as the founding charter member. He has served as Club President in 2012-13, Administrative Assistant Governor 2014-17, chair of the Rotary Leadership Institute 2014-17, editor of the District Directory, content webmaster for the District 2014-16, PETS Facilitator 2016-18, District Awards Chair 2014-15, Zone Institute trainer (2016 for “Rotary Now” and 2020 for the D.G. Class) and Chair for the 2017 District Conference in Kelowna. He is a strong supporter of the Rotary Foundation, contributing regularly as a Paul Harris Society member, Bequest Society and Major Donor.
 
Peter & Susan have 4 amazing children and have enjoyed many adventures together both traveling and living in different parts of the world.
 
2018-2019 - Sherry Chamberlain (Jim)
 
Rotary Club of Kamloops West since 1999, Past President 2007-2008 and ADG 2009-2011
Sherry was born in Hamilton Ontario and grew up in the lower mainland of British Columbia graduating at Vancouver Langara College with a graphic design and marketing diploma.
 
Sherry and her husband Jim have no children but many nieces and nephews in the Lower mainland to share in family values. Sherry has spent most of her career life in advertising and marketing owning a successful advertising/graphics business before moving to Kamloops in 1998. They married in 1998 and a year later Sherry changed her career to sales in the security field. Sherry has worked for Chubb Edwards Security since 2000 attaining the President’s Club five years in a row. Jim is a manager for a large Canadian Corporation.  They are avid golfers, travellers, love good wine and can be seen motorcycling.
Sherry and Jim first volunteered with Crime Stoppers as directors, Sherry in Vancouver and both quickly joined Kamloops and District Crime Stoppers to later become presidents.
In 2001 after attending her second Rotary district conference she became aware of the many opportunities to serve internationally and went on her first international project with the Guatemala Textbook Project Team, being the first Canadian to do so. From this experience, her passion leads her on other projects in Thailand known as the Children of the Golden Triangle initiative and went back 7 more times to help. Other projects were accomplished in Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, and Nicaragua. Both Thailand and Brazil have been featured in The Rotarian and the Rotary Video Magazine.
Sherry has completed the RLI, RIC and VISION programs and has been a facilitator for all including PETS. Sherry and Jim have hosted five exchange students plus a GSE team leader. They have welcomed visiting Rotarians through the Rotary Home Hosting Fellowship. She has received Rotarian of the Year in her club twice, a District Foundation Award and is a Bequest/Paul Harris Society Member and became a Major Foundation Donor. Sherry currently volunteers as a Zone 24 Rotarian Action Group for Peace membership director and hopes more members will join forces for the good of Rotary and for world peace goals.
 
 2017-2018 - Bill Jenkin (Lisa)
 
Bill was born and raised in the San Diego area. He received his degree in Business Management from the University of Redlands. He has a daughter, son-in-law, two grandsons and two step sons. He was an agent for Farmers Insurance for twenty years. Bill also owned a small winery in Ramona CA.
In 2007, he relocated by himself to Prosser WA. He began his career with Edward Jones Investments and founded Prosser Vineyard and Winery. He met his wife Lisa while playing coed softball. She is an elementary school teacher.
Bill joined Rotary in 2000. He was club President in 2006-2007 and was Rotarian of the Year for the Ramona, CA Club. He was District 5340’s SAA and graduated from the District’s RLI basic and masrers program.
When he relocated to District 5060 he worked with several Past District Governors by starting the District’s Paul Harris Society and Rotarian at Work Day programs.
He has been an AG for nearly 6 years and also was the District Membership Chair. He was named the Prosser Rotarian of the Year and is the club President. He is a Major Donor, Paul Harris Society  and Bequest Society member and was awarded the Rotary
Foundation District Service Award.
Bill enjoys community service and is an elected School Board member. Lisa and Bill enjoy traveling and enjoyed visiting all our clubs in 2017-2018.
 
2016-2017 - Vern Nielsen * (Willy Burgess)
 
Vern was born in Dawson Creek, BC and grew up in Alberta receiving his Bachelor of Commerce from University of Calgary and did graduate studies at University of British Columbia. He has been a senior executive and entrepreneur in packaged goods, real estate, high tech and numerous other industries. His experience spans roles at General Foods to being CEO of multiple successful ventures. He was owner of one of the largest Food Brokerage businesses in western Canada and has done business in Canada, USA, Europe and Asia. Moving to Kelowna from New York where he was Executive Vice President of a segment leading packaged goods firm he became very involved in the Okanagan Technology community.
 
Vern has been a Director of several companies and not for profit organizations including Crime Stoppers, Okanagan Capital Fund, East Meets West Orphanage Foundation, Okanagan College Foundation.
He has won numerous awards for his involvement in both business and not for profit organizations including “Okanagan Science and Technology Community Leadership Award 2009”, and the Fred Macklin Memorial award “Kelowna’s Man of the Year 2010”.
 
During his years in Rotary he has served on several committees and projects including; Rotary Pro-Am Golf tournament, Pleasantvale Homes Society, KSS Young Parents Center, founder of Rotary Ski to Tee and Rotary/Snowbirds Air Show, and wrote a monthly Rotary column for local newspaper.
Vern visited several Rotary projects in India during his 2007 Rotary trip and including the Amreli Dam project. In 2010-11 he was President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna and received a Rotary International Significant Achievement Award. He has been the District Friendship Chair for two years and Assistant Governor in Area 4 for two years. In 2013 he received the Rotary International Avenues of Service Citation.
 
He was an RLI instructor, a Visioning facilitator, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a Bequest Society member of the Club Foundation. Vern was an avid skier, boater, motorcycle enthusiast, hiker, and golfer who has three adult children and a very recent first grand-daughter!
 
2015-2016 Greg Luring (Jan)
 
Greg and his wife Jan grew up in small towns in Ohio.  They met at Ohio State University, and are the proud parents of two adult daughters, Kimberly and Megan.  After serving for 13 years in the U. S. Navy as a Supply Corps Office with the Submarine force, they became McDonald’s franchisees in Yakima WA.
 
Greg graduated from Ohio State University 1967 and he was also commissioned as an Ensign in the U. S. Navy.  The same week as graduation, he married the former Jan Dillion of Plain City Ohio.  They left Ohio as newlyweds bound for their first duty station in Athens, Georgia and never lived in Ohio again.
 
He graduated from the U. S. Navy Supply Corps School In Athens, GA and was selected to serve in nuclear submarines and graduated from the U. S. Navy Submarine School in New London, Connecticut.  While serving in the USS Casimir Pulaski (SSBN 633), from 1968 to 1972, he earned his coveted gold dolphins, signifying he was qualified in Nuclear Submarines.
 
After serving at various other support commands, he finished up his 13 year Navy career at the U. S. Navy Trident Submarine Refit Facility in Bangor, Washington.  He was a Lieutenant Commander when he resigned his commission, in 1980.
 
Greg and Jan applied and were accepted in the McDonald's Restaurant Franchisee training program.   While still in the Navy, he worked nights and weekends for two years learning every facet of the McDonald's business. They were awarded their first McDonald's in Yakima, WA.  During their 34 years with McDonald's they have grown to 13 restaurants and continue to be very active in the community.   Greg and Jan recently received the prestigious Ted Robertson Community Service Award.  Greg has served in leadership positions in McDonald's owner/operator associations and boards.  Their McDonald’s continue to lead their five state region in sales growth, innovation and personnel   development.  They were honored when the President of McDonald's USA came to visit their organization in Yakima.
Greg has been a Rotarian for 34 years and Jan has been a Rotarian for 28 years.  Greg is the Founder and a past President of the Yakima Rotary Trust, which has grown to $20 million.  As President of the Yakima Rotary Club he increased membership by a net gain of 22 members.
 
2014-2015 Bruce Falkins (Donna)
 
Bruce was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. and attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, completing his degree in Business Management. With Bruce’s passion for sales and marketing it took him to several Multi-National Corporations, including Chevron Canada, Laidlaw Waste Systems and Ecolab (a chemical company), where he accepted a position as Territory Manager, which eventually brought him to the Okanagan Valley. Starting their own business had always been Bruce and Donna’s dream and in 1998 this dream came true when they founded Falkins Advertising (a promotional product business). Bruce has been very active in this industry including sitting on the board of directors for the Promotional Products Association of Canada.
          
Bruce joined the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise in 1998, holding many positions at club level, including, Fellowship, Membership, Youth Exchange, and Ways and Means chairs. He then served as President in Rotary’s Centennial year 2004-2005.  In 2009 Bruce was presented with the District Foundation Service Award for outstanding service in promoting The Rotary Foundation through the Paul Harris Society. He was also Public relations Chair for the District in 2009-2010, before assuming the Assistant Governor position in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Bruce is also proud to be one of the original facilitators for the RLI course in the District and has continued to participate in all sessions to date. Bruce is also one of the original “Visioning” facilitators in the District.
 
Donna has stalwartly supported Bruce in business as well as in the community. She has served her pet project the Heart and Stroke Foundation for many years including chair for the Ladner South Delta area. Bruce and Donna are both multiple Paul Harris Fellows and Bequest Society members. Outside of Rotary Bruce enjoys reading, gardening travelling and attempting to play golf. Donna and Bruce are very proud of their two grown children, and their two young grandchildren. 
 
2013-2014 Darrell Blue (Peg)
 
Darrell Blue was born in Decatur, Illinois and raised in that state.  He graduated from the University of Illinois with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Journalism and Communications.  His more than 50-year career in television broadcasting began while a student at the University.  In the early years, he produced and directed programs for stations in Illinois.  For more than 20 years he was the operations manager of a TV station in Champaign, Illinois.  In addition to management responsibilities, he produced and directed college basketball telecasts.  During those years, he also taught part-time as an Assistant Professor of Communications at the University of Illinois and an instructor at Illinois State University.  After leaving Illinois, he worked for three years as station manager of a TV station ion Spokane, Washington, and concluded his career as Vice President and General Manager of two television stations in Yakima and Kennewick, Washington, retiring in 2009.
 
Darrell's hobbies include genealogy, reading and serving on various community boards.  He has been a Member of the Yakima, WA Rotary club since 1987 and served three years as Assistant Governor for Area 8 of District 5060.  During his years in Rotary, he has served the Yakima Rotary club as chair of a number of key committees, including Program, Membership, Foundation, Public Relations and more.  Darrell was President of the club in 2003-2004.  The Yakima Rotary club is the largest and oldest club in the District.  It was founded in 1919 and currently has more than 300 members. Darrell was the district representative to the Rotary International Council on Legislation in 2019.  He was awarded the Harold Henderson Award by the district in 2020.
 
Peg has a PhD in Educational Psychology and has worked as a mental health counselor, psychologist and finally as a professor and chair of the graduate program in Counseling at Heritage University in Yakima County.  She retired from Heritage in 2002.  For several years she served on the board of Humanities Washington.  In retirement she enjoys reading, gardening, and painting.
 
Both are Paul Harris Fellows and Foundation Benefactors.  They have served in many local, state and national professional and civic organizations.  They are the parents of four and grandparents of six.
 
2012-2013 Doug Everett (Jacquie)
 
Doug was born and educated in Vancouver BC.  He graduated from UBC with a BPE and after graduation moved in 1969 to Blind Bay BC with two kids and currently they reside in the same home.  Doug received his masters from UVIC in Educational Psychology (1983).  He began his high-school teaching, counseling and coaching career in Chase and once he entered administration he commuted to work in Kamloops gradually returning to Chase in 1995 initially as a vice-principal and eventually becoming the principal in 1998.  During his career, Doug coached football, basketball and track while sponsoring student CounterAttack programs for all the Kamloops secondary schools.  He became the chairman of the board of the provincial organization called CounterAttack and RoadSense (CARS.BC).  Married for 47 years, Doug and Jacquie have continually lived in Blind Bay on Shuswap Lake.  They have raised two adult childrena and are enjoying four very busy grandsons aged 7 to 13 years old and recently re-connected with their 18 year old grand daughter.
 
Jacquie has been a consultant with Mary Kay and has donated many volunteer hours as chairperson of the Miss Chase Excellence Program (24 years), chairman of the Terry Fox Run (26 years) and as a volunteer with the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
 
During retirement, Doug assumed the position of president of the Chase Chamber of Commerce and helped re-establish the Chamber as a viable entity in Chase.  Doug entered Rotary in 2000 and became the secretary for four years and then president of the Chase Rotary Club during 2005-2006.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow and just completed his three year tenure (2007-2010) as the Area 2 assistant governor for District 5060.
 
2011-2012  Garry Hollingshead (Marion)
 
Garry was born in Calgary, AB, raised in Edmonton, and attended Canadian Services Colleges Royal Roads, Royal Military College, the University Alberta, and Queens University, Kingston, ON, where he obtained a PhD in civil engineering.
 
Following graduation from RMC Garry served four years with the Royal Canadian Engineers and, later, seven years on staff at RMC. During the subsequent 30 years in consulting throughout western and northern Canada his projects were concerned with structural foundations, terrain stability, permafrost, and river engineering.
 
Garry joined Rotary in Yellowknife, NT (D536) in 1988 and served as program chair and club secretary.  Relocation south took him to Prince George-Nechako RC (5040) for four years and ultimately Summeland RC in 1999. Since becoming a member of the Summerland club, Garry has served as Secretary, Director, and President (2002/03). He has served the District three years as AG for Area 5, Chair of WCS and Rotary Service, and as the DG’s Special Representative for formation of the West Kelowna Daybreak club. In
2002 Garry initiated a WCS program to build Rainwater Harvesting Tanks in the Rift valley which now has 50,000 beneficiary women and children. In 2006 Garry received the Rotary Foundation District Service Award.  June 2010 found him in Venezuela as a non-medical volunteer with Rotaplast. Garry and Marion are both multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Bequest Society members and Major Donors.
 
Beyond Rotary, Garry and Marion are active in their community and church and enjoy travel. They are very proud of their three adult children and three granddaughters.  Garry enjoys golf, reading, guitar and organ while Marion takes pleasure in reading, quilting and loves to play her harp.
 
2010-2011  David Stambaugh (Jan)
 
David was raised in Bremerton, WA and graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1964. He became a Naval Aviator with three tours in Vietnam. After leaving the Navy, he joined SAFECO Insurance Company. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). David (now retired) was the Vice President of Operations at SAFECO before becoming an independent management consultant. He formed Stambaugh Associates in 1989 to help companies completely restructure their business processes.
 
He joined the University Sunrise Rotary in 1982 where he served as chair of several committees. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Redmond Rousers and was president in 1991-92. A club goal was to win every award offered to a club of their size at the District 5030 Conference and they did. He joined the Ellensburg Rotary and has been a board member, an area foundation coordinator, assistant governor, district trainer and helped start RLI in District 5060. A Rotary highlight was a Rotaplast mission to China. Jan was also a vice president at SAFECO, is a CPCU and is very active in the National Association of Insurance Women. She has been an association Regional Vice President and continues to train incoming presidents at their  regional and international conferences. David was named King County United Way volunteer of the year and is presently the Board Chair of HopeSource, a Community Action Council that provides the needy with energy assistance, weatherization, transportation, emergency shelter, transitional housing, low income housing, rent assistance, and oversees the food banks. Dave serves on the Yakima Junior Achievement of Washington Board.
 
David and Jan have three children and eight grand children.  David is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Bequest Society and a level three Major Donor. Jan is a Paul Harris Fellow.
 
2009-2010  Wayne Rimple (Karen)
 
Wayne was born in Portland, OR, raised in Lynnwood, WA, schooled at Edmonds, WA and Washington State University (WSU) where he met his wife, Karen (Holm). Married for 43 years, Wayne and Karen have two married sons and five grandsons. Wayne is the owner/general manager of Moses Lake Steel Supply. Opened in 1972, his Company covers the upper Columbia Basin for steel and fastener needs. Very civic oriented, Wayne has had the privilege to serve his community in various capacities including mayor and councilman of the City of Moses Lake, City planning commission, County economic development council, County review board, and the local seniors' center. He is a Past Master of Moses Lake Masonic Lodge. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves as an Infantry Drill Sergeant. Karen's volunteer work in the community is highly commended by all. Wayne joined Rotary in 1982 and has held all positions at the club level, serving as President in 2002-03, President of the Board of Directors in 2005-06 and as Assistant Governor from 2003-04 to 2006-07. During his "Service Above Self' years, he was District Conference Chair in 1999-00 and was appointed 2005-06 Zone 23 Coordinator for the Public Relations Information Group. He is currently serving as chair of the Moses Lake Scholarship Foundation. Both Karen and Wayne are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors of The Rotary Foundation, and Foundation Benefactors. They are also great supporters the local Rotary Club's Foundation and Scholarship programs.
 
2008-2009  Roger Perry (Judith)
 
Roger is a retired Real Estate Appraiser and has lived in Vernon and the Okanagan for the past 19 years.
He joined Rotary in 1992 and was a club president in 1999/2000, Assistant Governor for Area 3 from 2002104, District Rotary Foundation Chair from 2004-2007, Area 3 Foundation Coordinator, District Governor Nominee 2006-2007 and District Governor Elect 2007-2008.
Roger and Judith both grew up on small farms in Southern Saskatchewan and have lived all their lives in Western Canada.  They have three children and six grandchildren. Judith is also a retired Real Estate Appraiser.
Hobbies and past activities have included mountain climbing, hiking, adventure trekking, skiing, motorbike touring and more sedate things like reading, travelling and grandchildren.
 
2007-2008  Corwin King (Marianne)
Corwin was a professor of communication at Central Washington University and chair of the Communication Department. He retired in 2009 but continues to teach part-time in a graduate program sponsored by the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences and Heritage University.
In 2002, he was named a Distinguished University Professor at Central in recognition of his public service work. He joined Rotary in 1978, was club president in 1998-1999, and served as Assistant Governor for Area 8, from 2000 to 2003. Following his year as District Governor, he was a trainer for the Zone Institute Governor Nominees Advanced Training Seminar in Edmonton, AB. He also served as the District Public Image chair, a trainer for the District's Club Visioning Program, and a district representative to Board of the Pacific Northwest Presidents Elect Training Seminar.  
He's a third-generation Rotarian. Both his father and grandfather were members of the Yakima Club.  Marianne comes from a Rotary family as well. Her father, Elwood (Woody) Miller of Yakima, was Governor of our old District 506 in 1973-1974. Educated as a junior high school social studies teacher, Marianne spent 20 years as a preschool teacher in Ellensburg. Marianne and Corwin have been married for 52 years (in 2018) and have three children and five (wonderful) grandchild. They're both Paul Harris Fellows and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation. They're active in their church and community, and especially enjoy traveling.
 
2006-2007  Jeff Den Biesen (Willy)
 
A retired Community Newspaper Publisher, Jeff den Biesen joined Rotary in 1993 in Salmon Arm. He joined PDG Ken Arthurs as district secretary and administrative assistant when Ken formulated his team for his 1996-97 Governorship. In 1998 Jeff joined the Board of Directors of his Rotary Club as president-elect and served as president in 1998-1999. Following his term of office he took on the secretary job for his club and in 2002 was appointed Assistant Governor for Area 2.
 
Jeff is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor and has twice received the
Four Avenues of Service Award for his work on behalf of Rotary. In 1959 Jeff married Willy. The couple have four children and five grandchildren of whom they are very proud. They both had successful businesses and enjoy participating in community affairs that provides them with the opportunity to "Lend a Hand."
 
2005-2006  James N. (Jim) Adamson (Carol)
 
Jim retired in 2003 from 30 years in public education as a teacher, coach, and school counselor.  For the past 11 years he has worked part-time as a training consultant for disadvantaged youth and dislocated workers at SkillSource   Jim was also an adjunct professor for the Masters of Education/Counseling program at Heritage College for three years. Professionally, Jim has served on various state and local committees and advisory boards.  He has B.S. and B.A. degrees from WSU, and a M.Ed. degree from EWU.
 
Jim is a member of the Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club.  He served as club president in 1994-95, and Rotary International District Governor in 2005-06.  He was a GSE team leader to England, started the online Rotary Information Course, served 4 years on the PETS Operations Committee, and has been a Membership Matters trainer, RLI facilitator, and District Trainer.  Jim and his wife are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, and TRF Bequest Society members.
 
Jim and Carol have two married children and six grandchildren.  They enjoy family more than anything else, and have fun with their grandkids.  They like to travel, and enjoy recreational activities like walking, biking, kayaking, and playing golf. They are active in the Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church, and have served in various leadership positions and on committees.
 
2004-2005  Derek Bottomley* (Joan)
 
Derek was born on October 15, 1933 in Auldershot and raised in Torpoint, Cornwall, England.  After grammar school, Derek began working in a bank before his two years of service in the British Air Force which took him to Hong Kong.  His return to banking brought him to Kingsbridge, Devon where he met his future wife, Joan.  Opportunity to join The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce brought him and his new bride to British Columbia.  Derek quickly became a branch manager and worked at the CIBC for 34 years.  Settling in Vancouver where Joan and Derek raised their family of 3 boys and a girl.  He was an avid sailor in Vancouver but his landlubbing wife had them trading in the family home for a 36 foot land yacht and they became Snowbirds for 4 years before eventually retiring to Kelowna in 1999.
Derek has been active in Rotary since 1968, served as President of the Arbutus Rotary Club in 1990-91 and District 5060 Governor in Rotary’s Centennial Year 2004-2005.  He enjoyed the journey of his life, 56 years of marriage, family, travel, love, music and ‘Service Above Self’.  Derek’s earthly journey came to an end on March 31, 2015.
 
2003-2004  Don Moen * (Kathryn)
 
Donald G. (Don) Moen was born in Yakima, Washington on October 19, 1931 died on March 24, 2017 in Yakima, WA at age 85.
He graduated from Yakima High School in 1950, and then from Washington State College in 1954 with a degree in Business (Construction Management). After college, he served in the Army for two years and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany as a member of the Counter Intelligence Corps. Though he met his future wife, Kathryn (Kathy), in Yakima, the two were married in Germany and spent their first years of marriage there in a small poorly heated flat.
After discharge from the service, he joined his father at GH Moen Construction Company. When his father retired, he took over ownership of the company, and propelled it to new levels of success. He was the general contractor for many important buildings in Yakima and around the state of Washington, including the Museum of Flight in Seattle, the State Supreme Court building in Olympia, the Washington State University hospital, and over twenty-five buildings on the Central Washington University campus including the award-winning psychology building.
Yakima buildings of note include the SunDome, Children’s Village, eleven buildings on the Yakima Valley Community College campus, and important renovations of the William O. Douglas Federal Building, Capitol Theatre, Davis High School and Yakima Valley Museum. He had a unique ability to build loyalty with both his employees and his clients, and repeat business was common.
Don was also actively engaged in the community, serving many years in Rotary, including a stint as Governor of District 5060 in 2003-2004. He served as an advisory board member and/or officer of the Red Cross, United Way, YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, and Yakima School Foundation. Other business associations included the Association of General Contractors, Yakima Construction Federation, Yakima Chamber of Commerce, Carpenters Apprenticeship, and the Yakima Skill Center. He also served on the construction management advisory board for both WSU and CWU.
His time in Germany sparked a lifelong love of travel, starting with weekend sojourns around Europe with his wife, a car, and a pup-tent. Back in Washington, this involved frequent camping trips with his family before upgrading to an Airstream. As the kids grew older, there were yearly backpacking trips along the Pacific Crest Trail with family and friends. His love of travel inspired him to take many international trips, most with the whole family, and some with grandchildren. Ultimately, he embarked on nearly a hundred trips, visiting dozens of countries over five continents.
He was an avid and talented photographer, and entered photographs in the Central Washington State fair nearly every year, earning many awards. A lifelong learner, he loved to read, and enjoyed playing bridge with friends and other games with family. He took pride in teaching and playing cribbage with each of his children and grandchildren. He was a lifelong member of Central Lutheran Church, active in church leadership, and enjoyed singing in the choir up until last year.
Don and Kathy had four children, Michael, Stephan, Sandi Culver, and Daniel
 
   2002-2003  Ken Davis (Liz) 
Rotary reaches each of us in so many different ways... we cherish the fellowship, the opportunities to serve, it is wonderful to share eager, positive response from Rotarians, as we all move forth in Rotary service!
Ken Davis born in 1930, in Melfort Saskatchewan, moved to the Fraser Valley in 1944, to a small farm, after grade 12, began working as an apprentice printer at the Agassiz Advance. Following our 1948 Fraser River Flood, cleaned up the print shop, and soon learned how the Linotype worked and produced hot lead.  Moved to work at the Whitehorse Star in 1950, where I met my wife Liz, we enjoyed the Yukon, moved back to the Fraser Valley, we launched our first newspaper, in 1952 in Whalley called the Whalley Herald.   It was easy to start, just go and buy a business license, and find a desk.  Our second paper in 1956 was the Chilliwack Advertiser, by this time we are married, with one daughter, Susan.   That rolled successfully, until 1964.  In 1966 bought a small share in CHWK radio and began the Radio career, working in Chilliwack with a brief stint in Estevan  moving to Penticton as major owner of Okanagan Radio, with 5 radio stations, both AM and FM, one in Yellowknife, the family is now 3 , Susan in Radio, Bill at UBC and Mike going to school….. Liz now chairman of Okanagan Symphony, and doing accounting at the Station, I’m now President of the Penticton Chamber, doing Boy Scouts, was involved in Kinsmen, a City of Penticton alderman, back in Rotary, joined in 1956 in Chilliwack.  Liz and I sold Okanagan Radio in 1990, a year later purchased Okanagan Boat charters, that ended up operating the Casabella Princess a 48 passenger paddle wheeler, about 12 houseboats on Okanagan Lake, 3 sailboats; and marine shop and more… this was really busy, selling that in 2005 at 75 to fully retire. In 2002 became District Governor of Rotary, which was very very exciting, and busy, with 60 clubs  and close to 3000 members, Liz was very busy she visited 5 continents that year, including a trip to Bolivia with the Rotary Rotoplast team to Cochabanba. We’re  in constant contact with our 5 grandchildren and one Great grandchild, plus playing bridge, at our cottage on Okanagan Lake, Liz in the garden, I push the lawn mower….. We’ll celebrate our 65 anniversary in 2018.  Rotary has been wonderful for us....Ken
 
    2001-2002  Joyce Stewart*  
Joyce C. Stewart began her life on August 21, 1938. in St. Ignatius, MT., and died on April 9, 2009.  Joyce grew up in Kelso, WA, attending Kelso schools and graduating high school from St. Mary's boarding school in Toledo, WA. She received two Masters Degrees, one from Fort Wright in Spokane and one from City University, Seattle.
Joyce's professional career involved teaching junior high in Los Angeles, Havre, Montana and Seattle. She was Principal of the International Catholic School in Rome, Italy, and spent 13 years working in church parishes in the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle.
In 1986, Joyce accepted a job on the "east side" of the mountains as City Administrator of Chelan, WA and later was elected Mayor of Chelan. Joyce's true love was always teaching. While still working for Chelan, she taught part-time at Wenatchee Valley College.
She was Chelan's first woman Rotarian, President and District 5060 Governor. Joyce valued her membership in Rotary and continued her active membership until her illness prevented her from attending meetings and events.
She maintained her connection and interest with her club via their newsletters, which she read faithfully. Throughout her life, Joyce's family always came first, she was the third parent to her younger five sisters and brothers. Joyce was co-owner of Wood and Things Furniture. During her last two careers, Joyce worked as Deputy Director of the Port of Chelan County, overseeing construction of the Community Technology Center and up until the spring of 2007, she worked for Lake Chelan Community Hospital, as special projects coordinator.
She died in 2009 after several months of treatment for cancer.    (Obituary)
 
   2000-2001  Marvin Munro (Sheran)
Marvin was born May 24, 1940 in Lethbridge, AB. He graduated from high school in Salmon Arm, BC and attended UBC. He started his Chartered Accountancy career in Kamloops, BC in 1960, working for Morgan French, CA who would become Governor of District 5060 in 1970. Marvin graduated in 1965 and has been in public practice since then. He has served on his Professional Association governing body and several provincial committees. He has served as a Director for several public companies, the local hospital board and University Foundation.
Marvin joined the Rotary Club of Kamloops in 1974 and became President in 1980. In 1999, Marvin and his wife Sheran journeyed to the RI Convention in Singapore where he was elected to serve D5060 as Governor for the 2000/01 year. His theme was "Rotary is a Journey, not a Destination."
Since then he has served Rotary International as a Presidents Representative, on Presidential and Zone Institutes, Past Officers Reunion and Pacific NW PETS.
Marvin and Sheran are TRF Major Donors and he is a Rotary Benefactor. They have 3 daughters, 3 granddaughters and 5 great grandsons.
 
1999-2000  Pete Erickson (Melinda) 
Retiring after 30 years in the public-school system, Pete continued to manage Triple “E” Orchards until it was sold in 2003. He recently retired as the Director of the satellite campus for Heritage University in Moses Lake, Washington, a small private not for profit university whose mission is to provide accessible quality higher education to multicultural populations that are educationally isolated. This retirement completes a 50-year career in education. 
An active community member, he has been recognized for his many years of service to the Volunteer Fire Department, The Sister City Organization and the Moses Lake Rotary Scholarship Foundation. His service continued at the state level serving 14 years as a Director of the state Middle Level Principals Association. Additionally, he has served as a director for the state chapter of Ducks Unlimited. 
A Rotarian since 1980 he has served on a variety of club and district committees and was selected to serve as District Governor in 1999/2000. Following his year as Governor he has served Rotary as a Major gifts Advisor, Program Chair for the Portland Institute, a four-year term on Northwest PETS committee, and was selected to serve as the district representative to the Council on Legislation in 2004, 2007 and 2010. 2012 completed his four-year term on the executive committee of Pacific Northwest PETS and he chaired the event in 2011.
The Rotary Foundation has recognized him with both the Meritorious Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award. In 2014 RI recognized him with the highest honor by presenting him with the Service above Self award. 
A dedicated family man he was married for 55 years. He has one daughter and two grand children. Committed to the mission of the Rotary Foundation he and his entire family are Paul Harris Fellows and he and Melinda are Major Donors and Bequest Society members. The family established an endowed fund in memory of Melinda that will provide a peace seminar each year at Upsala University in Sweden.
 
   1998-1999  Dr. Warren Cunningham *
Dr. Warren Cunningham was born in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and received his undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia.  He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia School of Medicine from which he received his Dr. of Medicine in 1958. 
 
Warren was a member of the Rotary Club of Vernon and served as its president in 1987-1988.  He was District Governor of District 5060 in 1998-1999.  He was very active in the District serving as Chair of the Foundation Committee from 1991-1993.  He was also a team leader for a G.S.E. team to the Netherlands in 1987.  From 1989 to 1991 he served as chair of the District G.S.E committee.  Following his retirement, he was a member of the Kelowna Okanagan-Mission Rotary Club.
 
 
  1997-1998  Hank Heffernan
 

Henry Heffernan is known to all his friends as “Hank”, or sometimes “Dr. Hank.”  He graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia in 1962, a career he pursued for the next 40 years. 

Hank was born in rural, upstate New York in 1932., where he, his two sisters and two brothers were raised on a dairy farm.   

After graduating from high school in 1949 he attended the State University of New York for two years before being drafted into the army.  Following military service, he enrolled at the University of Georgia in pre-veterinary medicine.  After two years in that program he continued on to get his DVM degree in 1962 from the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

Hank had previously met his wife Ellie in 1955 and they were married in 1957.  While in college at Athens, Georgia, the first of their three daughters was born.  The other two were born in Washington and Oregon.   Following graduation, he held a couple of short-terms positions in Veterinary Medicine before opening his own practice in Yakima, Washington in 1964. 

 

Hank was a charter member of the Yakima Southwest Rotary club in 1969, and District Governor in 1997-1998.  During his year as Governor, he established the position of Assistant Governor in our district for the first time.  Early in 2019, Southwest Rotary celebrated its 50th birthday and honored Hank as the only Charter member still active in Rotary.  

After the death of his wife Ellie, he met Lois Betzing while both were committee members of the Mollie Monroe Davis Scholarship program of the Yakima Rotary Trust.  They have been partners since that time. Both enjoy Rotary volunteer work and travel.

 
1996-1997  Ken Arthurs*
Ken Arthurs was born “Kenneth Ernest Joseph Arthurs” in 1934 in Montreal, Quebec.  As he was growing up he lived in Ontario and then moved to Calgary, Alberta where he met and married Lenora (Lenny) Kavalinas.  They then moved back to Ontario where they opened a Canadian Tire franchise.  In 1979 the couple moved to Salmon Arm where he worked in mobile home sales before opening Ken’s Office Supply. 
As a longtime member of the Salmon Arm Rotary Club he joined many fellow Rotarians in supporting the Southern Interior Rotary Lodge associated with the B.C. Cancer Agency in Kelowna.  This $1 million project was the hi-lite of his many community achievements. 
 
Serving as District Governor in 1996-1997 he and Lenny promoted the fellowship of Rotary. He was a generous supporter of The Rotary Foundation and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.  He supported the Shuswap Lake Hospital Foundation in Salmon Arm, and the SPCA.  
Ken was an avid fan of hockey, baseball and golf, and a member of the Salmon Arm Golf club.  For 20 years served as a referee in the Ontario Hockey Association. He died in 2017 at the age of 83.
 
 1995-1996  Dick Harris (Bonnie) *
Dick was president of Wenatchee Rotary in 1979/80 and served as the District Governor (DG) for the 1995/96 term. Dick and his wife, Bonnie, have been very active in both the Club and District 5060. Dick and Bonnie have attended 17 Rotary International Conventions!!!
They met while attending WSU in September 1950, where she roomed in the same house & floor with Carmen Bossenbrock. **  Dick served in the USAF in 1954-55 during the Korean conflict.  They moved to Wenatchee in 1956, where he worked as a mechanical engineer at Alcoa before becoming manager of Port of Chelan County.  They had their two kids here, Leslie and Scott.  His DG theme  was "Act with Integrity, Serve with love, Work for Peace". 
Dick passed away June 20, 2019 after an extended illness.   The day of his death our club president Peter Van Well wrote this message to the club and district leaders.
Wenatchee Rotarians....  "It is with deep regret to inform you of the death of Richard “Dick” Harris. Dick died this morning at the Highgate care facility in Wenatchee. He had been there since late winter and had recently been having respiratory issues. Dick was a past president (1979-1980) and a past District 5060 Governor (1995-1996). He joined the club in 1972. He was a multiple Paul Harris and Paul Scea fellow. Dick was well known for the many Rotary friends he had throughout the world. Dick and Bonnie attended numerous International Conventions and made friends that they would correspond with and quite often visit. Dick was always there with a warm smile and a witty joke, and he was always there to lend a hand. I personally cannot think of a single person who genuinely loved Rotary more than Dick. We will miss you, Dear Friend. Your service and dedication to Wenatchee Rotary is a high-water mark few, if any, of us will attain. Thank you and God bless you! Service information will be made available as soon as possible. Please keep Bonnie and their family in your thoughts and prayers. We lost a good one today, Friends."
On March 1, 2018 the club honored Dick with special recognition for his long time service to Rotary, as covered in the club newsletter, the Appleseed (week-in-review section).  Read Dick's obituary here.
[**  Carmen Bossenbrock is a long time member of the club (since 1987) who recently received district and RI awards for her work with polio victims in the 1980s (as presented by the district governors at the time and noted in the week-in-review sections of  Appleseeds for May 24, 2018 and March 28, 1019)]
 
1994-1995  Adolf Illichmann (Theresa) *
PDG Adolf was born in Austria but moved with his family to Czechoslovakia when he was very young.  Following WWII the family moved to West Germany where they weren’t very welcome because they were Czech citizens.  In search of a new and exotic experience he and his uncle eventually joined the French Foreign Legion. 
 
When war broke out in Indo-China he was transferred to Viet Nam.  At the battle of Dien Bien Phu, he was in a company of 34 Legionnaires who were in engaged in hand to hand battle.  As one of 6 survivors of that battle he was captured and incarcerated in jungle prison camps where he was held for five months.  Following that war Adolf was awarded two French Croix de Guerre medals and recently received a belated Medialle Militate from the French government honoring those who served in Viet Nam.
Adolf and his family eventually emigrated to Canada from Germany, settling in Calgary, Alberta where he found employment as a butcher. In 1967 he moved to Kelowna with his wife Theresia and three sons where they established his successful business Illichmann Meats. 
He is a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Kelowna Capri (joining in 1980) and an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Waidhofen, Austria.  His Rotary service included :
  • Major Donor Level 2  Benefactor, Pioneer, 7 years Perfect Attendance.
  • President – Rotary Club of Kelowna Capri 1987 – 88
  • Assistant District Governor 1991 – 93
  • District Governor D. 5060 1994 – 95
  • Life Honorary Member Rotary Club of Weidhofen
  • Four Avenues of Service Citation 2000 – 01
He died March 11, 2019.   Obituary link.
 
   1993-1994  Bill Bailey (Terri Jean)
Bill B. Bailey was a businessman in Moses Lake, WA, where he operated four small businesses.  They included a general contracting business, BNB works, dealing with under ground utility and irrigation work, and a trucking business specializing in hauling heavy machinery.  He also operated basin Property Management, Inc.
Bill graduated from California State Polytechnic University in 1966 with a B. S. in Business Administration and has worked in livestock production, with row crop farming, food processing and county fair management.
Bill has been active in several professional and vocational organizations, volunteer boards and was on the Moses Lake Planning Commission.  Of course, he is also a member of the Moses Lake Rotary Club, joining in 1977.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow and Foundation Benefactor.
 
 
1992-1993  Dr. Glenn Martin*
 
Dr. Glenn M. Martin MD C.M. FRCP, was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kamloops (Daybreak), serving as its first president in 1986.  He introduced the concept of "no head table" during that time to promote fellowship, and set the tone for the club which has grown from the original 33 members to over 100.  He was a mentor to all members that joined the club and a great supporter of the district, serving as District Governor in 1992-93.  Glenn was a Paul Harris +5 and distinguished by his club with Honorary membership in his later years. Glenn passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday 8 April 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1991-1992  Ollie Nelson (Ann) *

Oliver “Ollie” Nelson was born in Red Wing, Minnesota in 1927 and attended George William College (a YMCA school) in Chicago.  Ollie began his career with the YMCA in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Fargo, North Dakota before moving to Yakima in 1963 to become the Executive Director of the Yakima YMCA, a position he held for 25 years until his retirement in 1988. He joined the Yakima Rotary Club in 1963 and was club president in 1972-73.  He was also the first District Governor of newly-formed District 5060 in 1991-1992. 

Ollie was extremely active in community affairs, serving as Chair of the Yakima Speech & Hearing Center (which was founded by the Yakima Rotary Club), The Yakima Sunfair Parade and much more.

Ollie met his wife Ann on a bike outing in Chicago in 1948.  The two had never met before, but they began their life-long partnership and marriage that has included bicycling from Yakima to Indiana on a two-seater to Ann’s 50th high school reunion.  He was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.  A colleague and friend once said “that what distinguishes his leadership is the “Ollieness” in Ollie – hard to describe but easily felt by the lives he has touched.”

Ollie passed away September 28, 2019.   Obituary link.

 
Past District Governors