February 26, 2026 Notes by Walter Coppage
Former President John Mayfield rang the bell and started the meeting at 12:05 pm. Dave Hartman led the invocation with another, outstanding, heartfelt prayer in which he focused on young boys and girls like those who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs in Wichita Falls. Benay Ayers led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance and Benay continued to provide music to have our voices sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”, our national anthem.
The Brag Bucket with Colton Heinrich was busy today. Carla Dowlen is excited that baseball season is starting. Her nephew David is a sophomore at Memorial High School and plays on the Maverick baseball team. Their first game is today, and they will also play all weekend. Carla also mentioned that there is a book sale this weekend that will support the Wichita Adult Literacy Council. Matt Deason and David Kelley bragged about family. Matthew Bailey, the new director and curator of the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at Midwestern State University said there was a come and go Thursday night and I know there are great exhibitions that will go on throughout the year. Noros Martin mentioned early voting was still going on and the primary election day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
The Rotary Spotlight was on Mike Saville. Mike grew up in Cumberland, Maryland and attended West Virginia University and was in the Air Force ROTC. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree and commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the Air Force. His first assignment was Griffiss AFB where he met his future wife, Jan. Her first assignment after Technical School at Sheppard AFB was also Griffiss AFB. Next month they will celebrate their 46th anniversary. Mike has been an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. They moved 19 times before they settled in Wichita Falls in 2012. Mike had retired from the Air Force but was contacted by the civilian contractor in charge of Aircraft Maintenance, which Mike had done his entire Air Force career. They bought a business, Hello Again in 2014. Mike and Jan later bought the World’s Littlest Skyscraper which housed their business. If Mike’s journey to Wichita Falls isn’t dotted with enough twists and turns, Mike is also a Magician.
Benay Ayers presented Steve Priester with a recognition of Paul Harris Fellow plus 4. John Mayfield was presented with a recognition of Paul Harris Fellow plus 5.
Benay Ayers conducted the Vote on Bylaws Amendment, which passed unanimously.
Tori Smith introduced Ka’Lecia Peterson as the 2026 Wichita Falls Youth of the Year Representative. She is a 17-year-old Junior at Legacy High School whose home club is the Northwest Branch of the Boys & Girls Club where she has been a member for eleven years. To see Ka’Lecia’s smile you would never suspect she has had to deal with problems in her young life. She has focused on sailing her own ship, making sure her life goes the way she wants it to go. She helps her brothers. She helps kids learn at the Boys & Girls Club by helping younger kids learn to play cards when some can’t count. She wants to go to college. Ka’Lecia is passionate about child hunger because she believes that everybody should be able to eat. Her talk brought a standing ovation from our Rotary Club.
After the Four Way Test, we adjourned.