Smoky Hill Rotary Charter President Passes Away
Smoky Hill Rotary’s charter president Cliff Walker passed away Sunday, February 22, 2026 after a short illness due to a fall. He was 87.
After moving to Denver from Houston, Texas, he started his accounting firm and joined the University Hills Rotary Club. In 1982 the District Governor asked him to start a club in Aurora, a job he eagerly took-on with the help of a couple other University Hills Rotarians. He built Smoky Hill Rotary into a club with just less than 30 members and we were chartered on January 23, 1983. His first Board of Directors established the early rules of our club that there would be no fines and no singing. We were considered renegades in this regard and several District Governors over the years tried to talk us out of it. We proudly hold to these traditions to this day.
Cliff invited me to join Smoky Hill Rotary soon after I established my printing business in 1982. I remember his words to me that in addition to being a great organization, nearly all of his business contacts and friends came from Rotary. I joined this charter organization eagerly and am a proud charter member. I found his words to be true, joining Rotary was one of the best decisions I made in my life.
Rest in Peace my friend.
Terry Remgio, Charter Member
Offsite Visit to Food Bank of the Rockies
Smoky Hill Rotary was hosted at Food Bank of the Rockies for an offsite visit on April 27. This was in their new building and what a facility! They opened the doors to their new Aurora distribution center in early February.
Our host, Charlene Moser, gave us a guided tour of the 270,000-square-foot distribution center. The new facility tripled their cold storage capacity, allowing them to receive and safely distribute up to 50% more fresh produce and accept significantly more rescued food. It also triples their capacity for volunteers, which means triple the impact on how much food can be processed. It quadrupled the number of meals for kids that can be delivered to afterschool and summer programs. Food Bank of the Rockies is now responsible for providing 200,000 meals a day to people in need.
A truly memorable experience. Thank you to Charlene for the tour and to Clay Fell for organizing the event.
