Moline Rotary Club was delighted to host United States Coast Guard Vice Admiral Kevin Lunday and his wife Lynda as guests and presenters on October 23, 2023. Admiral Lunday is the Atlantic Area Commander, Commander of Coast Guard Defense Forces East, and Director, DHS Joint Task Force East. Admiral Lunday was in the Quad Cities for the weekend demonstration of U.S. Coast Guard services and capabilities in Rock Island.  He is hoping to turn this into an annual recruiting event.

 

 

After his interesting & informative presentation about the role of the U.S. Coast Guard in our nation's security, Admiral Lunday and his wife Lynda chatted with Rotarian Gary Francque. Mrs. Lunday, the former Lynda Lee Schweinberger, grew up in Moline, attended Moline High School, and was a "Junior Rotarian" with Moline Rotary Club. Her father Dale Schweinberger, owner of well known Moline business Schweinberger Medical Supply, was an active Rotarian and Past President of Moline Rotary Club. Mrs. Lunday's grandfather Otto Schweinberger was also a Moline Rotarian and Past President of the Club. Mrs. Lunday fondly recalls growing up in Moline, and part of a Rotary family, including Rotary special events at the LeClaire Hotel. The Lunday's attest that Dale Schweinberger cherishes his Rotary experiences and still speaks highly of Rotary and his great memories.

Gary Francque contacted Dale Schweinberger at his home in California. Dale was the owner of Schweinberger Medical Supplies on 7th Street - 16th Avenue for many years, having taken over the company after the death of his father Otto Schweinberger in 1957. Dale attended Augustana College, where records show that he excelled on the Vikings football team, setting school records, all while helping run the family business. He was later inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame. Dale sold the company in 1989 and retired to Savana, Georgia, and later moved to California.

Dale was a member of Moline Rotary Club for 30 years, from 1959 - 1989. The club met at the LeClaire Hotel as it had since it's inception, and then moved to the Moline Holiday Inn.  Moline Rotary Club boasted 210 members during those times, and was very active in many aspects of Rotary including the fight against Polio, Rotary Foundation, International Youth Exchange and many others. Dale served as Club President from 1987 - 1989, and some of his most memorable experiences during his presidency include raising $120,000.00  for the Rotary Polio campaign one year, and welcoming the first female member to Moline Rotary Club, Stormy McCarthy.  Dale recalled that it was a controversial issue at the time, but Stormy was recognized and respected as an outstanding business leader and was eventually elected Club President.

Dale followed his father into Rotary. Otto Schweinberger served as Club President during the 1944-45 year and then served as our Rotary District Governor in 1948. 

Dale sends his fondest regards to all Moline Rotarians! Thank you to the Schweinberger family for their outstanding service to our community! 

 

 

 

 

Student Rotarians Group #3 joined us, but due to illnesses within the group, we'll have names and pictures next week!