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Herman Messing introduced two new features that did more to help Rotarians know one another better and create more fellowship than
anything done in the past several years. Nils Bolin was the first to score 100% when called upon (without prior notice) to introduce everyone at his table, The second feature was the "Rotarian of the Hour" biographical
sketches on Ernie Schilling, Jack Ralston, Jimmie Wiselogel, Roy McQueen, Kirby Risk, Erston Marshall, Norris Shreve, Frank Riedel, Cable Ball, John Burkle, A. A. Potter, O. O. Lloyd, Frank Timberlake, Eth Baugh, James
Williams, Alpha Gray, Charles Callahan, Eric Holm, Al Stewart, Ed Vanbuskirk, Dave Pfendler, Chuck Beese, Ed Schroyer, Charlie Wiselogel, Herb Horner, Oscar Pipes, Ralph Caldwell, Walt Gibson, Bryant Bachman, Bill
Ayres, Joe Sicer, Sam Keller, Holmes Martin, Earl McBee, Glenn Jenkins, David McQueen, George Davis, J. A. Peterson, Frank Demaree, Art Brunson, D. D. Ewing, Warren Maddox, and Everett Wright in that order.
The Club began giving bronze-coated Lafayette-Purdue Rotary Wheels designed by Howdy Porsch to each guest speaker, and to the visiting Rotarians from the greatest distance. A. A. and Eva Potter celebrated
their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Dean Potter is known as "The Dean" throughout the whole engineering world, Elmer Walters was recognized for 50 years of Masonry. Ray Colwell was elected as the Junior Chamber of Commerce
Man of the Year. Russ Mitchell proposed Curt Hostetter as a candidate for District Governor. The printing of the Club Organization on the back of Rotary Ripples was begun helping everyone know much more
about the club, who is in the Club, and what is doing. Youth work continues to be stressed—some basic tools for equipping a workshop in the YMCA, and some boats for the Boy Scouts were purchased; Junior
winners were sent to the Science Fair in Chicago; the 4-H Corn Club program grows; the Scholarship-Citizenship group honored; and two boys and one girl sent to Boys-Girls State. The $1060 promised the Boy Scouts helped
get their new swimming pool at Boy Scout Camp. New babies arrived in the homes of "papa" Rotarians Mike Kosman, Vern Breitwieser, Ralph Shay, Marvin Smith, Rudolph Mahara, and Bill Schwartz; and in the
homes of "grand-papa" Rotarians Ralph Morgan, Mart Busche, Clyde Nichols, Herb Horner, Bill Ayres, Doc Burkle, Mart Fowler, M. Daugherty (VonRoy), B. Lang, C. Wiselogel, M. Busche, B. Siskind, and B. Bayley, with a
second time for Ayres. All gave $10 to the Rotary Foundation. These plus others brought the Club across the 100% mark and Dist. Gov. Alden P. Chester urged us to try for 200%. Lafayette Rotary
was complimented by the Dist. Gov. when he said "he would prefer to copy the good work of the Lafayette Club than to suggest new ideas for the Club." A rump Rotary session was held in Romney with
Williamson, Reeder, Whistler, Spencer, Pfendler, Freehafer, Shay, Baynes and a visiting Rotarian, Charles F. Bowman present. They appealed to the Club for attendance credit that was granted by acclamation.
Al Stewart, John Farley and Mickey McGuire with about half the Purdue Glee Club suddenly became the program at Cold Water, Mich. when they stopped to make up attendance, while enroute to Detroit to put on another
program. This was the best program Cold Water ever had--Service Above Self. With Lincoln Lodge management deteriorating, and the food getting worst and worse, the Club finally moved its meeting place to
Marshall's in Mar Jean Village on May 14, 1957. The Intercity Ladies Night was a huge success, and 76 Rotarians attended the Rotary-Purdue Glee Club Fish Fry. Thus, a very successful and fruitful year of Lafayette
Rotary ended as Herman Messing turned the gavel over to Earl McBee |
