History: a study of the club archives

“Auburn Rotary Club History Minute: 1965-70”

Today’s Rotary History Minute focuses on the second half of the1960s—1965-70.

Last month we talked about the early 60s and I gave you an assignment; do you remember what it was? This club had three meeting places in the 60s; we identified two and I asked you to put on your thinking caps and tell us about the third. But before we do that, let’s have a quick history review:

What were the first two places we met in the 60s? First, was the Green Room of the Pitts Hotel (until January 1962); second, (1962-65) was the Village Inn, now the University Inn.

And now the test: what was the third one? Right, in 1965 we moved to the Heart of Auburn Motel, located on South College Street across from Comer Hall and next door to the Auburn Alumni Center. We met there through 1970.

After my History Minute last month, I learned about a significant item that I didn’t find in the Rotary archives. Harold Zallen was appointed editor of the weekly bulletin. He redesigned and reformatted it to the extent that it received national recognition by Rotary International.

Our club provided one district governor in the 60s: Floyd Vallery, father of Jim Vallery.

Does anyone know who authored our Four-Way Test? Harold Taylor, who visited our club. Rex Richburg and I were sitting with other members and a visitor joined us and introduced himself as “Harold Taylor.” Rex remembered the name and asked Mr. Taylor if he was the author of the Four-Way Test and he said, “Yes, I am.” Mr. Taylor’s hobby at that time was visiting U.S. Rotary Clubs unannounced.

During this decade—1968 to be exact—the Interact Club at Auburn High School was chartered and began to flourish. It continues to flourish today!

Buddy Hicks, member of the Opelika Rotary Club, was making up with us in the 60s and he continues to do so 40 year later.

These recent or current members joined the Auburn Club in the 60s: Milt Alexander, Ed Hobbs, Andy Lamar, H. C. Morgan, Clyde Prather, Larry Thomasson, Wilbur Tincher, Tom Vaughan, Agee Wiggins and Paul Ziegler. I hope I haven’t omitted anyone. Of these 10, five served as president of this club, and one (H.C. Morgan) served two terms as president and during the 90s he also served as district governor.

I was struck by the number of Auburn University ROTC commandants who joined Rotary and it almost seems that a legacy has developed in this instance since so many ROTC commanders continue to hold Rotary membership. Also, I’m very impressed with the many contributions they have made and continue to make to our club.

The 60s saw a plethora of program topics that included local, national and international subjects. The Vietnamese and Korean military and political situations were topics of several programs. Many films from the ROTC film library were shown. A favorite film shown when program problems arose was “The Supreme Court of the United States,” which some of you will remember, as I do, seeing more than once!!

The Club bulletins frequently carried quips and quotes, and I’ll close with a couple of them:

“Truce is better than friction.”

“Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”

“The penalty for bigamy is two mothers-in-law.” And finally,

“A speech to be immortal, does not need to be eternal!”

Report of the History Committee for February 15, 2007