50th anniversary celebration
The Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast was chartered on June 28, 1967. Current and past club members celebrated the club's 50th anniversary at a banquet at White River Conference Center on Sept. 9, 2017. Our special guests were John Ashcroft, an honorary club member, and his son, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
John Ashcroft was a member of our club when he taught at Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He left the club to become, consecutively, state auditor, state attorney general, governor, U.S. senator and U.S. attorney general.
In addition to John Ashcroft's keynote talk, the celebration included remembrances by club member Sam Hamra, the first president of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast. We have a video posted on YouTube of Sam talking about early days of the club and his remembrances of John Simpson, a charter member of the club who died in 2017.
These photos are by Ryan Kowalski, a photographer for 417 Magazine, whose co-owner, Gary Whitaker, is a club member.
Click on each photo to see all of it.
John Ashcroft was a member of our club when he taught at Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He left the club to become, consecutively, state auditor, state attorney general, governor, U.S. senator and U.S. attorney general.
In addition to John Ashcroft's keynote talk, the celebration included remembrances by club member Sam Hamra, the first president of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast. We have a video posted on YouTube of Sam talking about early days of the club and his remembrances of John Simpson, a charter member of the club who died in 2017.
These photos are by Ryan Kowalski, a photographer for 417 Magazine, whose co-owner, Gary Whitaker, is a club member.
Click on each photo to see all of it.
Past President Sam Hamra (1967 - '68), June Hamra, John Ashcroft
Sam Hamra and John Ashcroft
Jay Ashcroft, June and Sam Hamra, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce president Matt Morrow, Rachael Morrow, and John Ashcroft
Past President Brent Dunn (2002 - '03), Sam and June Hamra, John Ashcroft, Jay Ashcroft
Jay Ashcroft, June and Sam Hamra, Bob Cirtin, John Ashcroft
State Rep. Steve Helms, John Ashcroft, Sam Hamra
Assistant Executive Secretary Linden Mueller and Executive Secretary Kimberly Pittman
Julie and Don Harkey
Glenda Head, Angela Smith, Celeste Skidmore
Debbie and Bryan Altizer
Lori and Randy Murawski
Shallina and Marty Goodnight
Dwayne Holden and Beth Yarbrough
Past President Gene Molnar (1997 - '98) and Mollie Molnar
Cheryl Briggs, Lisa Odom, and David Yancey
Mark and Mary Walker, Barbara and Jim Towery
Burl Brown and Past President Ann Keckeley Brown (2008 - '09)
Bob and Susan Beine
Past President Bill McNeill (2016 - '17) and Terri McNeill
Melissa and Dan Scott
Mary Ann Johnson and Past President Rex Johnson (1984 - '85)
Dave Bosso, Susan and Club Secretary Irwin Cohen
Mike and Myra Pessina
Carol Scott and Past President Steve Scott (1990 - '91)
Cheryl Briggs and Rick Gilmore
Melinda Hammerschmidt and Past President Bob Hammerschmidt (2005 - '06)
Eda Bates and Past President Guy Bates Jr. (1982 - '83)
David Miller and President Lori Barnes Miller (2017 - '18)
Margaret Grooms and Past President Olin Grooms (1980 - '81)
Past President Steve Benton (1989 - '90) and Loralynn Benton
