A few years ago I was lucky enough to videotape Dick Zamjahn (Rotary President from 1986/87) from his home before he died, and his interview will be transcribed as well. In addition, we have recorded and transcribed interviews with Larry Ghilarducci, Jr. (Rotary President from 1971/72), Bob Mallon (Rotary President from 1972/73), Buck Thompson (Rotary President from 1983/84), and Jim Harris (Rotary President from 1993/94). Funds are needed to conduct more.
On our list for additional interviews are Chuck Matthaei, Bill Baxter (Rotary President from 1974/75), Ed Hudson (Rotary President from 1967/68), Merrit Nelson, and Pat Steel (Rotary President from 1987/88). In 1987 the world changed for Rotary and women were allowed to join. Our first two female members were Charlotte Chalker and Judy Hosea. It would be interesting to hear their stories. Today women are deeply involved in all Rotary activities. Judy Hosea is no longer a member of this club, but she served as the first woman Rotary president from the Rotary Club of Tacoma in 1995/96. I was lucky enough to follow her as club president in 1996/97.
Terry Taylor and Marion Sharp was heavily involved in preserving our history. Photographs are being collected and shared. Periodically, they have photographs needing identification on the tables in the lobby before and after our meetings. Stop by and see if you can tell us who some of the people are in the photographs. Also, give us your photographs, old films, and video tapes from prior years. Together we can save our page in history. And, of course, any donations to the project would be wonderful.
Each of our video interviews were shot with professional equipment and each interview has been transfered to DVD for archival purposes. Each interview has been transcribed, so we have the interviews saved as Word documents. We will be presenting some of the interviews on video as programs over the next two years and the footage will be used to produce a special centennial presentation in 2010. Each person we interview receives a DVD of their interview, along with a print out of their comments and a .doc file to share with their friends and family.
Each interview that we shoot fills in pieces of our history and sometimes we receive a delightful surprize. During several of the interviews we shot earlier this year, a "Cougar Head" was mentioned. The Cougar Head was what we used to collect Rotary fines in at the meetings. It was the head of a cougar with a handle on it. No one knew what happened to it. At the last Past President's Dinner that blank was filled in with the information that the Courgar Head went up in flames when the Top of the Ocean burned down thirty some years ago. Another revelation came to light when Bob Mallon explained that it was during his year as president when the Community Service Award began. The award is presented each year to a non-Rotarian who has done outstanding work for our community. The selection is done by representatives from the Pierce County Rotary Clubs.
Bob also explained that the first award was given to Art Wickens who served as Club Secretary for over fifty years. In addition, Bob conducted about ten hours of interviews with Art about Rotary on audio cassette. What a find! We will be transcribing those tapes as well. Another bit of interesting news was that Buck Thompson created True Confessions during his year as president. Most past presidents admit that most of their enjoyment of their year as president comes from interaction with the members as they pay their fines.
My favorite memories from the video tape interviews involves the first session. R. Franklin talked about Harry Brown (Brown & Haley) and how he promised a hundred thousand dollars to the College of Puget Sound so they would have roads and sidewalks between their buildings instead of muddy paths. Harry Brown delivered on his promise. Ted Kennard talked about attending CPS when World War II began. He was engaged and drafted. Ted went to see Harry Brown who was head of the local draft board. Harry assured Ted he would be okay until the end of the school year. Rotary wasn't through, however. When Ted got married, Art Wickens sang at his wedding. Ted owed his education and his marriage to Rotary #8, Art Wickens, and Harry Brown. Each time I enter Jones Hall at U.P.S. I touch the bronze plaque in the foyer commenmorating all that Harry Brown and Rotary did for my alma mater . . . where I met my wife.
Over the years our club has been blessed with people who give us laughter. R. Franklin Thompson talked about Ronaldo Keisal, who was always doing something amusing or just plain stirred up the pot during Rotary meetings. Later in the interview Bill Leake is talking and someone mentions Bill and how he did much of the same thing. Joe Gordon, Sr. speaks up and says, "Yes, but he's no Ronaldo Keisal." It was a joy hearing that fantastic group of Rotarians talk about Rotary as they joked and laughed with each other. I'm glad we still do that. Somethings never change.
As part of our Centennial Celebrations for the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8, we are transcribing video interviews I videotaped in the early 1990s with five of our then most senior members: Joe Gordon, Sr. (Rotary President from 1943/44), R. Franklin Thompson (Rotary President from 1944/45), Bill Leake (Rotary President from 1960/61), Ted Kennard, and Emerson Wonders. At the time I was new to Rotary, but I found the stories interesting, heart-warming, funny, and the essence of Rotary. Now, more than eighteen years later, I wish I had recorded more. R. Franklin Thompson, Bill Leake, and Em Wonders have passed away. Ted Kennard recently celebrated his birthday, but was unable to attend our meeting, and Joe Gordon is ninety-nine. Joe will turn one hundred during our centennial year.
Rotary #8 Activities | Oral History Video Taping | Rotarians Affected by Hearing Loss
Don Doman
4701 North Huson, Tacoma, WA 98407
253-752-8262 - trainingmedia@yahoo.com
