Kiwanis Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary
The Kiwanis Club of Starkville is celebrating its 50th anniversary. It was officially established on July 24, 1964. The Charter Night Program for the 37 new members was September 12, 1964. The first officers were Sonny Mullins, Jr. (president), Bob Hartley (vice president), Bill Knight (secretary) and Charlie Weatherly (treasurer). Mr. Weatherly is the lone remaining active charter member in 2014.
In 1975, the club began its signature work in concessions at events held at MSU’s Humphrey Coliseum, including men’s and women’s basketball games. From 1975 to 2013, when the concessions agreement with MSU ended, the Kiwanis Club put an estimated $1,250,000 back into the Starkville community. Thank you to all the MSU supporters who bought concessions and helped raise these funds.
The club has focused on helping youth for 50 years. It sponsored Key Clubs at Starkville High School and Starkville Academy, as well as a Circle K Club at Mississippi State University. It sponsored the first Starkville Swim Team, Dizzy Dean baseball tournaments, and numerous youth sports teams. The Kiwanis Club sponsored the first donkey basketball game that was held in the Newell-Grissom Building at Mississippi State University, and even brought a circus to town as an attraction for the youth.
The Kiwanis Club of Starkville is the charter organization for Cub Scout Pack 11 and has sponsored many programs over the years at Emerson Family School. It saved the Boys and Girls Club with an infusion of $40,000 in 2004. The club has helped people of all ages from books for newborn babies to an annual Christmas party at the Starkville Manor Nursing Home. The number of organizations helped in 50 years is too long to list, but includes Special Olympics, Catch-a-Dream, 4H and many others. The club was the first service club to become a Patron of Excellence at MSU, contributing $10,000 over a 10-year period.
Today the Kiwanis Club meets for lunch on Tuesdays at the Hilton Garden Inn, but it has met at many locations. Back in 1964, the first venue was Thompson’s Midway Tearoom. Later locations included Watson’s Café in Clayton Village, Golden West Steak House, the Holiday Inn, the Ramada Inn and Barnhill’s Buffet.
In the 1990s, the club raised over $25,000 for Kiwanis International’s worldwide service project to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder. Today the club is active in donating funds to support Kiwanis’ current global campaign for children, The Eliminate Project, which aims to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus to save the lives of over 100 million mothers and their future babies.
The Kiwanis Club of Starkville has provided an enviable record of leadership in its 50-year history. Three members have served as Governor of the La-Miss-Tenn District: Warnie Kennington (1979-80), Henry Nash (1982-83), and Bascom Allen (1998-99). Mr. Allen also served as a Kiwanis International Trustee from 2007 to 2011.
In 1990 Jean Daniel became the first female member of the Kiwanis Club of Starkville. Since then, the club has had three female presidents: Joan Butler, Bobbie Higgins and Pat May.
The Kiwanis Club represents the community at its best, providing bonds of friendship to its members and serving the larger community at the same time. People in Kiwanis embody an idealism and altruism that strengthen the fabric of our community. At a time when our headlines focus on negative stories and the world appears to be falling apart, Kiwanis Club members believe that they can make their community better and are willing to work to do just that.
Who knew back in 1964 what a positive impact the Kiwanis Club of Starkville would have over the next 50 years? Our community is certainly the beneficiary.
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.
In 1975, the club began its signature work in concessions at events held at MSU’s Humphrey Coliseum, including men’s and women’s basketball games. From 1975 to 2013, when the concessions agreement with MSU ended, the Kiwanis Club put an estimated $1,250,000 back into the Starkville community. Thank you to all the MSU supporters who bought concessions and helped raise these funds.
The club has focused on helping youth for 50 years. It sponsored Key Clubs at Starkville High School and Starkville Academy, as well as a Circle K Club at Mississippi State University. It sponsored the first Starkville Swim Team, Dizzy Dean baseball tournaments, and numerous youth sports teams. The Kiwanis Club sponsored the first donkey basketball game that was held in the Newell-Grissom Building at Mississippi State University, and even brought a circus to town as an attraction for the youth.
The Kiwanis Club of Starkville is the charter organization for Cub Scout Pack 11 and has sponsored many programs over the years at Emerson Family School. It saved the Boys and Girls Club with an infusion of $40,000 in 2004. The club has helped people of all ages from books for newborn babies to an annual Christmas party at the Starkville Manor Nursing Home. The number of organizations helped in 50 years is too long to list, but includes Special Olympics, Catch-a-Dream, 4H and many others. The club was the first service club to become a Patron of Excellence at MSU, contributing $10,000 over a 10-year period.
Today the Kiwanis Club meets for lunch on Tuesdays at the Hilton Garden Inn, but it has met at many locations. Back in 1964, the first venue was Thompson’s Midway Tearoom. Later locations included Watson’s Café in Clayton Village, Golden West Steak House, the Holiday Inn, the Ramada Inn and Barnhill’s Buffet.
In the 1990s, the club raised over $25,000 for Kiwanis International’s worldwide service project to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder. Today the club is active in donating funds to support Kiwanis’ current global campaign for children, The Eliminate Project, which aims to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus to save the lives of over 100 million mothers and their future babies.
The Kiwanis Club of Starkville has provided an enviable record of leadership in its 50-year history. Three members have served as Governor of the La-Miss-Tenn District: Warnie Kennington (1979-80), Henry Nash (1982-83), and Bascom Allen (1998-99). Mr. Allen also served as a Kiwanis International Trustee from 2007 to 2011.
In 1990 Jean Daniel became the first female member of the Kiwanis Club of Starkville. Since then, the club has had three female presidents: Joan Butler, Bobbie Higgins and Pat May.
The Kiwanis Club represents the community at its best, providing bonds of friendship to its members and serving the larger community at the same time. People in Kiwanis embody an idealism and altruism that strengthen the fabric of our community. At a time when our headlines focus on negative stories and the world appears to be falling apart, Kiwanis Club members believe that they can make their community better and are willing to work to do just that.
Who knew back in 1964 what a positive impact the Kiwanis Club of Starkville would have over the next 50 years? Our community is certainly the beneficiary.
Brother Rogers is a guest columnist and works at the Stennis Center for Public Service.