Club marks civic service milestone
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
By LINDSAY EVANS
Times Staff Writer eintern@htimes.com

State and national Kiwanis officers and their guests packed at five long tables sang "Happy Birthday" last night to celebrate the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville's 85th year of community service.

The club was founded July 14, 1919, and has raised nearly $500,000 to help Huntsville-area children.

Guests at the celebration gathered at the Elks Club at 6:30 p.m. Monday and were encouraged by Bo Shafer, past president of Kiwanis International.

"We are so blessed in this country it's practically ridiculous. And less than 5 percent of the Earth's population lives in America, the greatest country in the world," he said. "But there is a reason we are blessed: So we can bless others."

Shafer congratulated the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville for a community legacy.

"I think this club's goals and objectives, making life better for kids, is a wise one to have," said Second Vice President Bryan Bennett, a ninth-grade teacher at Huntsville High School. "When you share happiness, people energize each other as they have through the years in this club."

Bennett said Shafer's speech energized and challenged the club, which raises money through an annual spelling bee, a college scholarship fund, a travel lecture series and other projects.

For Clark Hereford and Frank Morring, club members since 1960 and 1966, respectively, the club's birthday bash also commemorated years of service.

Clark has the longest service of anyone in the club. Morring has had perfect club attendance for 37 years. The two were awarded and applauded as they sliced cakes to begin the celebration.

Harry Welch Jr., a retired government employee, was awarded the Kiwanis' J. Mercer Barnett Award for outstanding service. Now the club's secretary, Welch has been a member since 1981 and has served as president.