Smyrna times., 1952-05-15
ROTARY CLUB
Is YEARS OLD
To Celebrate Silver Answers.
airy and Ladies Night To-
morrow Night
SEN. WILLIAMS TO SPEAK

The Smyrna Rotary Club will OBJ
serve a quarter of a century of
service to the community at a
twenty-fifth anniversary and ladies
night celebration at the school
cafeteria tomorrow, Friday night
at seven o'clock. The principal
speaker will be U. S. Senator John
]. Williams, who will be presented
by U. S. Senator j. Allen Frear.
U. S. Congressman ]. Caleb Boggs
will also attend. Glenn C. Meade,
Philadelphia, first past president
of Rotary International, will be the
special representative of Frank E.
Spain, president. George Ehinger,
Dover, district governor, and many
past district governors and presi-
dents are expected.
G. w. Wright TOastmaster
James E. Everhart, who has pro-
vided able leadership during the
present club year, will preside and
welcome the guests. The invoca-
ton will be given by the Rev. Wal
ter L. Beckwith, pastor of Asbury
Methodist Church. George w.
Wright superintendent of schools,
will act as POSTMASTER. The Ro-
tarians will welcome the appear
ance of a past president Of the
club, Albert A. Newcomb, Cam
bridge, Md, former mayor of
Smyrna and well-knoWn tenor of
the Eastern Shore, who will sing.
Among the distinguished guests
will be DR.. Harry V. Holloway, Do
yer, under whose leadership the
local club was started, sponsored
by the Dover Rotary Club; V. Lay
Phillips, the first president Of
Smyrna Rotary Club and Mrs.
Phillips; William Richter, president
Of Dover Rotary Club and Mrs.
Richter, and Victor Kohl, presi-
dent, Middletown Rotary Club and
Mrs. Kohl. Henry T. Price, presi-
dent of the Smyrna Lions Club and
Mrs. Price, Robert Douglas, presi-
dent Of the Clayton Lions Club
and Mrs. Douglas, will be guests
of the Rotarians. An invitation
has been extended to all members
of both local Lions Clubs who may
wish to attend. The arrangements
for the event have been in the
hands Of the following committee:
]. Reynolds Pratt, chairman, Geo.
E. Bryson, William E. Mathews,Jr.
and DR.. Ralph B. Jones. Charles
Southwell, Wilmington, will con-
duct group singing, with Kenneth
Faulkner, Camden as his accom-
panist. The program will be en-
livened by informal selections by
Adam Ptak, accordionist. Approx
imately four hundred guests are
expected to attend the celebration
25th Anniversary
The first service club organized
in Smyrna, the Rotary Club was
admitted to Rotary international
on May "a, 1927, and charter night
was celebrated on July Il, 1927
With V. Lay Phillips its first presi-
dent, with fifteen charter members,
during the first year the club had
81 consecutive acknowledgement
attendance meetings. OF the Is
original charter members two are
still active in the club, William E.
Matthews, Jr. and John c. Manner
ing. Mr.. Matthews has the honor
of being the only member of the
club with twenty-five years of one
hundred percent attendance.
Many Projects Sponsored
Many projects have been devel-
oped in this community which
serve as a monument to the club,
among them the community play
ground and bathing beach; the
opening of Market Street Plaza;
aid to crippled children; sidewalks
along the main highways; the pre-
sentation of two public address
systems for the John Bassett
Moore High School. A long-range
program has been their sponsor
ship of one of the outstanding Boy
Scout Troops of the Delmarva
Council. The club has justified its
existence with a record of service
TO the community and fellow men;
"A beacon light of many endeav-
ors" its objectives are the develop
ment of fellowship and understand
ing among business and profession
al men in the community; the pro-
motion of community betterment;
the development of high ethical
standards in business and profes-
sional practices, and the advance
ment of international understand.
ing, good will, and peace. During
the year 1928 the club had 81
consecutive one hundred percent
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