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1955

January 26, 1955 The club is formed, as The Clermont Rotary Club, sponsored by The Winter Garden Rotary Club. The official Rotary International Charter is presented on February 17. 1955. 260 Rotarians and Guests attend the gala ceremony.

1955 – 56

President: Glenn Middleton (Building Contractor). Biggest challenge was finding a permanent meeting venue. Members rallied and used their homes in rotation.

1956 – 57

President: Ray Douglas (Advertising). The club influenced the establishment of a separate juvenile home at the Lake County Jail, where juvenile inmates were being kept in jail cells with hardened criminals.

1957 – 58

President: Richard Healy (Real Estate). The club establishes international relations with the city of Clermont-Farrand in France, the city after which Clermont was named.

1958 – 59

President: Robert “Bob” Black (Service Station). The club helps to furnish the newly enlarged community clinic, which later became The South Lake County Hospital.

1959 – 60

President: William “Billy” Williams (Accounting). Significant year for membership growth.- 41 members. A delegation of 24 Rotarians and wives attend R I Convention in Miami. (It is interesting to note that during this convention Fidel Castro seized the Government of Cuba. Many Cuban businessmen returned home to find their businesses confiscated).

1960 – 61

President: Chris Christenson (Auto Sales). Club membership holds strong at 40. Change of meeting venue from Lake Highlands to the Crest Restaurant.

1961 – 62 President: Dick Kurfiss (Funeral Director). The club focuses on developing sports at the Clermont High School.

1962 – 63

President: Millard Coggshall (Honey Producer). The club promoted Student Achievement Awards between the Clermont High and the Groveland High Schools. Winners were given recognition at Rotary meetings every six weeks.

1963 – 64 President: Charles Caudill (Teacher). No records available.

1964 – 65

President: William “Bill” Mann (Business Owner). A significant reduction in membership. The Kiwanis club comes to Clermont. The novel appeal presents a challenge in competing for new members.

1965 – 66

President: Ray Robbins (Sumter Electric Co-op). A very challenging year. Unstable meeting locations, inadequate leadership by president and secretary, poor attendance. On the bright side: the club honored three pioneer resident families of South Lake County at a special recognition dinner.

1966 – 67

Presidents: Howard Wade (School Principal)-July 1 – October 20, 1966; and Paul Mann (Gift Shop)-October 21 – June 30, 1967. Another challenging year. On taking over the presidency, vice president Paul, despite a two-month period of illness, initiated the Annual Pancake Day Event at the Jenkins Auditorium. Profit from this first effort was $438.00. With membership morale back on the rise, the club successfully petitioned R. I. to approve the renaming of the club as The South Lake County Rotary Club, to encompass the communities of Minneola, Groveland and Mascotte.

1967 – 68

President: Jim Peacock (Veterinarian). Club morale on the rise again. Several community projects are highlighted, viz: Clermont’s People to People Goodwill Project, another successful Pancake Day, and a breathing machine donated to the South Lake Hospital.

1968 – 69

President: Garland Wayne (Educator). No records found. A club member recalls 1100 tickets sold for another successful Pancake Day. Profits were used to purchase a second breathing machine for the South Lake Hospital.

1969 – 70

President: Clyde Puryear (Fertilizer Sales). More assistance to the South Lake Hospital. Club sponsors installation of emergency cardiac care equipment in the ambulance.

1970 – 71

President: Fred Saunders (Citrus Grove Care Service). First 4-Way Test Award Dinner was initiated. First recipient was Dr. Eugene Cantwell, an Optometrist in Clermont.

1971 – 72

President: William “Bill” Rice (Electrical Equipment Sales). The two outstanding events were the Annual Pancake Day and the 4-Way Test Awards Dinner.

1972 – 73

President: Lennon Jordon (Retail Lumber Store). Club membership stabilized at 35 members. Half of Pancake Day profits donated to help Groveland Little League construct a new ball park.

1973 – 74

President: Stan Holtsclaw (Merchant). The youth win big this year. Pancake Day earnings distributed amongst three school bands in Clermont and Groveland. The club also sponsored a Girl Scout Troop and a Little League Baseball team.

1974 – 76

President: Robert “Bob Maguire (Nursery Products). This two-term president carried the club through two frustrating years. In an attempt to stabilize attendance the club experimented with breakfast meetings. That did not work. Two successful Pancake Day Events boosted morale. The club actively supported youth and health care commitments, hosted a District 695 Make-up Assembly, and hosted a Group Study Exchange Team from Australia.

1976 – 77

President: Marian Manning (Dentist). 10th Annual Pancake Day nets $1880.00. All proceeds went to various youth projects in the South Lake community.

1977 – 78

President: Pete Arkell (Electronic Engineer). This year the club focused on building fellowship among its 35 members, much to the credit of Rotarian Bazel Hart.

1978 – 79 President: Ed Pauley (Educator). Pancake Day and The 4-Way Test Dinner Award remained the two primary community service activities. The club also made a worthwhile contribution to a new community “Lend-A-Book” program promoted at the Midway Elementary School.

1979 – 80

President: Glen Maguire (Plant Nursery). The only available record shows Richard Harris, a druggist in Clermont, as this year’s 4-Way Test Award recipient.

1980 – 81 President: Eldon Yoda (Plant Manager- Econocloth). Eleven organizations benefited from the club’s fund-raising efforts.

1981 – 82

President: Ed Pauley (Educator). A second term presidency highlights an unprecedented profit margin on Pancake Day. The actual dollar figure is not recorded. However, Little League Baseball, Soft Ball, Boy and Girl Scouts, Clermont and Groveland High School Bands, all benefit.

1982 – 83

President: Julien Rowe (Rural Mail Carrier). The club sponsors first Group Study Exchange candidate, Bob Tracey, a local businessman, to tour South Africa.

1983 – 84

President: William “Bill” Law (Attorney). A stellar year for perfect attendance. The club was No 1 in the District in the month of February. Members also participated in a safe water supply project for the village of Gros Manglles in Haiti.

1984 – 85

President: Ed Mattson (Citrus Grower). Rotary International recognizes the club as a 2500% contributor to The Rotary Foundation, with a contribution of $7,181.00.

1985 – 86

President: Bazil Hart (Retail Garden Center). Club celebrates 31st Anniversary of Charter Night. Only one Charter Member, Dick Kufiss, still on roll call. Club tries a new fund raising idea with balloons, but the idea didn’t fly.

1986 – 87

President: Julien Rowe (Rural Mail Carrier). Second term president guides club through an evolutionary period. The two-lane strip of S.R. 50 between Clermont and Groveland is converted into a 4-lane Highway. Meeting time is advanced from 7.00 pm to 5.30 pm, to facilitate older Rotarians with nighttime driving. Breakfast meetings were explored, but didn’t quite seem to resolve the challenges. Club makes contribution of $10,713.00 to the Polio Plus Campaign.

1987 – 88

President: Don Lucas (Teacher). After 20 years at Bob’s Rainbow Restaurant, the club moved its meeting venue to The Citrus Tower Restaurant In Clermont. The 22nd Annual Pancake Day nets a record $2,470.00.

1988 – 89

President: Jim Grant (Educator). This year the club accepts lady Rotarians for the first time . The two inductees were Betty Harris (Director of Reading Education) and Barbara Sherburne (Probation and Parole Services). Our first club president, Glen Middleton, dies.

1989 – 90

President: Richard “Dick” Pontius (Beverage Distribute). Despite challenges in club leadership, due to deaths and illness, the club thrives. Third lady Rotarian to be inducted, Agnes Johnson, becomes Florida’s first lady Paul Harris Fellow.

1990 – 91 President: Kenneth Averitt (Pest Control). Pancake Day continues to be a success. Nets over $2200.00. Club considers involvement with the Adopt-A-Highway clean up project.

1991 – 92

President: Richard “Dick” Pontius (Beverage Distributor). This second term president makes a significant personal contribution towards the children’s playground at Palatlakaha Area in Clermont. The club provides Home Hospitality for International Exchange Students.

1992 – 93

President: Bob Maguire (Nursery Products). On advise of District Governor Bill Coleman, the club focuses on membership development. Charter member Dick Kurfiss is seriously injured in automobile accident.

1993 – 94

President: Colby Colyear (Real Estate). Club sponsors roadway clean up, adopting two miles of S.R. 50. The 4-Way Test Awards continue to highlight annual events.

1994 – 95

President: Colby Colyear (Real Estate). Despite inclement weather, Pancake Day raises over $2400.00. Rotarian Phyllis Dyson holds another successful garage sale at her house to benefit club projects.

1995 – 96 President: Trevor Twig (Engineering). Club sponsors two students from South Lake High School to RYLA. On January 2, 1995 the club went from evening meetings on Thursday to breakfast meetings on Tuesday. The club receives a Presidential Citation Award.

1996 – 97

President: Betty June “B.J.” Cofield (Education Administration). Club focuses attention on projects in support of youth. Two students sponsored to attend a retreat on Drugs and Alcohol. An Interact club is sponsored. Club sponsors passport expenses for Girl Scouts to visit International Scout Headquarters in London. Student from South Lake High School receives scholarship to Lake Sumter Community College. A second R.I. Presidential Citation is received.

1997 – 98 President: Ed Pauley (Education Management). Third term. Continued focus on youth. Major beneficiaries were: the Green Isle Children’s Ranch, Scholarships, Boy and Girl Scouts, and the YMCA. The roadway project continues well. The club recognized for a third R.I. Presidential Citation.

1998 – 99

President: Sid Van Landingham (Remediation Construction. A very busy year. The 33rd Annual Pancake Day Event, another success, netting $2714.28. Club supports the Boniconti Fund, to cure paralysis. More financial contributions made to Green Isle and Girl Scouts.

1999 – 00

President: Sid Van Landingham (Remediation Construction). Weekly meetings greatly enhanced with regular Guest Speakers from the community. Eight Rotarians and their Spouses take a fellowship cruise to The Bahamas.

2000 – 01 President: Jim Warner (Landscape Architecture).

2001 – 02 President: Jeff Williams (Book/Game Store).

2002 – 03

President: Carl Cannon (Clergy). Club holds breakfast meetings at Palisades Golf Course. Funds from a successful Pancake Day went for scholarships, YMCA, Scouts, Clermont Neighborhood Center, Miracle League, Green Isle Ranch, and local schools. $1820. was raised for the Polio Plus campaign. Two Interact Clubs formed in local high schools, and 2 students are sponsored to attend RYLA. The club also played host to the Governor and District 6980 Club Presidents.

2003 – 04

President: Anthony Myers (Utility Contractor). Club holds breakfast meetings at the Diamond Players Club

2004 – 05

President: Gary L. Clark (Financial Adviser). Club celebrates 50th anniversary. Club Awarded RI Foundation Every Rotarian Every Year and RI Presidential Citation. Centennial Community Project Participating Club. Golf Tournament raises $5000

2005 – 06

President: Anthony Myers (Utility Contractor). Club Awarded RI Foundation Every Rotarian Every Year and RI Presidential Citation. First Annual Florida Citrus Shootout Girls Prep Basketball tournament. Golf tournament raises $5800

2006 – 07

President: Larry Rice (Computer Services). Club added 10 Paul Harris Fellows, 2 Bequest Society Members; Club Awarded RI Presidential Citation and District Governor’s Citation. Second Annual Florida Citrus Shootout Girls Prep Basketball tournament; Golf tournament raises $8500; Club distributes personal dictionaries to Clermont school 3rd graders; provides funding for Polio Plus, Give A Kid A Backpack. Club moves meeting location to The Cafe Boquete.

2007 – 08

President: Michele Beyler (Computer Programmer). Club added 4 Paul Harris Fellows, 2 Bequest Society Members; Club Awarded RI Presidential Citation and District Governor’s Citation. Third Annual Florida Citrus Shootout Girls Prep Basketball tournament; Golf tournament raises $7,000; Club distributes personal dictionaries to Clermont school 3rd graders. Club moves meeting location to The Fairfield Inn Hotel.

2008 – 09

President: Denny Blankenship (Annuities). Club added 13 Paul Harris Fellows. Fourth Annual Florida Citrus Shootout Girls Prep Basketball tournament; Golf tournament raises $8500. Club distributes personal dictionaries to Clermont school 3rd graders. Club moves meeting location to The Wesley Center. Members start: 35

2009 – 10 President: Denny Blankenship (Annuities). Ask to step in after incoming President resigned. Club distributes personal dictionaries to Clermont school 3rd graders. Members start: 30

2010 – 11 President: Patty Wells (Law Enforcement). Club distributes personal dictionaries to Clermont school 3rd graders. Golf tournament raises $XX00. Memebrs start: 28

2011 – 12 President: Anna Rose Pauley (Education-Counselor ). Club distributes personal dictionaries to Clermont school 3rd graders. Golf tournament raises $XX00. Two Interact Clubs formed in local high schools, and 2 students are sponsored to attend RYLA. Club sponsors Nicole Bishop as RYE to Spain and Nieves from Spain with Rotarian Beverly Oyler as host family. Members start: 29

2012 – 13 President: Jason Hull (Financial Advisor). Club moves meeting location to Sanctuary Ridge Country Club. Club added 6 Paul Harris Fellows. Golf tournament raises $XX00. 7 students are sponsored to attend RYLA. Club sponsors RYE students Holly Bishop to Brazil and Angela McTigue to Thailand. Members start: 28