205 years. Carmi Kiwanis honored six of it’s own including the club’s first ever female president for the annual Legion of Honor program Thursday and collectively the honorees have poured more than two centuries of service into the community. Toby Brown handled the duties of regaling club members with other notable events locally and in the entertainment world the year members joined. New 25-year members, credited with joining in 2000, include Kim Gwaltney and Ray Smith. Gwaltney was the first female pilot of the organization after women were formally welcomed in 1987. Brown called Gwaltney a trailblazer for the club and said he shuddered to think where the organization would be today without that feminine perspective and touch. Smith shared some of his favorite memories from guiding the club saying his year as president was marred with an unexpected task, finding a new place to meet after an unexpected fire.
At that time, we were meeting at Two Tony’s. I think I’d been president just a week or two and the fire occurred at Two Tony’s. We then started meeting at a couple churches, so I eventually made arrangements here in the basement of the farm bureau building.
The club still meets there. One year prior, in 1999, now Carmi Mayor Bill Stendeback joined and was honored for his 25 years of service after coming to town from Jacksonville, Illinois. Though his work in the funeral industry made attendance and leading efforts iffy at best, he says in retirement from that job has played a role in reminding him how much he loves the community and serving it.
I couldn’t be as active until retirement, but I always enjoyed Corn Day and the setting up and tearing down and working; I did it this year for the first time in several years and really realized I missed something when I wasn’t involved so I will be for as long as I can.
Clocking in at 35 years as a member of Carmi Kiwanis is Gary Cates. In 1990, Cheers, Roseanne, and Unsolved Mysteries were some of the favorite TV shows. Locally, it was the start of one of the most successful coaching reigns in Carmi history as Don Dixon took over head coaching duties of the Lady Bulldogs basketball program. Dixon led the Lady Dogs to 251 wins over the next 11 years and won 85% of the games he coached. Cates was already running a thriving business in Cherry Street Automotive when he joined and he credits Jerry Hart and Dan Drone for influencing his decision to join. Cates has been key to keeping the Kiwanis fleet of vehicles including the iconic “Corn Car”, the Cadillac, and the school bus (now a wagon) performing.
With an incredible 40 years of service to the club and an astounding 55 years of membership are Steve Winkleman and Dr. Frank Barbre, respectively. Both were unable to attend Thursday. Both of their sons, also members, accepted plaques and pins on their behalf and talked about how important the community and club has been and remains to their fathers.
See the full presentation below