Kent State sociology professor Jim Laing was our president during the years 1946 and 47. He was determined to make it the best of all years. This was the year after the big war. It was the year to redo; it was the year to set the world on a safe and sturdy foundation; it was the year to write our wrongs. We wanted to build not to destroy.Dr. George Bowman, then president of Kent State University, was readying the institution for the postwar boom. Student enrollment was almost 5000 as the university began a steady climb to more than 20,000 in 1970.
Bill Taylor, journalism professor at KSU headed a drive to secure rooms for the increasing number of KSU students. Burt Spellman was honored by the Boy Scouts of America for his continuing leadership. Rol Weingart, Streetsboro farmer, was telling service clubs of the modernization of farm production.
An inspirational member of Kent Rotary was John Paulfi who had immigrated to the United States in 1907. A former cavalry officer in the Hungarian army, Palfi found the United States to be the land of his dreams. He settled here, raised a family and was affectionately known for his ownership of motion picture theaters in northern Ohio.
Other interesting programs and speakers included Colorful Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians, and later in the year, Tris Speaker. Lou Fageol, then president of Twin Coach Motor Co., told Rotarians of his racing experiences at the Indianapolis 500.
At years end the president's gavel was handed to Kent Schools Superintendent, Howard Smith.
Jim Myers
An inspirational member of Kent Rotary was John Paulfi who had immigrated to the United States in 1907. A former cavalry officer in the Hungarian army, Palfi found the United States to be the land of his dreams. He settled here, raised a family and was affectionately known for his ownership of motion picture theaters in northern Ohio.
Other interesting programs and speakers included Colorful Bill Veeck of the Cleveland Indians, and later in the year, Tris Speaker. Lou Fageol, then president of Twin Coach Motor Co., told Rotarians of his racing experiences at the Indianapolis 500.
At years end the president's gavel was handed to Kent Schools Superintendent, Howard Smith.
Jim Myers