Memphis Central Rotarian

Vol. 32, No. 16   Meeting No. 1483        October 20, 2006       Editor: Jean Patterson
   

Today’s meeting
11:45 a.m. Chickasaw Country Club, R. C. Johnson, University of Memphis.  Al Hollingsworth, program coordinator.

About R. C. Johnson

R.C. Johnson, who has worked for 32 years in athletic administration and previously served as athletic director at Temple University, was named the Director of Athletics at the University of Memphis on December 29, 1995. Johnson came aboard in February of 1996 and immediately set forth in putting together one of the most renowned athletic staffs in school history.

Since his arrival, Johnson has hired such high-profile coaches as former Clemson head football coach Tommy West, former New Jersey Nets and UMass head basketball coach John Calipari, baseball coach Daron Schoenrock and Lady Tiger basketball coach Blair Savage who is considered one of the up-and-coming young coaches in the country.

With his staff completed, Johnson set his sights on revamping University of Memphis athletic facilities. Johnson initiated a capital campaign to add a new 8,000-square-foot football and basketball office complex to the current Athletic Office Building, a new basketball practice facility and a complete renovation of the Murphy Athletic Complex. The $8 million campaign was the largest fund-raising effort in the history of Memphis athletics and has brought the Tiger athletic facilities on-line with the Conference USA sister institutions.

During his tenure, Johnson has created the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, the Tiger Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and the Athletic Director's Ambassadors Club.

An Ottawa, Ill., native, Johnson has his bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Iowa and a master's in physical education from the University of Northern Iowa.

He is a member of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics and serves on the NCAA Management Council. Johnson is the Chair of the C-USA Athletic Directors while also serving on the C-USA Bowl Committee and Finance Committee. His involvement in the Memphis community includes serving on the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority. He also is a member of the University of Memphis President's Council.

Johnson and his wife, Melba, have three children and five grandchildren.

Future meetings                                                                                        
10/27/06:  TBA.

Coming events – mark your calendars now

Saturday evening, December 16, our annual Christmas Party and Silent Auction will be held at the Buckman Performing Arts Centre.  More information to come very soon from the party and auction chair, Bill Eddings and his committee.

Sunday afternoon, March 25, 2007 – world renowned pianist Richard Dowling in concert at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre.  Tickets are only $28.00 per person for this amazing 90 minute concert featuring both classical and ragtime/jazz pieces.  This is a new fund-raising event on our club’s calendar.  Bill Matthews is chair of the event.

October birthdays
10/04:   R. E. Linkous (Linkous Construction Co.)
10/06:   Karen Shea (Fish & Associates)
10/07:   Gary Rutherford (Glenn Rutherford & Co.)
10/11:   Carlton Smith (Remote Internet Corp.)
10/12:   Bill Eddings (Chris Woods Construction Co. Inc.)
10/16:   Floyd McDaniel (cellulose research, retired)
10/31:   Pedro Fernandez (KM Logistics/Cummins Inc.)

A message from John & Angie May

Hello to everyone,

We would like to ask you all for your prayers.  Today Angie had a lumpectomy for breast cancer.  The lump was only 8mm (the size of a pea).  The doctor didn’t think and we didn’t think it would be a big deal (due to the size and type of cancer).  However, when the doctor tested the lympnodes, he discovered it had spread to one of the first three so he removed a lot of them for testing (I think 10).  We should have these results in a few days.  The doctor said Angie will have to have chemo and radiation.  The next two to three weeks Angie will be healing from this surgery, meeting with doctors, and taking additional tests.  Then we will start the program of chemo for around 16 weeks and then radiation for a month or two.  

Please keep us in your prayers.  Thank you.

John & Angie
 
Haiti Mission walk-a-thon called a huge success

When Marty Petrusek asked our club members to “put on your walking shoes” to participate in the annual Walk for Haiti Mission on Friday and Saturday, October 6 and 7 he didn’t know how many of us would answer his call.  As you know, we have been involved in supporting the Haiti Mission for several years.  The benefit was held at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2300 Hickory Crest    Marty invited everyone in our club to meet at the church at 9:00 a.m. to walk (at a pace comfortable for all) for one hour.  In addition to Marty, these club members participated----and made a minimum $25.00 donation each:  Jim Crone, Bill Eddings, Randolph Reeves, Jack Robinson, Lee Whipple and Dick Wieland.  Gary Rutherford made a donation but was unable to take part in the walk because of a conflict in his schedule.  Thanks to everyone who attended this event.  It’s the major international activity on our club’s Rotary calendar so your assistance is very much appreciated!

Last week’s meeting
President Jim Crone welcomed us to the 1482nd meeting of the Rotary Club of Memphis Central.  Gary Rutherford offered the invocation and led us in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  Jean Patterson introduced two guests:  Floyanne Dobbs, guest of her brother, Tom Michael; and Ellis Smith, a Rotarian from LaGrange, GA and guest of Jeff Jones.  
Bill Eddings was as usual in charge of the Floyd’s Fund drawing.  He collected $65.00----$33.00 to be donated to the club’s Scholarship Fund and $32.00 to the holder of the lucky ticket drawn.  Ticket #163270 belonged to Gary Rutherford who as usual when his ticket is pulled, immediately donated his win back to the club.  And, as usual, we say “thanks, Gary!”
        President Jim Crone shared a story with us concerning his trip earlier in the week to Las Vegas.  Actually, the story was more about his lack of familiarity with the geography of the state of Nevada.  You see, Jim was in Las Vegas to attend an industry convention.  Being the great salesman he is, he had made arrangements to meet with a customer in Elko during the several days Jim was in Vegas.  He confirmed his appointment with the customer for the following day.  Jim planned to drive from Las Vegas to Elko the next morning in order to arrive in Elko in time to host a luncheon meeting.  Jim did his homework the night before and learned that the distance between the two cities is 440 miles! That’s like driving from Memphis across state to Chattanooga.  Jim got up in the wee hours of the morning to make the trip that included a large portion of Highway 50, known affectionately by Nevada residents as the “loneliest road in the United States”.  Oh, yes. . . .Jim’s customer was so impressed by his tenacity and dedication to the Young Group (Jim’s employer) that he gave him the order!
        Tom Michael, our sergeant-at-arms, evidently was trying to make a good impression on his guest, his sister Floyanne Dobbs.  I can’t believe the old sarge would otherwise have let so many people off the Wheel.  In fact, Tom never even spun the Wheel.  Was that on purpose or did he have something else in mind for today?  Stay tuned for further (if any) developments.
Our speaker, Linda Walter of Regency Travel, was introduced by Laura House. The program focused on the United States’ historic relationship with France.  We also learned about France’s various regions with a specific look at Normandy.  

Club meetings in the surrounding area    
For the convenience of our members we’re providing an updated list of nearby club meetings where we can make up our misses. Please save this list for future reference.  

MONDAY  
No meetings close to the Memphis area.    
TUESDAY    
Collierville – Noon, Ridgeway Country Club
Memphis– Noon, Cook Convention Center  
Olive Branch – Noon, Olive Branch Country Club, Germantown Road    
Oxford– Noon, Oxford University Club, 300 North Lamar
WEDNESDAY    
Germantown-- Noon, Germantown Country Club, 1780 Kimbrough    
Hernando – Noon, the Magnolia Restaurant, 131 Commerce  
Holly Springs – Noon, Christopher’s Personal Care Home, 885 Highway 178E    
Memphis East – Noon, Racquet Club,  5111 Sanderlin Dr.  
Robinsonville -- 8 am, Hollywood Diner, Old Highway 61      
THURSDAY    
Bartlett/Cordova – Noon, Colonial Country Club, 2736 Countrywood Pky, Cordova      
Southaven – Noon, Boiling Point Restaurant, 55 Church Rd. (near Civic Center)    
Tunica – Noon, Women's Club Building, corner of River and School Streets  
FRIDAY  
 Senatobia –  12:15 p.m., Northwest Junior College campus, Haraway Center      

Club roster    
Rod Ashley 363-6000                                Jack Robinson  213-3993                                  
L.D. Beard  369-9642                                        Gary Rutherford  753-7957                    
John Bennett 853-3460 *                                                   Mabel Rutherford  755-3815    
Yves Calvert 767-8776                                      Tidwell Semmes  767-5752 *    
Bert Canfield 634-2730                                  Karen Shea  767-0668  
Larry Conn  682-1800                                              John Shepherd  850-1061  
Jim Crone  570-0125 (cell #)                                Carlton Smith  690-1203
Leroy Dahler 362-9700                                                Henry Springer  757-9005*
Ray Darby  366-7800                                 Jack Springer  681-0025        
Fred Davis  761-9486                                                      Jim Vandenburg  735-7003 *        
Jerry Daws 757-8578                                                         Lee Whipple  755-8350  
Bill Eddings 386-3182                                                     Dick Wieland  270-3778 (cell #)
Pedro Fernandez  568-1575                                 Gordon Wilson  678-4101  
DeeDee Fowler  485-1678
Henry Francis 754-3405 *                                                      
Doc Harris 662-429-4551**                          
Al Hollingsworth 767-3600          
Laura House 323-6216            
Jay Hudson  529-3632                                                                                        
Rick James  362-3492 X27            
Jeff Jones  853-8109                                                                                                    
Doyle Lemons 756-6536                            
R.E. Linkous 754-0700
David Luiken  382-3823
Harvey Marcom 761-2016
Bill Matthews  345-5650
John May 259-3631
Floyd McDaniel  327-2013  
Tom Michael  759-2143                        
Bob Neal  685-7772
Don Palmer 662-429-1542**
Jean  Patterson 332-5586, Ext. 1295      
Chester Perry 685-0972*  
Marty Petrusek  348-2832
Andy Peters 821-4145  
Mike Robbins  363-5880
Randolph Reeves  681-0507  


* Honorary member        ** On leave of absence