Today's Program:  Dr. Greg Salamo/UofA Dept. of Physics / Nanotechnology research update

Last Week's Program:

Rick McLeod opened the meeting with a verse of “America”, Pam Cicioni led us in prayer.
Reece Garner led us in “Good Old Summertime”

Susan Jasan introduced visiting Rotarians and Guests:

Visiting Rotarians: Karin Schoppmeyer from Fayetteville
John Wagner from Cassville Missouri
Rotarians with Guests:Larry Murphy brought his wife Debbie
Richard Shewmaker brought his son Bryan and Stuart Epley

Wendy Kumpe gave us a report on the Fish Fry:
Over 50% of the members were able to help out and support the event. Our club sold $2,000 worth of tickets on site. More than 1,100 people were served. Unused cases of fish are available to club members for a limited time; after that it will be donated to the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter.

Rick McLeod called for a round of applause for Wendy Kumpe and Dennis Ferguson for their leadership in this event.

Chad Kumpe had a video of the fish fry in place of his usual members in the news segment. He also provided colorful commentary for the presentation.

Rick McLeod made an announcement on behalf of Michael Gower. There will be a tailgating party on Sept 27 in the Rogers Main Street area. Our club needs cooks and cookers to prepare hamburgers. Proceeds will go to support the Athletic Boosters. Rick will touch base with the Rogers Early Risers club to discuss them partnering with us.

John George announced that while his prized speaker “Michael Phelps” fell through we did have some spectacular speakers on the upcoming calendar. Next week will be Dr. Greg Salamo to share with us the wonders of nanotechnology. After that Greg Spragg will visit to give us updates on the wonders of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club. Don Soderquist will be on a future agenda as well; to be announced at a later date.

Hal Savage reminded all Rotarians to fill out their member information forms and get them back to him.

We had two Rotarians submitting make up forms: Maureen Cover Bryan and John Neighouse.

The program consisted of two fellow Rotarians telling the story of their lives. Dick Daniel and Bob Hamilton were selected and had some interesting facts not known by the club.

Dick Daniel: Born in Detroit in 1926. Moved to Plymouth Michigan at age 4 or 5. Enlisted in the Navy at 17 and sent to Notre Dame for 20 months and 105 credit hours as Electrical Engineering student. Went to sea in Pacific for 4 months and home again. Attended U. of Michigan and graduated in 1948 as Electrical Engineer. Married high school sweetheart.Had 5 children Rick, Larry Andrew,Robert and Katie. Employed by King-Seeley and designed oil pressure gauge for Ford cars.1952 joined Daisy as design Engineer. Have several patents on air guns. Worked at Daisy for 32 years. Moved to Rogers in 1958. Became VP Mfg in 1963 and President in 1972 -Retired in 1983. Became Chairman FM corp in 1984 and took them through a bankruptcy and reorganization. Retired again in 1998.


Bob Hamilton: Life and Times of Bob Hamilton

My grandfather Alexander Hamilton, a Scottish immigrant living in New Hampshire booked passage on the Luisitania. However, he rebooked at the request of his employer. Thus he was not one of the 1,195 killed when a German U-boat blew up the luxury liner in 1915. This enabled my father Austin to be born four years later.

In 1942 Austin married Rita Havey in Manchester. One of the guests was Emma.

In 1944 Linda Durham, a direct descendant of Lady Godiva, was born in Corsicana, Texas, Fruitcake Capital of the World

I was born a year later in Boston. I grew up mostly in New England, although we lived in California when I was 11 and I pitched a one hitter. My father was an Electrical Engineer. He was involved with the space program…most notably working with the guidance systems for the Polaris missile, launched from nuclear submarines, and the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM). It was pretty cool knowing that some of Dad’s work ended up on the moon.

Back in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, I played Babe Ruth League ball with Tom Grieve, who would go on to play for the Texas Rangers and is now a broadcaster. I also played high school golf and caddied with another future big leaguer, Oriole shortstop Mark Belanger. Later I was a director of Broken Arrow Youth Baseball and would manage a youth baseball team…the Bobcats. One of the 6 year olds I signed up pitches for the LA Dodgers today…Brad Penny.

I went to Boston College, getting a math degree in 1967. I was doing graduate work at the University of Minnesota when I got drafted. I ended up at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. My aunt told me to look up her old friend Emma, who had married a career soldier. Her husband helped me secure a plum position in Headquarters Battalion. An Army buddy invited me to his house for a home cooked dinner. His wife thought I would be perfect for his cousin Linda. Three months later, we were married in Saint Jo, Texas with Emma as the only wedding guest common to both weddings. Linda and I recently celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary.

We have two children. David has a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois and lives in Quincy Illinois with his wife Jill and their two children. Doug is the Clerk of Court for Douglas County, Kansas. He and I are season ticket holders for KU Football.

In 1993, we had an exchange student from Wolfsburg, Germany live with us. Last year we attended her wedding in Cologne and recently she presented me with a grandson. My wife and I befriended a young woman in Little Rock years ago and now her children consider me their only “Grandpa.” Of these 5 grandchildren, only Leah, born on “pi Day” (3/14/2007) is a true descendent.

I worked in both Dallas and Tulsa as an actuary and benefit consultant. Despite having some very large accounts, such as the Oklahoma and South Dakota state retirement systems, it was a small bank client of mine in Claremore owned by Sam Walton’s in-laws that would have a more profound effect on my life when they made a referral. I have now done work for the Waltons for over 25 years. I am a past director of the Southwest Benefits Association and am currently the Director of Benefits for Arvest and am also an officer of Arvest Trust Company.

My hobbies include genealogy and photography (favorite subjects are grandchildren and covered bridges)


Rick McLeod closed the meeting with the 4-way Test.