DISTRICT GOVENOR VISITS

Speaker: William D. Crawford, District Governor (District 6740)

William (Bill) Crawford joined the Carlisle Rotary Club in 1988. He served as club president in 1990-1991 and again in 1998-1999. He served as chairperson of the District 6740 Youth Exchange Committee for three years in the 1990s. Governor Crawford has been a host parent for five Youth Exchange students. He was valedictorian of the 1950 graduating class at Carlisle High School and received a congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Medically discharged before completing studies at the Academy, Bill decided upon a career in radio and television broadcasting. He retired from WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky in 1994, but remains active in Journalism as owner/publisher of The Nicholas Countian & Carlisle Mercury, his hometown community newspaper.

Bill and his late wife Mary were parents of six now-adult children. He is now married to the former Joyce Watts Gibson, an insurance agent and the mother of two adult sons. Bill and Joyce now live in the countryside, five miles outside Carlisle, with their two dogs.

Governor Crawford reminded us that Rotary is about fellowship and service. He said that he had experienced both during his visit with the Rotary Club of Pikeville. He said that he had enjoyed this visit better than any other visit during his tenure as Governor of District 6740. He went on to encourage our Club by stating that if all of the clubs of our district would do 10% of what our club is doing, then we would have a very successful District.

Bill urged our Club to support the four major emphases of this our centennial year. The four emphases are as follows: health concerns, water management, literacy, and the family of Rotary. Each is critical to the well-being of the global community and offer many possibilities for service. He also encouraged all members to attend the District 6740 Centennial Year Conference on May 13-15, 2005 at Blue Licks Battlefield State Park. It will be a “Family of Rotary” event. Bill said that he and Joyce have two extra bedrooms for Rotarians. He has asked all Rotarians in the nine Rotary Clubs of that area of our District to open up their homes for guests during the District Conference.

Thanks, Bill for such an inspirational meeting. Some, no doubt will be moved to action.

Mike Burke