Rotarians prepare to end year; hold club assembly

Kilgore Rotary Club prepared to end its fiscal year by holding a Club Assembly and Classification Talk on Wednesday.

Jerry Camp was the guest speaker for classifications, while all of the directors gave informal remarks on the club activities for the year during the club assembly.

Camp, the owner of a medical uniform business in Longview, grew up in Mt. Pleasant but came to work in the Kilgore-Longview area before taking jobs in the Metroplex. He and his wife, a native of this area, decided they wanted to come home and returned two years ago to take over the current business he owns.

Pam DeCeault got him involved in Rotary, and he will be the Program Chairman for the coming year. He also has a flag route and volunteers for all of the service projects as well.

"I have really enjoyed being a member of the Rotary Club, and I feel this club has a lot to offer the community," he said.

In the community, he has served the past two years as Relay For Life Committee chairman, and the group has raised over $200,000 for cancer research during his two-year term. This next year, he will serve as Treasurer of the organization while Rachel Conner takes over as chair.

He also volunteers at the Gregg Home for the Aged as well as being very active in the First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore in several capacities. He teaches Sunday School, serves on the Finance Committee as well as other duties.

During Club Assembly, each director for avenue of service reported on activities for the year, and President Greg Murphy said it has been a busy year for Kilgore Rotarians.

"We may not have done as much as we have in the past, but we certainly have done a lot," he said. "We have had a great year and I appreciate each and every one of you for your work."

Jason Cottrell, of the Kilgore Fire Department, was honored as the Public Servant of the Month. He was accompanied by his superiors in the department to the luncheon and was given a plaque of appreciation and lunch.

The club put out 1,250 flags on Friday evening and Saturday morning and then pick them up on Monday afternoon and evening. This will generate about $30,000 in revenue for the year.

Flags will also be put out on Flag Day, Wednesday, June 14th and stay out until Saturday, June 17th.

President Greg Murphy and other Rotarians went to Kilgore High School Tuesday as well as to Sabine High School to hand out scholarships. Eight scholarships valued at $800 each were handed out to KHS students. Those getting the awards were Yurike Arifin, Emely Contreras, Berrenice DeSantiago, Heather Hood, Todd Lockman, Luis Perez, Katie Sanders and David Whipkey II. At Sabine High School, Lacey James and Nathan Cain were given scholarships.

All students receiving scholarships will be attending Kilgore College this next year.

This week, Jan Jaynes will give a program on the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation on a Kilgore Historical Moment.

Kilgore Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon in the ballroom of the Meadowbrook Country Club. Guests are always welcome.