Members of the Logansport Noon Kiwanis Club celebrated the organization’s 90th year in the community at their regular meeting Tuesday.
“What a great thing for Logansport and for this club,” Logansport Kiwanis president Bob Dunderman said. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”
When the club was established in 1919, Logansport had a population of about 25,000 residents. Kiwanis member Dick Rusk said at that time the city housed 25 churches, seven hotels, six banks and two newspapers.
Local newspapers cost two cents, or $3.50 for a one-year subscription.
Although a 1919 edition of the Logansport Pharos-Reporter described Logansport as being “already over-clubbed,” the Kiwanis membership jumped from the 62 founding members to 106 members in the club’s first six months.
In honor of the anniversary, Don Canaday, the immediate past president of Kiwanis International, spoke at Tuesday’s meeting.
“A group of caring citizens decided in this community 90 years ago that there were needs not being filled,” Canaday said. “This group has a legacy of touching lives for the better for 90 years. And even though you’ve touched thousands and thousands of lives, it’s deeper than you realize.”
Canaday told a story from personal experience about meeting a man by chance at a restaurant. Canaday and his wife were waiting for seats when he invited a man and his wife to join them at their table so as to cut down on waiting time.
While dining, the man noticed Canaday’s Kiwanis pin. The man said he believed Kiwanis had saved his life.
The man told Canaday he had a rough childhood growing up in Gary, but had been mentored by local Kiwanis members through sports leagues created by the club. The local Kiwanis club gave the man a $500 scholarship, allowing him to attend trade school and eventually become a manager in his trade.
“He told me that scholarship not only allowed him to receive an education, but it kept him out of trouble and allowed him to send his own kids to college,” Canaday said. “And that’s what we do in Kiwanis.”
Canaday has been a member of Kiwanis since 1969 and has served on the international board for the past seven years. Canaday spoke in 23 countries and 26 states during his tenure as international president.
Canaday congratulated the Logansport club for its strong organization and continued commitment.
“You are willing to give of your time, your talent and your treasure for the benefit of someone else,” he said. “I call that the Kiwanis heart.”
• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.
Local News
Kiwanis Club celebrates 90th birthday
- Local News
-
-
Not forgotten
A plaque in Mount Hope Cemetery near a flagpole dedicated to those from Logansport and Cass County who served in the World War reads: “Let those who come after see that these men shall not be forgotten.”
-
LHS freshmen ace algebra ECA
Logansport High School administrators were “ecstatic” last week over results from the statewide algebra I end-of-course assessment that showed passing marks for all the freshmen who took the exam.
-
Logan man hands Indy 500 winner milk
Logansport resident Dave Forgey remembers listening to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio as a kid while his cousins and siblings would gather for a picnic.
- 2012 Lewis Cass graduation
-
Former LPD officer Leal turns himself in
Former Logansport police officer Carlos Paul Leal was arrested Friday afternoon on charges of theft, and officials Saturday said the counts stem from two separate investigations.
-
9-1-1 dispatchers will soon be able to text
Cass County dispatchers will be able to text callers starting this summer — a move that is reflective of where emergency communication services are heading nationwide.
-
Andersons officials predict consistent demand for corn
Farmers, elevator operators and other business associates joined local officials and community leaders to hear from the company’s president and its ethanol group president about industry progress since the plant was built.
-
Former LPD officer arrested, accused of theft
Former Logansport police officer Carlos Paul Leal was arrested Friday afternoon on two charges of theft, according to information obtained today by the Pharos-Tribune.
-
No jail for driver in fatal hit-and-run
A 25-year-old Logansport man admitted Thursday to leaving the scene of a deadly wreck last year, but he will not serve any time in jail as the result of a plea agreement.
-
Board backs 51 percent spike in utility rates
For Paul Hartman, the issue facing the Logansport Stormwater Management Board is pretty simple.
- More Local News Headlines
-




