In honor of Civitan International’s 80^th club's 80^th Anniversary, we proudly offer this history of our organization, the men who have made it great, and the many causes we have served. This history consists of three sections: 
The first section features a reprint of the Club history written for our 50^th Anniversary in 1972; 
The second section is a continuation and update of that history from 1972 through 1997. 
The first and second sections were printed in a commemorative booklet issued in 1997 for our 75th Celebration. 
The third section is an update covering 1997 –2002, is exclusive to this website, not yet printed in booklet form.

At the end of a half century it is a privilege to stop, to look back and recall some of the achievements and services rendered by the Salisbury Civitan club to the community. It has promoted the highest ideals of good citizenship and helped relate them to the community. We honor the many Civitans who have served so well in times of National emergency as well as in normal times. They distinguished themselves and brought honor to the club and to the community. The accomplishments of these should create for each of us an incentive for even greater service in the years ahead.

The Salisbury Civitan Club has been a leader among the service clubs of Salisbury. In its early days, the membership came from the younger businessmen of the city, many of the veterans of World War I. Through their enthusiasm; many progressive ideas were promoted and carried to successful conclusions by the citizens of the community. It is significant that the Club has always supported all groups that proposed measures for the progress of the city and the promotion of good citizenship. Often the Club has led. Where others have led, the CC did not hesitate to follow. The Club has also enjoyed a reputation for good fellowship among its members and with other service and civic groups.

The Official Charter for the Club was issued August 15, 1922. It was the ninth Civitan Club organized in North Carolina and the third service club organized in Salisbury. Its high ideals came as a fresh incentive in the civic, economic and social life of the community. Charter night was September 5, 1922, with the Charlotte Civitan Club as the sponsor for the new Club. Twenty-five members of the Charlotte Club attended Charter Night.

The first meeting was conducted by William E. Hennessee, president of the Club. Charles L. Coggin, vice president, introduced Civitan O. B. Eaton, former mayor of Winston-Salem, and the official representative of Civitan International, who made the formal presentation of the Charter to the Club President. Civitan Eaton outlined the high ideals of Civitan and commended its creed as a guiding principle for each member of the Club.

"I AM CIVITAN; AS OLD AS LIFE, AS YOUNG AS THE RAINBOW; AS ENDLESS AS TIME."

Among the distinguished guests present for the occasion were:

T. Wingate Andrews, Superintendent of City Schools and President of the Salisbury Rotary Club.

Peter B. Beard, President of the Kiwanis Club and father of one of the charter members, Bryce P. Beard.

Frank Kennedy, President of the Charlotte Civitan Club.

The first officers of the Club were:    President - William E. Hennessee     Vice President - Charles L. Coggin

Secretary - Byron O. Clark Treasurer - Thomas A. Foreman    Sgt. At Arms - Fred H. Young

The first officers served for a term of six months. In 1925, the Constitution and By-Laws were changed to extend the terms to one year. The last charter member who remained active in the Club was Postmaster James A. McKenzie, who died in 1965.

The club was part of the Carolinas District of Civitan International until June 1947, when it became a part of the newly formed North Carolina District. Members of the Salisbury Civitan Club have been active in both the Carolina District and North Carolina District. These include:

Dr. Walter L. Tatum, District Governor and E.W. G. Huffman, District Secretary-Treasurer, 1929-30; Charles F. Daniel, District Trustee, 1930-31 and Lt. Governor 1931-32; Fred J. Stanback, Lt. Governor, 1938-39; Donald C. Dearborn, Lt. Governor, 1943-44 and First Governor, North Carolina District, 1947-48; D. Clyde Young, Sr., Lt. Governor, 1944-45; and William A. Sherrill, first Secretary-Treasurer of North Carolina District, 1947-48.

In the fall of 1928, the young Club was host to a meeting of the Carolinas District and the International Council of Civitan. A club in a small city seldom had the honor of being host at such an important meeting. It was a gala event, with International President, James M. McLean of New York City as the guest speaker.

During 1930, the club undertook a project to help promote Good Citizenship. A Citizenship Recognition Program was established in each of the high schools of Rowan County, with the cooperation of Dr. George Howard, Supt. of Rowan County Schools and the high school principals. An annual award was presented to the senior student selected as the outstanding citizen in each high school. The presentations were made by club members as part of the commencement exercises. The program has been a continuing success through the years and holds a high place in the overall program of the schools. The sponsorship of these awards is now shared with other Civitan Clubs in our county. The adoption of this Citizenship program in the schools, at the time of the Great Depression shows something of the spirit of the club and the vision of its members. Good citizenship is needed most when social, political and economic affairs are at a low ebb. A similar program has become one of the projects of Civitan International.

The Salisbury Civitan Club was the first local service club to advocate the Council-Manager form of municipal government. The club actively promoted the idea and won the support of other groups. In 1927, the citizens of Salisbury voted their approval of this form of government in a citywide referendum. Salisbury was one of the first cites in Piedmont North Carolina to take the first evidences of the spirit that has grown over the years changing a self-satisfied old city into a progressive All-American City of today.

"MY HANDS DO THE WORK OF THE WORLD. THEY UPHOLD THE TEMPLE OF INDUSTRY AND MAKE CLEAN THE MARKET PLACE."

The Salisbury Civitan Club has become a "Club of Mayors." Seven of its members have served a Mayor of the City; as follows:

Charles F. Raney, Clifford Peeler, D.C. Dungan, John H. Isenhour, S. Holmes Plexico, E. Linwood Foil, and Louis J. Harrison.

The list of Civitans who have served in responsible positions of government from the local to the national level is impressive. The include City Councilmen, County Commissioners, a City Manager, members of Municipal boards, School Superintendents, a Postmaster, State Legislators, Members of State Commissions, and a member of the U.S. Congress. Among the members of the club have been, a College President, College Deans, Professors and Trustees, Engineers, Business Executives, Teachers, merchants, Ministers, Bankers, Insurance Representatives and others on almost every phase of our social, political, religious, economic and educational life.

Civitans have held positions of importance in many organizations. Three members have served as Commanders of the North Carolina Department of American Legion and one has served as National Chaplain.

The Salisbury Civitan Club has sponsored four Civitan Clubs in Rowan County. Two of them, the Rockwell and the Rowan club remain active. Two Junior Civitan Clubs have been sponsored: Salisbury (Boyden) High School and Davie County High School.

For a number of years, the Salisbury Civitan Club maintained a Tourist Park in the southern part of the city, near the present intersection of South Fulton and South Main Streets. This was one of the early efforts to attract visitors to the city. In 1931, the park was turned over to the city for use as a neighborhood playground and continued to be known as Civitan Park until the land was sold for commercial purposes in 1940. While it was in use, Civitan Park was the only public recreational area provided in the city other than the school grounds. It was the beginning of the extensive recreational programs now provided by the city.

World War II found the youthful Civitans of 1922 among the middle-aged citizens of the community. Without exception, the entire membership of the Club gave liberally in everyway possible in the service of the Nation. Leadership was furnished for many of the wartime drives, in Civilian Defense and in the Red Cross to name two. Some of the members entered active service in the armed forces and served with distinction. We are proud to have on our Roll of Honor the following:

Dr. Walter L. Tatum         Nelson Haden                 Frank B. Sloop        H. Eugene Morris        
Horace A. Lewis             Rev. Lucius R. Evans       William S. Ludwig     Lewis A. Peeler

Dr. Walter Tatum and Nelson Haden gave their lives that Good Citizenship might not perish form our Nation. Their names are enshrined among the noble citizens who helped make certain that our land shall continue to be the "Home of the Free." The record of all those who were in the armed services is a proud history. In 1956, the Club established the following Memorial Scholarships:

1. The Walter L. Tatum Nurses Scholarship was originally established for use at Rowan Memorial Hospital Nursing School. With the phasing our of nurses training at the hospital, this Scholarship will be transferred to the Nurses Training program of Rowan Technical Institute.

2. The John Nelson Haden Music Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate of one of the Rowan County High Schools who elects to continue the study of music at Catawba College.

In 1960, the Club established an annual "Teacher of the Year" award for the teachers of the Salisbury City Schools. A second award was added two years later to recognize "Excellence in Teaching." These awards have received enthusiastic approval. They bring deserved distinction to outstanding teachers each year and provide another example of the Club’s interest in Quality Education.

Under the leadership of the late Charles T. Burkett, chief of the Salisbury Fire Department, the Salisbury Civitan Club joined a number of other groups in the county in sponsoring a fire prevention-training program for use in the schools and in industry. This program has attracted statewide attention.

The high esteem of the citizens of Salisbury for two Civitans has been expressed in the naming of two of its public schools for them. The Frank B. John Elementary School was named for Frank B. John, who lost his life through an accident while a teacher in the city schools. This facility was phased out as a school in 1962, but it continues to be used as the Administrative Offices of the Schools and the Visual Arts – TV Center. Knox Junior High School was named for Civitan Jack H. Knox, an active member of the Club, who was superintendent of the City Schools for many years.

In 1953, the City of Salisbury celebrated in 200^th anniversary. Three of the five-member Executive Committee for this Bicentennial celebration were Civitans. Chairman James H. McKenzie was largely responsible for the unequaled success of this event, which was highlighted by a visit to Salisbury by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

During the most recent decade of the existence of the Salisbury Civitan Club, our nation has witnessed and experienced tragedies that have raised doubts in the minds of many as to whether this nation can survive, as we know it. This decade has been the one in which the term "generation gap" has become an overworked cliché. The past ten years has been a period in which the national strength of the major service clubs has declined somewhat in membership and Civitan is no exception.

In spite of traumas of the ‘60s, Salisbury Civitan Club has continued in supporting local, district and international projects and has displayed leadership in initiating new ones. The last governor of North Carolina District (1964-65) was Marion M. Richards of our club. It was during the administration of Governor Richards that the idea of a Center to study the causes and treatment of mental retardation was conceived and a successful campaign to raise $100,000 for the Center was carried out. The Salisbury Civitan Club raised over $5,000. The Center located at Duke University was dedicated in November 1971.

It was during the administration of Governor Richards that the North Carolina District was divided into North Carolina Districts East and West with a smooth administrative transition being achieved.

"Chub" Richards’s dedication and leadership of Civitan at the local and district levels led to his selection for service on numerous International Committees. He served as Vice President of Zone 3 – Civitan International from 1970 to 1972. His leadership at every level of Civitan was recognized in the award of an International Honor Key at the 1972 International Convention at Minneapolis.

Other members of our club have served Civitan beyond the club level. Milton B. Faust was Governor of North Carolina District West from 1966 to 1967 and Chaplain of C.I. in 1968-69. He is serving again from 1972 to 1973 as International Chaplain. In 1969-1970, Rev. Faust served also as National Chaplain of the American Legion. N. Fred Jordan has served as Lt. Governor of Area 4 and as Chairman of the District and International Committee on Junior Civitan and Youth Activities. He spearheaded the organization of 21 Junior Civitan Clubs whole District Chairman of the Youth Committee.

A 47-year era of the Salisbury Civitan Club ended February 6, 1969, when its meeting place was moved from the Yadkin Hotel to the Ketner Cafeteria. The Hotel had been its meeting place since the Club was organized. In September 1970, the Club returned to the Yadkin until the food service there was discontinued in February 1971. The Club has met at the Holiday Inn since that time. Even though this meeting place is not as centrally located as the Hotel, the average attendance at Club meetings has increased approximately 15% recently.

During the last decade the Salisbury Civitan Club has continued its support of on-going projects including Boys Home, Music and Nursing Scholarships, Junior Civitan Clubs at Salisbury and Davie County High Schools, the Foreign Student Exchange Program, Teacher-of-the-Year Awards in local schools, Mental Retardation Research Center, V.A.V.S. activities and the National Sportscasters and Writers Award program. A new major project was initiated in 1970.The Civitan-Indian Basketball Tournament was held during Thanksgiving weekend at Catawba College. The success of the first two tournaments has firmly established it as a significant revenue source for financing our service projects.

If there is a word that in some measure describes the spirit of the Salisbury Civitan Club, that word is "Progress." From its organization as a service club, Civitan has been alert to promote Good Citizenship and Progress in every phase of community life. Truly, "ITS HANDS HAVE BEN DOING THE WORK OF THE WORLD."

As we close this half-century of service, we face an era when good citizenship will be far more important than at any time in the past. The forces that will dominate the affairs of mankind in the years ahead can either destroy or bring golden years of achievement beyond our comprehension of today. It should be the firm desire of every Civitan and citizen "TO HEAR THE PRAYER OF WOMEN FOR PEACE. THE APPEAL OF MAN FOR GUIDANCE. THE CALL OF THE RACE FOR PROGRESS" and the peaceful use of the products of the mind of man. The spirit of the Man of Galilee must prevail as we continue "TO BUILD A BETTER AND NOBLER CITIZENSHIP."

All of the records of the Club were destroyed by fire in June 1941. A history was compiled by Civitan Charles F. Daniel in April, 1942, from information from the files of The Salisbury Post, recollections of club members and the international office in Birmingham. This history was used as a basis for the account of the early years of the Club, along with historical sketches prepared by Club Historian, Harry E. Isenhour, for the Club’s 25^th and 40^th anniversaries.

Another fire in the spring of 1964 destroyed most of the remaining records of the Club, so again the newspaper, scrapbooks and club members have filled the gaps in the Club’s history.

David J. Sessoms, Jr. Harry E. Isenhour Jack H. Knox

Club Officers 1972-73
President: J. Curtis Montgomery                President-Elect: D. Clyde Young, Jr.
Vice President: Dr. Bobby Lomax             Secretary: Robert M. Garrison
Treasurer: Jack Keeter                              Chaplain: Aubrey K. Cheek
Sergeant-At-Arms: Charles R. Nisbet        Editor-Comments: David J. Sessoms, Jr.

Directors :1972-73
Rev. Curtis Morehead, Chairman         J. Clifford "Tip" Harrison
Jack H. Knox         True T. Loeblein         Elon Massey         William W. Shives, Jr.

50^th Anniversary Celebration Committee 1972-73
Marion M. Richards, Chairman.     David S. Clay     Harry E. Isenhour
Darrell Loeblein     Clifford A. Peeler     George Raynor
William Shives     Dr. D. C. Young, Jr.     Rudy M. Gregory
Jack C. Keeter     Jack H. Knox         Rev. Milton B. Faust
Charles R. Nisbet         Aubrey K. Cheek         David J. Sessoms, Jr.

District Officers 1972-73:
Governor: Ralph M. Lee Mars Hill, NC        Gov.-Elect: Paul V. Ridenhour, Murphy, NC
Editor of The Tar Heel Civitan West      Finley Tynes, Asheville, NC
Lt. Gov Area 4:     J. W. Rogers Richfield, NC
Chaplain Civitan International     Rev. Milton Faust Salisbury, NC
International Youth Activities Committee     N. Fred Jordan, Salisbury, NC

CHARTER MEMBERS Salisbury Civitan Club August 15, 1922
William E. Hennessee William S. Overton Charles L. Coggin
Dr. I. E. Shafer Bryon O. Clark George C. Peeler
Thomas A. Foreman J. E. Sifford Fred H. Young
Cecil Rodgers R. O. Yancey Alfred Brady
I. M. Richardson E.W.G. Huffman Paul Helig
John Seaber Charles E. Malone Sam H. McCubbins
William G. Alexander Bryce P. Beard Benjamin T. Mitchell
Bishop C. Leonard Hayne Blackmer O.G. Barrett
Gilmer L. Martin C. E. Woodall James H. McKenzie

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