SD Kiwanis Club History

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego was chartered in 1920, the first in San Diego County.  Eighty years later the club is the largest of the 70 Kiwanis Clubs in San Diego and Imperial County.  The club is also known as Downtown Kiwanis, but has approximately 125 dues-paying members and 29 honorary or otherwise privileged members from throughout the region.
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego represents a diverse spectrum of business, government, military, and community leaders providing services to youth and the community.
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego has a proud history.  These major programs mark that history and are often referred to by club members: 

  • Children's Hospital

Through the years, the club has had a very close relationship with Children's Hospital.   The club was a major financial contributor and a force that led to the founding of the hospital.  Over the years, the Kiwanis Club of San Diego has contributed more than $551,000 to its programs.  Participation continues through activity in the hospital's Mile of Quarters campaign and in contributions to help the hospital meet its needs.

Laurels for Leaders is governed by a board of directors consisting of members of the Kiwanis Club of San Diego, school officials, public and private leaders of the community.  The program was established to recognize and honor the high leadership accomplishment of the student body presidents of San Diego County high schools.  The program culminates in an annual luncheon at which the student leaders are presented certificates of recognition, a distinguished speaker brings them a message on patriotism and leadership and in 2003 eighty-one students were given a cash gift of $500.   The luncheon is held in February around the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  This time was selected to relate the event to these great presidents and to recall their service to their country and their patriotic devotion.

  • Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl was also founded with the help of the club.  In addition to being a force behind the development of the Holiday Bowl, the annual Kiwanis Holiday Bowl luncheon was a must-attend civic event.  The club gave control of the luncheon to the Holiday Bowl Committee some years ago and now supports the Holiday Bowl through the sale of tickets to the game itself as a form of fund raising for the club.
  • Pillars of American Freedom
In the 1960s and 1970s, the club put on a series of luncheons called the Pillars of American Freedom.  These events featured notable national and international figures as speakers.  They were attended by hundreds of citizens from throughout the San Diego area as well as civic leaders and gave the club a reputation as the leading social service organization in the city.  The emerging Program/Public Forums Committee is, in part, keeping in mind the success of Pillars of Freedom in developing the format for its forums.

Past Club Presidents
 

1920—Ed P. Sample*

1921—W. H. Fraser*

1922—C. E. Rinehart*

1923—George L. Mayne*

1924—John J. Frazer*

1925—Arthur J. Morse*

1926—Edgar McMath*

1927—Glen O. Perkins*

             Eugene Zeiss*

1928—Robert L. Mueller*

1929—Sam R. Frazee*

1930—A. G. Peterson*

1931—T. O. Scripps*

1932—P. H. Davenport*

1933—Donald E. Hanson*

1934—Dr. C. E. Sisson*

1935—Dr. E. G. Colby*

1936—Arthur M. Shoven*

1937—Emery D. Sherwin*

1938—Thomas F. Bomar*

1939—Dr. Frank M. Lowe*

1940—E. G. Merril, Jr.*

1941—Harry G. Malm*

1942—John Aseltine*

1943—Russell S. Stowell+

1944—Berma W. Bonham*

1945—Edward P. Scott*+

1946—Andy Borthwick*

1947—Orien W. Todd, Jr*+.

1948—A. Monroe Sanders*

1949—Richard A. Nelson*

1950—Dwight E. Keider*

1951—S. Robert Frazee*

1952—Howard Carroll*

1953—Leo B. Calland*

1954—Herbert C. Peiffer, Jr.*

1955—Leslie E. Gehres*

1956—Dr. Roy French Kidd*

1957—Norman D. Ferguson*

1958—Dr. Cecil D. Hardesty*

1959—Dr. Clyde Cunningham*

1960—Julius J. Fink*

1961—Pat Hyndman

1962—Lawrence Carr, Jr.*

1963—George K. Palmer*

1964—James M. Gillean*

1965—Richard L. Johnston

1966—Fred S. Hage, Jr.*

1967—Milton R. Cheverton*

1968—Don R. Driese*

1969—James O. Hewitt

1969-70—Robert H. Bollum

1970-71—Douglas Giddings

1971-72—Walter A. Zitlau*

1972-73—Ben W. Hagar*

1973-74—C. A. Karaberis*

1974-75—LeRoy A. Bellwood*

1975-76—M. Ted Dixon+

1976-77—Harry D. Frels+*

1977-78—Robert W. Klaiber

1978-79—Ellis M. Benson

1979-80—Thomas C. Peek

 

 

1980-81—Jack M. Templeton

1981-82—Paul R. Pulliam

1982-83—Robert A. Shumake

1983-84—Rene H. Gentry*

1984-85—Clark B. George+*

1985-86—Richard A. Shaw

1986-87—Morris A. Peelle

1987-88—Griff J. Hayes*

1988-89—Charles F. Merz

1989-90—James W. Hurry*

1990-91—J. Scofield Hage

1991-92—James W. Ledwith

1992-93—Michael P. Alessio

1993-94 - Jay W. Jeffcoat

1994-95 - Mark McDonald +#

1995-96 - Sally Hazard

1996-97 - Don Sturek

1997-98 - Carl Nettleton

1998-99 - Conny Jamison

1999-00 - Ronald L. Munroe

2000-01 - John L. Kizer

2001-02 - Stephen All

2002-03 - Art Stillwell

2003-04 - Persida Drakulich

2004-05 - Doug Frost

2005-06  - Tom Bauer

2006-07 - LaDrue Jordan

2007-08 - Judy Leitner

* Deceased    + Past Lt. Governor

#Past District Governor