September, 2004 marks a half century of service to the community by The Kiwanis Club of Santa Rosa Suburban. We asked club secretary Doug Murray a few questions about earlier days in the club.

When and where did Suburban begin?

"The first meeting occurred in June, 1954, but Charter Night took place on September 18, 1954 at the Odd Fellows Hall. We were chartered together with the Petaluma Club with five Kiwanis International officers participating.

We began in June with 31 members, headed by Willis Campbell, president; Edwin O. Zumwalt, vice president; and Robert A. Schaeffer, secretary-treasurer. Directors were: Vernon Buck, Donald Cameron, Herbert Latell, William Moon, Charles F. Scott, Franklin T. Weber, and Douglas L. Whited.

The other original members were: Larry Carrillo, W. Larry Cook, William G. Cuneo, Anthony Ferdanzo, Cedric Johnson, Albert L. Kaiser, Robert Leduc, Frank Lewis, John E. Low Jr, Robert Maggiora, Richard McCloskey, Marvin Millman, Howard W. Moen, Allen E. Mulkey, Homer Nelligan, Herbert Nordstrom, James Novelli, Robert Sisson, John P. Taylor, Hal Trebble and Verdun Trione.

By Charter Night the club had 23 more for a total of 51 members. Thomas Arata, Robert Barrett, Robert Binder, Blaine Brainerd, Thomas Byrne, Edward Caulfield, John Gaffney, Daniel Galvin, Rev. Percy Hall, J. Hayes Hunter, Arthur Keyes, Hal Ling, Lester Marato, Richard Maxwell, Daniel McCaskill, Robert O'Leary, Earl Pero, Herbert Snyder, jr., Kenneth Tait, Donald Theriault, Hans Thompson, John Vasil, and Robert Von Grafen. There you have the originals!"

Much of our services programs focus on Sponsored Youth and Youth Services in the Santa Rosa area; what service programs to you recall?

"Our club's contributions have been extensive, not only locally but internationally, e.g., the Ukraine, South Korea, Romania and the IDD program, and not only with youth but also the blind and the elderly. It's also interesting to note that where we were chartered is where we serve our famous Corned Beef & Cabbage dinners, which began at the County Fairgrounds. Our club's history continue, and we are proud to pick up the torch to continue the history & community contributions."

How and when did you become secretary?

"Vernon Buck, one of the original members of the club, held the position of secretary from 1956 to 1976 plus a half year in 1980, a total of 20 ½ years I was asked by the then president, Don Iodence, to fill in when Dennis Marks left the club in January, 1982. I found a home and stayed; 22 years so far. How far can a guy go?"