History of the Rotary Club of As

History of the Rotary Club of Asbury Park

Back to the 1940's 1950's To the 1960's

The Club moved into the Fifties with weekly meetings at the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel. Al Mohn (1949-50) recalls that the Club was never sure which room the meeting would be held in as the hotel hosted so many groups along with conventions and vacationers. A highlight of the Board of Directors Meetings was when President "Al" hosted the Board at the family summer home at Ortley Beach. Members played tennis and shuffleboard and ate lobster, but nobody remembers going in the water.

A project to obtain material for the Boy Scouts at Camp Brisbane was completed on April 20, 1950. The following year, the Club raised money for the new Boy Scout camp at Forrestburg, New York and made a cash donation to the Boy Scouts in Rome, Italy.

Throughout the Fifties, the Club supported the Salvation Army, ringing the bells next to the holiday kettles in-front of Steinbach Department Store and in Press Plaza.

Al Mohn's Rotary record is illustrious: He joined in 1931, served two terms as President of separate clubs, and was a member of three different clubs. His daughter, Betty, is now an Asbury Park Rotarian representing the third generation of her family.

William P. "Bill" Walton (d-1950-;51, our current Bill's father) led the Club on one-, of its several memorable outings to Washington D.C. The Rotarians were hosted by Congressman James Auchincloss in a private dining room at the Capital. Fifty members made the trip. Dr. Harold V. Garrity, Jr. (1960-61) gave instructions on the administration of Alka Seltzer the morning after the first night of the trip. Art Moore (d-1951-52), Don Haight (d-1952-53) and Joe Coupe (d-1953-54) carried the President's Banner until 1954.

Over the years, the Rotary Club of Asbury Park was and continues to be very supportive of the local YMCA. Our records show that on May 21, 1953, the Club donated $300 to the "Y" for a typewriter and a pool vacuum.

In July 1954, Robert D. "Bob" Hope (195455) took over the reins. Today Bob is the oldest senior active member, still serves on numerous committees and has a wealth of interesting Rotary stories. Bob was President when the Club celebrated "The Rotary International Golden Anniversary Year" with a banquet on February 23, 1965, at the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel.

On October 7, 1954, Bob Hope led the membership to the Lederle Pharmaceutical Plant at Pearl River, New York. Earlier that year, Dr. William G. Herrman (d-1934-35) was delegate to the R.I. Convention in Paris, France. Charles H. Armstrong (d-1955-56), Walter "Toots" Reid (d1956-57), father of current member Bob Reid, Dr. Peter J. Guthorn (1957-58) and Clarence Huff (d1958-59) guided the Club until the close of the Fifties. Dr. Peter J. Guthorn was a busy surgeon and many of his patients were also Rotarians. Peter authored several books (Sea Bright Skiffs and Other Jersey Shore Boats, U. S. Coastal Charts, British Maps Of The American Revolution, American Maps and Ma Makers Of The Revolution). It was suggested that he write another book and title it "Inside Rotary".

As a new decade approached, Richard "Dick" Gibbons (1959-60) became President. Dick periodically authors newspaper articles on which he recalls many of the charitable and civic contributions of Rotary on local, state and international levels; and he fondly remarks of the quality of speakers that accepted invitations to address the Club that included Governors, U. S. Senators, Cabinet Members, explorers and authors. The weekly half hour luncheon appearances often made headlines.

Back to the 1940's 1950's To the 1960's

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