Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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20 UCW JANUARY 20-26, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 100 years of tradition, service and commitment e Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville was chartered in 1920 as one of 7,700 clubs in 80 countries. Our motto is "Serving the Children of the World." e Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville has a rich and storied history leading the way toward a better community for all our citizens. Since November 10, 1920, when a gathering of "20-odd young, vital businessman" heard a representative of Kiwanis International describe the organization, the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club has been a significant force in the civic life of their town and city. A week later, at 1 o'clock on November 17, 1920, as the Fayetteville Observer's front-page headline put it : "About 75 Business Men of City Attend Luncheon of Kiwanis Club Here Today." e gathering sang songs, heard another pep talk, and handed out membership applications. ree months after the first luncheon meeting, Fayetteville Kiwanis Club celebrated its charter night, with the Observer headline trumpeting: "Kiwanis Club's Charter Night Most Elaborate In Entire History of City." More than 180 members and guests were in attendance. Hands-on service has been a Kiwanis distinctive from its earliest days. In 1923, Kiwanians packed Christmas boxes for needy families, and it became a holiday tradition. With so many of its members active in the community's civic and political life, it was natural that Fayetteville Kiwanis would, from its start, take on betterment projects and speak out on public issues. In 1924, the club "threw open its meeting" for a program to launch the infant Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. at earned a front-page editorial in the Observer headlined: "Kiwanis Club Does A Sensible ing." In its first 20 years, the club supported regular clinics for dis- abled and special needs babies, a driver training school for teen- agers, a high school field day, Boy Scout troops, the YMCA's drive for a new building, and construction of an "athletic arena" at Fayetteville High School. e club's tradition of honoring members for their service to the community began early when the E.J. Wells Cup was established in 1925. e first recipient was Benjamin R. Huske, an inveterate booster of Fayetteville's commercial and civic betterment. e Wells Cup remained the only official award for nearly 20 years, until 1943, when the Strupler-Williamson Cup for the best program was established. e Secretary's Cup for best committee chairman has been awarded since 1954, and the Highsmith Cup for outstanding committee members since 1965. In post-World War II years, the club entered new Kiwanis fields, with particular emphasis on the community's youth. It estab- lished Key Clubs at Fayetteville High in 1947, Massey Hill in 1949, and Hope Mills in 1951. Another long-standing Kiwanis program began in 1955 with the first Talent Night program. By then, club membership had passed 100, and the Fayetteville club was among the largest in Kiwanis. e club's standing soared to the ultimate heights in 1960, when club member and former Mayor J.O. Tally Jr. took the gavel as president of Kiwanis International. e worldwide organization then included 4,750 clubs and 260,000 members. In the decades since, the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville continued to serve its community. Phil Harris, Sr. served as the Governor of the Carolinas (NC & SC) of Kiwanis International from 1990 - 1991. He is the second member of the Club to serve as District Governor. Around 1993, the club held their first Reverse Car Raffle. A few years later in 1996, past president Sandy Saunders negoti- ated on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville with the City of Fayetteville to have naming rights on the new recreation center at Honeycutt Park. is provided the Club with a large enough meet- KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL