Text Box:
A Brief History of the Holiday Rotary Club

 

In February 1977, a group of four business and professional men met in the office of Exchange Bank President Carl F. Schalles, Jr. to discuss the idea of forming a Rotary Club in Holiday, Florida.  The four were Carl Schalles, Roger Michels (Funeral Director), Mike Sakelson (Owner of Auto Tires and Service) and Mike Bilirakis (Attorney and member of the Rotary Club of Tarpon Springs).

 

It was only a few years prior to that day our geographical area was designated as “Holiday”, and it did not have anywhere near the number of residents and businesses that it does today.  These four Holiday business associates concluded that the task would be difficult but not impossible, and embarked on establishing the Holiday Rotary Club.  In June 1977 the Holiday Rotary Club became a reality with a charter banquet night of 36 members.  The Rotary Club of Tarpon Springs was our sponsoring club, and Woody Register was the installing officer.

 

The members of the club were:

 

Cliff Barker                            Mark Houser                         Dr. Mike Sakellarides

Ken Barron                           Paul Howard                        Mike Sakelson

Al Bashaw                             Claud Kirkland                     Judge Marc Salton

Fr. Joe Beaumont                Roger Michels                     Carl Schalles

Steve Bilirakis                      Dan Mlobar                           Jim Slattery

Don Bislick                           Dr. Tony Mouhourtis            Nick Stamathis

Charles Burton                    Ken Murphy                           Ed Thatcher

Bob Butler                             Tom McFadden                    Bob Thompson

Wayne Clarkson                  Perry North                            Dr. Jose Turro

Charles Eberhardt              Len Raubunas                     Clyde Underwood

Sherman Gardner               Chris Rodis                          Don Van Slavich

Dick Hollenbeck                  G.M. Ross                             Rev. Orville Wollard

 

(Bold type indicates charter members that are members of the club today)

 

We were joined by Richard Latarewicz on September 6th, Edwin Hancock on November 15th, and by Ernest Stricsek on December 13th.  By the ruling of our then Board of Directors, these three men were included as charter members.

 

Since our inception the Holiday Rotary Club has raised and donated back to the community in excess of $500,000.

 

Past Presidents

2004-05 Debora Diaz

2003-04 Megan Hollingshead

2002-03 Steve Doran                              1993-94 Edwin Hancock                         1984-85 Robert Blanchard

2001-02 Ed Hancock                               1992-93 Larry Schalles                          1983-84 Marvin Pinkard

2000-01 Russell Marlowe                       1991-92 Tim Storey                                 1982-83 Ernie Stricsek

1999-00 Michael Cox                              1990-91 Greg Armstrong                        1981-82 Mike Sakelson

1998-99 Dr. Glenn Riddle                        1989-90 Jim Lovell                                  1980-81 Ernie Stricsek

1997-98 Linda Simmermon-Tercyak       1988-89 Richard Latarewicz                  1979-80 Joseph Beaumont

1996-97 William Weiskopf                       1987-88 Lee Lovelace                            1978-79 Roger Michels

1995-96 Wallace Peterson                      1986-87 Richard Wellman                       1977-78 Carl Schalles

1994-95 Vincent Buscetta                    1985-86 Ken Martin