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December 12, 2006 |
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R. POWELL MAJORS Happy 100th Birthday By Jim Kelley  President Luther opened the meeting of Charlotte Rotary and announced that today's meeting would be dedicated to the 100th birthday of our own R. Powell Majors. Thomas Moore started the festivities with a singing version of Powell's biography: "Powell was born December 12, 1906 in Poole, Kentucky. His family moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 1921 and in 1928, Powell graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation, he moved to Charlotte and took a job for $125 a month with the accounting firm of Peat Marwick and Mitchell. For the first two months, he stayed at the YMCA on the corner of Second and S. Tryon Streets then rented a room with a college friend in a private home on Greenway Avenue. He rode the streetcar to work, buying four tickets for a quarter. Powell married the lovely Dorothy Fortune in 1933 and together they raised their son Bob and daughter, Nancy. He joined the Rotary Club of Charlotte in March of 1938 and has personally known every president since the chartering of Charlotte Rotary, with the exception of Rogers Davis (1916-1918). Powell served as the club's president in 1946-47 and as you can imagine, has held every job imaginable over his 68 years of membership. In 2004-2005 he was awarded Rotary International's "Service Above Self" award, which was presented to him by RI President Glenn Estess. This prestigious honor is awarded to no more than 150 Rotarians annually throughout the world. Powell also participated in a tree planting ceremony with President Estess on the grounds of CPCC. Actually, this event marked the fifth tree planting ceremony for Powell, the first being in 1939 with International Rotary Founder and President Paul Harris. Did I mention there will be an article on Powell in the January issue of The Rotarian magazine? You won't want to miss it!" John Lassiter, a member of two clubs, Rotary and the City Council, read a proclamation from Charlotte Mayor, Pat McCrory, declaring December 12, 2006 as R. Powell Majors Day. Bill Stegelmeyer presented Powell with a framed copy of the Charlotte Observer dated on Powell's birthday, December 6, 1906. The club showed a brief interview produced by WTVI in connection with the Charlotte Museum of History's exhibit, Personal Legacies: Surviving the Great Depression. Powell said he survived the Depression by honest work, integrity, fairness and living within your means. Thomas Moore finished his tribute to Powell by singing a beautiful version of 'Ole Man River' which made reference to Powell just rolling along for 100 years. Past President Herb presented a scrapbook to Powell which included among other things, letters from the Governor, the President of Rotary International and President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. In addition, those present had the opportunity to write a personal note to Powell, all of which will be included in Powell's scrapbook. A cake was presented to Powell by Sandy and Past President Catherine as 202 fellow Rotarians and guests lit a candle on their cupcakes. Tony Zeiss announced proceeds from the newly established Powell Majors Scholarship for students to attend CPCC and presented a check for $117,572. We thank God for the gift of Powell Majors. Head Table: Dean Jones, Debbie Daniel, Luther Moore, Herb Harriss, Tony Zeiss, Jessica Brasington, Gene Marx; Invocation: Don Sanders Visitors & Guests: Worth Williamson; Health & Happiness: Tom Hutchins; Song: Thomas Moore; Accompaniment: Greg James
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