"DEATH IS SIMPLY PUTTING OUT A CANDLE BECAUSE MORNING HAS COME."
Updated Thursday, January 22, 2009
In Memoriam: Past District Governor Jeff Farris
The family of Rotary District 6170 has lost one of its own, Past District Governor Jeff Farris. Dr. Farris served as District Governor while a Member of the Rotary Club of Hot Springs Village and was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Hot Springs National Park. His vision for developing future leaders in the Rotary District led to the creation of the Jeff Farris Leadership Academy. He will be sorely missed as not only a great Rotarian, but also as a treasured friend.
Dr. Jefferson Davis Farris, Jr., the sixth president of the University of Central Arkansas, passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. He was 81.
The funeral is set for Monday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs. Visitation will follow the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial gifts be directed to the University of Central Arkansas Foundation.
Farris was born in Springdale, Ark., in 1927 and graduated from Conway High School in 1945. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and mathematics from Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA) in 1949, a master's degree in public health from the University of Michigan and a master's degree in physical education from George Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University). In 1963, he received an educational doctorate in health and physical education from the University of Arkansas.
Along the way, Farris married his high school sweetheart, Patricia "Patsy" Camp, and the couple had three children, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Jeff III.
Farris was a World War II Navy veteran and the second UCA alumnus to become president of the university. His career began at UCA in 1961 when he was appointed chairman of the department of health and physical education, succeeding his father, Jeff Farris, Sr., who had been the department chairman for 17 years prior to his death a year earlier.
After nine years, the school was reorganized and Farris was named dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts and Sciences. In 1974, President Silas Snow retired and Farris was nominated as his successor. On July 1, 1975, Farris assumed the presidency of the university.
During his tenure, Farris led the transition to university status, all the while emphasizing the school's roots in teacher education. Written policies for faculty and staff were put into place, new graduate and undergraduate programs were established and the health sciences program became competitive with other universities. Farris is also credited with calling for the creation of the state's first honors college after listening to the musings of his friend and colleague, Dr. Norb Schedler.
In 1987, Farris left the university after receiving an opportunity to take on a new role with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. After four years, Farris and his wife retired to Hot Springs Village.
In the spring of 2006, Farris was granted president emeritus status at UCA and a new residence hall for upperclassmen in the Honors College was named in his honor. In 2007, he was named co-chair of the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, "New Vision, New Century: The Centennial Campaign for UCA," and that fall the Farris Honors Lecture Series kicked off with a lecture by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Most recently, Farris was named co-chair of the presidential search committee that is working to select the university's ninth president.
Farris is survived by his wife, Patsy; daughters, Rebecca and Elizabeth; son, Jeff III; five grandsons and seven great-grandchildren. Clifford L Horton
Clifford (Cliff) l. Horton passed away November 26, 2008. Cliff was a member of the Rotary Club of Hot Springs National Park and served as District Governor of District 6170 in 1980-81 while a member of the Rotary Club of Conway. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. Cliff was very active in the Hot Springs community serving on the Chamber board and GCIDC. Cliff and his wife of 60 years, Bobbie were extremely active in the Miss Arkansas Pageant serving on that Board as well. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and served on their Board of Stewards.
Cliff was the head basketball coach at UCA for 14 years and Athletic Director for 10 years. He also coached high school basketball at several Arkansas high schools. In 2003 Cliff was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame.
Cliff is survived by his wife Bobbie, two daughters, Linda Diane Smith and Karen Lee Atnip and our grandchildren.
Charles L. Fager, Jr.
Charles L. Fager, Jr (Charlie) passed away January 11, 2008. He was active for many years in the Hot Springs Community working at Arkansas Bank & Trust and involved in many civic organizations locally and statewide. Charlie was a member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Hot Springs. He was a past president of the Rotary Club of Oaklawn and served as District Governor for District 6170 in 1984-1985.
Charles is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dollie, three daughters, four grandsons, one granddaughter, three great grandchildren and two sisters.
Gerald Whittemore
Gerald Whittemore, age 87 passed away Friday December 28, 2007. Gerald was a member of the Rotary Club of Hot Springs Village. Before moving to Hot Springs Village, Gerald served as District Governor in district 6330 in Michigan.
Gerald was active, not only in Rotary, but Shriners and the Arkansas Civil Air Patrol. He had 68 years of active flying.
A member of the First Church Christ Scientist in Hot Springs, Gerald is survived by wife Betty of Hot Springs Village, one daughter, Heather of Sante Fe, New Mexico and one son, Jamie Whittemore of McAllen, Texas, a sister, two brothers and three grandchildren.
Henry Pryor
Henry Pryor died tragically December 9, 2007. Henry was born in Kirbyville, Texas. As a member of the Rotary club of Camden, Henry worked diligently for his community and the improvement of the his chosen home. He was very active in historic preservation work in Camden and Ouachita County in addition to working with numerous community organizations for the improvement and betterment of Camden. Henry was a Past President of the Rotary Club of Camden.
Henry is survivied by his wife of 21 years, Angela Woodward Pryor.
Reed Thomas
Reed Thomas, 102, of De Queen passed away on October 17, 2007. Reed may have been the oldest active Rotarian. At 102 Reed was just three months younger than Rotary International.
Mr. Thomas was born in Tennessee and moved with his family to Texas in 1910, then migrated to De Queen with the family in 1912. During his early life Reed worked in the oil fields of Texas, but always returned home to help the family with the farm, he returned home to stay in 1933 when his father passed away. Reed and Belle Godwin were married in 1935 and moved to California to work in the shipyards during WWII. After the war, Belle and Reed returned to De Queen where he began a construction and land development company.
Reed is survived by his wife of 72 years, Belle, a son Gerald, daughters Carolyn and Sandra, six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
Mr. Thomas was a member of the First United Methodist Church of De Queen and the Rotary Club of De Queen.
A.J. Hoover
A. J. Hoover, 72, of Hot Springs Village died on May 25. 2007.
Born May 31, 1934 in Abilene, Texas, A.J. graduated from Medical school in Galveston, Texas and worked until retirement as Deputy Chief of Laboratory Services at Dyess Air Force Base Hospital. He retired in 1997 and moved to Hot Springs Village.
A.J. enjoyed golf and bridge and enjoyed traveling with his wife Joan. He was past president of the Rotary Club of Hot Springs Village and a Paul Harris Fellow.
He is survived by his wife, Joan and three children.
Services will be Tuesday May 29, 2007 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church were he was a member.
William Penn Tucker
William Penn Tucker, 100, died Wednesday May 2, 2007.
Born March 21, 1907 in Palmyra, Ark. Mr. Tucker was a retired school band director who had been inducted into the BAMM Wall of Fame. Penn was a 65 year member of Rotary, joining the Rotary Club of Malvern and later the Rotary Club of Benton-Bauxite. He was a two time Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Tucker until recently was the club host for student guests, driving himself to the Tuesday meetings.
Mr. Tucker is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty and two sons.
Services will be Monday, May 7, 2007 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Benton were he was a member.
Peter M. Liljegren
Peter M. Liljegren, 84 of Hot Springs Village died Tuesday February 13, 2007.
Born November 4, 1922, Peter was a World War II Army Air Force veteran and a member of the Hot Springs Village Rotary Club and Christ Luthern Church.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy Monson Liljegren, one son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Patricia Liljegren of San Juan Capistrano, Cal and two daughters and son-in-law, Susan "Zann" Liljegren and Steve Leger of Dodgeville, Wis and Jean and Allen Harmening of Neillsville, Wis and six grandchildren.
Services were February 17, 2007 in Christ Luthern Church in Hot Springs Village.
William L. "Bill" Newberry
William L. "Bill" Newberry, 88 of Arkadelphia, died Tuesday, December 26, 2006.
Born November 16, 1918 Bill was a U.S. Army Air Corp veteran of World War II. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and an Eagle Scout. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Arkadelphia and had served on the Board of Directors. Bill also served on the Boards of the State Mutual Insurance Agents Association, the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Clark County Historical Society, Henderson State University Alumni Association, Arkansas Food Bank Network and the First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Newberry was a Level Two Paul Harris Fellow.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy; one son, Tom Newberry and one daughter, Janie Jones and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 30, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia.
James F. "Jim" Sawyer
PDG James F. "Jim" Sawyer, District Governor of District 6170 in 1986-87, died on Sept. 26, 2006, after several months of illness.
Jim and Mary lived in Parkway Village in Little Rock, but lived in Benton during most of the time of his service to the district. Jim was a Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor, led a GSE team to Brazil, and was a dental volunteer for Rotary International, the Southern Baptist
Convention and the U. S. Government, in Africa, South America, and for the Kurdish people in Iraq and Turkey. He wrote and was the main contact person for the first Matching Grant of District 6170, a grant with the Panama City Rotary Club, which started a feeding program for the San Blas Indians of Panama. The program was very successful and is still operating as part of a larger development program that has had a great and beneficial effect on the lives and fortunes of the San Blas peoples. JIm received the Citation of Meritorious Service from the Rotary Foundation. A big, jovial, bear of a man, Jim will be greatly
missed by his many friends in Rotary, his church, and his family.
Michael Scott Pike
Mike Pike, 43 of Conway, died November 8, 2006. Services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday November 15 and a memorial service will be held November 17 at 2:00 PM at Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion, Iowa.
Mike was a graduate of Thunderbird High School in Phoenix and DeVry Institute and Arizona State University. He was a navy veteran.
Pike was a member of numerous charitable organization boards in Conway and Faulkner county. Always giving of his time willingly and was a major supporter of the Conway Symphony Orchestra.
Mike was an active member of the Rotary Club of Conway, a Paul Harris Fellow twice. Along with several other Rotarians he had been to West Africa twice to help organize and fund a water project for Upper Town Kormantse. Always a supporter of the GSE program he had opened his home on numerous occasions for visiting GSE team members.
Dr. Toby Warren Adair, Jr.
Dr. Toby Warren Adair, Jr. age 83, of Pine Bluff died Tuesday, July 11, 2006. Born September 8, 1922 in Beaumont, Texas.
Toby grew up and received his education in Shreveport, Louisiana, he graduated from high school and Centenary College, also received a Master of Religous Education from Golden Gate Seminary and a Doctor of Theology from International Seminary.
Dr. Adair was a member of South Side Baptist Church and the Confederate Air Force. Toby was the founding pastor of the South Reno Baptist Church in Reno, Nevada and also served as pastor of the Forest Park Baptist Church in Pine Bluff.
Toby was a flight instructor at Grider Field from 1942 to 1944, he flew combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Toby served as President of the Rotary Club of Pine Bluff and Governor of Rotary International District 6170 and is most remembered for discussing RINO's during his Official Visits to clubs.
He is survivied by his wife, Ann, daughter Robin, granddaughter and four great grandchildren.
