President Dick Glover's First Meeting

Posted by Steve Frazier

Dick Glover's First Meeting and Lt. Col. Lou Martin on July 7, 2009

President Dick Glover called the Excelsior Rotary Club to order for the first meeting of his presidency to a standing ovation! Members were urged to sell raffle tickets for the Golf Tournament and Auction to take place on August 24^th. Dick urged members to form their foursomes and signup on the sheet that was circulating around the Club. Art Johnsen thanked everyone that helped with the 4^th of July Sand Castle Building. Karen Frazier rose to urge members to signup for the July 21^st Joint Rotary Cruise and the fun it will be to get both clubs together. (Click on "More" to get Lt. Col. Martin's Story)

Glen Froberg introduced our guest speaker who was Lt. Col. Lou Martin. Lou is the author of three books; Wings Over Persia, Close Encounters with a Pilot's Grim Reaper and My Life in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. The Lt. Col. is 81 years old and sharp as a tack. The main part of his presentation covered his "Wings Over Persia" account of the political history of the Middle East and his three years of experiences flying over Iran as a corporate pilot for the Shaw of Iran. Lou had a great flying career as a combat pilot and flew 169 combat missions over Viet Nam, was a corporate pilot job in Iran, a Chief Inspector for NW Airline, and being on the Consulate Staff in Germany. He credits much of his success as a pilot in difficult situations to his childhood experiences in Ladysmith, Wisconsin as the 9^th of ten kids in a family during the depression. Hard times gave him the strength to make tough decisions and the will to survive.