Club History

Past Presidents of Plainfield Optimist Club

1954-55 Joe Knop  (CM) * 1983-84 Tony Trimble
1955-56 Joe Knop  (CM) * 1984-85 Herb Thibo  *
1956-57 John Olvey (CM, D)  * 1985-86 Ron Brothers  (H)
1957-58 Roland G. Calvert  (CM, D) * 1986-87 Gary Rogers
1958-59 Roswell Southworth  (CM, D) * 1987-88 Mike McFarling
1959-60 Roy Hooks  (D) * 1988-89 Jim Boesch (H,D)
1960-61 Phil Conklin (D) 1989-90 David Steele
1961-62 Bill Beller  * 1990-91 Jim Spencer
1962-63 Louis Starken  * 1991-92 Mike King (H,D)
1963-64 Bill Fuhrman 1992-93 John Jennings (H,D)
1964-65 P. T. "Doc" Parker  * 1993-94 Dennis Bishop (H)
1965-66 Bill Baker  * 1994-95 Roy Western
1966-67 Ralph Bryant  (CM) * 1995-96 Jim Hutchinson (H,D)
1967-68 Tony Guido 1996-97 David Carpenter (H)
1968-69 Russ Lovell (CM)  * 1997-98 Tom Summerlin (H)
1969-70 Gene Clement  (O) 1998-99 Andy Garriott
1970-71 Roy Harpool  * 1999-2000 Mike O'Brien
1971-72 Charles Hardin  * 2000-01 Chris Shore (H)
1972-73 Russ Freeland  (O) 2001-02 Jerry Fishel (H)
1973-74 Gene Burkett  (H) 2002-03 James Hummel II (H D)
1974-75 Carl Taylor 2003-04 Robin White
1975-76 Al Bennett 2004-05 Johnny Wyatt (H)
1976-77 Ed Cohn 2005-06 Wesley Bennett
1977-78 John Reel (H,D) 2006-07 Rich Philip (H)
1978-79 Sam Stark  * 2007-08 Andy Tice (HD)
1979-80 Travis Lansberry (H,D) 2008-09 Walter Lemke (H)
1980-81 Mike Woodward (H) 2009-10 John Reel (H, D)
1981-82 Gary Satterfield (H,D) 2010-11 Pat Spray
1982-83 Ken Ring    

   CM - Charter Member     O - Outstanding President     H - Honor Club     D - Distinguished President     *  Deceased

                                                                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 

Club Members Who Served As District and International Officers

International Officers:
International President: 1965-66 John Olvey
1992-93 John Reel
International Vice-President: 1959-60 John Olvey
1986-87 John Reel
2008-09 Mike Woodward
District Officers:
District Governor: 1958-59 John Olvey
1981-82 John Reel
1997-98 Mike Woodward
  2008-09 Tony Trimble
2010-11 Kathy Underwood
District Secretary/Treasurer: 1994-96 Mike Woodward
Lt. Governor: 1957-58 John Olvey (Distinguished)
1959-60 Roland G. Calvert
1965-66 Bill Furman
1975-76 Gene Burkett
1977-78 Carl Taylor
1979-80 John Reel (Distinguished & Outstanding)
1980-81 Carl Taylor
1985-86 Herb Thibo
1987-88 Douglas McCarty (Distinguished)  *
  * Then a member of the Hanover Club.
1989-90 Jim Boesch
1991-92 Mike Woodward
1993-94 John Jennings
2001-02 Tony Trimble
2008-09 Andy Tice

                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

Charter Members

The Plainfield Optimist Club was formed in November of 1954. Our sponsoring club was the Indianapolis Northside Optimist Club.   The thirty-three charter members were:


      Joe Knop, 
Charter President *


H. A. "Sandy" Arnold *

Bill Bally.BMP (2143448 bytes)
George W. Bally *


Ralph Bryant *


R. G. "Mink" Calbert *


Bob Castetter @


Ralph T. Cochran *


Sam Eggers


 
Leo Fredrick *


Charlie Hardin *


Russ Lovell *


John Olvey *


G. H. O’Neil


Ed Phillips


I. J. Pomeroy *


Richard Simmons *


Roswell "Russ" Southworth *

Bernard Vogel.BMP (2143448 bytes)
Bernard Vogel


Forest Weber *


C. O. Winsted *


Garfield Whicker *

Others Not Pictured

Norman Cassel *    
Robert Hancook *
        William H. Coy      Charlie Hardin  *         
    Keith Goens           Robert Maxwell *   
Ed Lewis *                Eugene Potts  
Byrm Orr *                     Ed Spahr *
Rev. John Reidy *        Ken Truax     
Walter Cawiezell                               


@ Still a member       * Deceased

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Through The Years . . . . .

1950's and 1960's:

One of two road signs at the east 
and west entrances to town along 
Main Street (U.S. 40).

"Clubhouse" on West Main Street at Sunshine Swimming Pool

The Club managed and operated 
the Sunshine Swimming Pool until it closed in 1963.

One of the Club's first projects 
(and one that continued for 
several years) was the "Learn 
to Dance" program.

Another early first project was the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

The Club's longest running program, Youth Baseball, 
began in the 1950's and is still going strong today!


      

 

 

 

Clubs Sponsored (Built) by the Plainfield Optimist Club

Danville (09/18/57) #
Brownsburg (12/16/58) #
Mooresville (06/17/59) @
Bridgeport (04/13/60)
Liberty Township (11/09/60) #
Center Grove Bargersville (02/28/80) @
Pyramids Indianapolis (04/18/89)
Mill Creek (12/14/92) @
Plainfield Noon (12/06/95) 
Optimist Miracle Movers (4/27/2010) @
Ryves Community (6/14/2011) @

@ Still an active club.
# Predecessor to a currently active club.