Kiwanis recognizes longtime service

Oxford, Ohio, Press
http://www.oxfordpress.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/10/06/op101008griffith.html

Oxford, Ohio—Oxford Kiwanis club members paid tribute to one of their members recently, honoring 50 years of service to the club and the Oxford community.

The club’s program this past September was a tribute to Rusty Griffith, who joined the Oxford Kiwanis club Oct. 1, 1958.

Jim Coon introduced the program at the club’s noon luncheon meeting, noting that Griffith has been involved in introducing new programs to the Oxford club over those 50 years including the “Peanut Days” fundraiser and then leading the project for years as well as being an enthusiastic worker in the annual Pancake Day. Coon also said Griffith was co-founder of three of the Kiwanis youth groups.

He served as club president in 1965 and as district lieutenant governor in 1975. Griffith was also the 1997 winner of the Hixson Award presented by Kiwanis International and was an Oxford Citizen of the Year in 1966.

Coon also said Griffith has given a lot of time tutoring and teaching students at Miami, in addition to his classroom assignments on the faculty at Miami University. In addition, he spent 50 years on the sidelines of Miami football games as a member of the “chain gang,” delaying his move to warmer weather in Florida several years in order to get his 50 years in on the sidelines.

“He is a talented leader here in the community,” Coon said. He then allowed members to tell stories or make comments about Griffith.

Some of those stories centered on participation in various Kiwanis projects and programs but some were based on how widespread Griffith was known in the Kiwanis organization.

Kiwanian Mike Rudolph, the current district lieutenant governor who has twice held that post, said that whenever he attends a district or state Kiwanis event or visits another club, people always ask, “How's Rusty?”

Mike Sweeney, the immediate past district lieutenant governor was in attendance at the meeting.
“Thanks for your service,” Sweeney said. “It’s a pleasure knowing you. This club is awesome and it benefits from your support.”

Oxford club member J.K. Bhattacharjee said, “Your reputation goes way beyond the division. When we go to state and national conventions, they all know Rusty. You have represented this club well beyond the division.”

He reminded members that Wright State University was once part of Miami University and when it was announced that it would be made into a separate college, Griffith played a big role in recruiting and screening faculty for Wright State.

Rudolph read letters from the Ohio Kiwanis governor and the incoming state governor and introduced that by saying, “Kiwanis offers people a chance to take leadership roles and to give back to the community. He has set a mark for our club and what it is all about.”

Coon presented Griffith with a 50-year pin and a framed “Legion of Honor” certificate with signatures of current Oxford Kiwanis members on the matting around the certificate.

Griffith took a couple minutes to compare the club of 50 years ago with that of today, noting that there were no women in Kiwanis in those days and that the youth organizations for high school, middle school and elementary students as well as the college organization did not exist. It was more strict 50 years ago and members all wore suit or sports jackets to meetings.

“This was a very strict club,” he said. “You do a lot of good today. It is a lot more relaxed.”