This week, the Rotary Club of Edmond hosts the District Governor of Rotary District 5750, Forrest “Butch” Freeman. Butch is well-known to most members of our Club, if not for his long-time service to Rotary International in our area, then certainly because of his other position as Oklahoma County Treasurer, an elective office he has held since 1993.

      That Rotary is important to Butch and his family is beyond dispute. He is a member of the Midwest City Rotary Club, and served as its past president. His wife, Bobbie, is a past president of the East Oklahoma County Rotary Club. Both are Paul Harris Fellows. Butch has been especially involved in Youth Exchange.

      Born in Macomb, Missouri, Butch received his Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1965 and his M.B.A. in 1970, both from the University of Missouri. A retired Air Force Colonel with over 23 years of professional military experience, Butch is a graduate of the Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and the Squadron’s Officer School. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

      Butch is a board member of the Science Oklahoma City Museum, the Rose State College Foundation, the Midwest City and Choctaw Chambers of Commerce, and the Eastern Oklahoma County Career Tech Foundation. He is also a member of the Choctaw Industrial Development Authority and the Air Force Association.

      As District Governor, Butch will visit each of the 39 clubs in our vast district. From Gage to Pawhuska, Alva to Weatherford, Enid and Elk City to El Reno and Edmond, Butch will travel throughout the district to help each club and its members as they seek to fulfill the Object of Rotary.

      According to the Rotary International website, the Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

      The Freemans have two children and six grandchildren.

      Please give a warm Rotary Club of Edmond welcome to our District Governor, Butch Freeman.

Andy