During a joint club luncheon on June 21, Odessa’s three Rotary Clubs honored several Odessa Rotarians by placing bronze plaques on the Rotary Wall that is part of the Rotary Walkway at Memorial Gardens Park.
The Odessa Rotary Club, the Greater Odessa Rotary Club, and the East Odessa Rotary Club each inducted one of their members to be part of this elite group of Rotarians that have served Odessa in numerous capacities throughout the years.
Those honored were Rotarian R.C. Paulette (inducted by Craig Van Amburgh, past president of the Odessa Rotary Club), Rotarian Charles Cotton and his wife, Bonnie (inducted by Greater Odessa Rotary Club President Bill Nyborg), and Dr. Miles Eckert (inducted by Odessa East Rotary Club President Orlando Spencer).
Honorees for inclusion on the Rotary Wall are recommended by each local Rotary Club and each honoree must be approved by all three clubs. Once approved by all the clubs, the honoree is submitted to the City Parks Department to be submitted to the Odessa City Council for their approval. Prior to the induction of these 3 new additions to the Rotary Wall, there were 14 Odessa Rotarians who have received this honor over the years.
The Rotary Wall and Rotary Walkway were the idea of the late Louis Rochester, who was a member of the Odessa Rotary Club and past district governor for District 5730. He formed an initial group of Rotarians from all three clubs to develop the idea, and the Rotary Wall and Walkway were originally dedicated in 2005.
