The Bradford Rotary Club Board of Directors voted Monday to give special recognition to Rotarian Ralph Detweiler to honor his many contributions to the Bradford Rotary Club, Rotary District 7280, and the Bradford community.
Detweiler will be honored at the regular Rotary Club meeting on Aug. 6, at Beefeaters, downstairs in the Afterwords Club, where he will be presented with a lifetime honorary membership.
“It is fitting that the Bradford Rotary honor Ralph for his over 44 years of service to the club and our community,” said Angela Erway, Rotary Club president. “We are grateful for his legacy of leadership.”
A member of the Bradford Rotary Club since 1974, Detweiler served on the board of directors and chaired a number of club committees. He served as the club president in 1997-98. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow, a distinction shared by men and women in more than one hundred nations, many of whom have made significant contributions to world peace and understanding.
Active in Rotary Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange teams since 1976, Detweiler served both on the local and district level, and in 1996 he was Team Leader for the Group Study Exchange to Australia. He attended the 95th International Rotary Convention in Osaka, Japan, Zone 27 and 28 Institute in Mackinac Island, Mich., and Rotary International Assembly and Institute in Anaheim, Calif. Most notably, he served as district governor of Rotary District 7280– July 2005 through June 2006 and before that, he served as assistant district governor for five years. District 7280 has over 40 clubs spanning from Butler to Erie.
“Ralph embodies the Rotary Motto of Service above self,” said current District Governor Scott Bayline. “District 7280 is thankful for his service, and the leadership and inspiration he provided the clubs and Rotarians in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Through Ralph’s vision the world is a better place today.”
Detweiler retired in 1991 as a managing director of Prudential Financial after 31 years of service. He graduated from Sell-Perk High School in Bucks County and attended continuing education classes at Muhlenberg, Lehigh and Purdue universities. He received a fellowship from the Life Underwriter’s and National Association of Underwriters in September 1984. He also received a national award from the General Agent and Managers Association for 10 consecutive years.
Detweiler was a board member of the Bradford Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge Independent Living and was a long-time board member of Beacon Light Behavioral Systems. He also has participated in and led several community initiatives.
Ralph and his wife, Janet, have three children, Craig and Margey Detweiler in Stone Mountain Ga., Randy and Mary Lou Detweiler in Bradford, Lori and Steve Wells in Winchester, Va., and five grandchildren.
To RSVP for the luncheon, contact Club Secretary, Jim Tingley at jtingley@verizon.net by Aug. 3.
