Cliff Dochterman was our 1992 - 1993 R.I. president when his theme was “Real Happiness is Helping Others” (Do a Good Turn Daily??).  He was a delightful speaker, enjoyed by the many Rotarians he addressed.  If you haven’t seen his video entitled “If I Could Be Club President Again”, ask your club president to show it.  For those of you who are, have been or will be club presidents, it is an enjoyable presentation.  Cliff also authored the very informative booklet, “The ABCs of Rotary”, an excellent primer to share with new members and spouses of Rotarians.  He followed that by publishing “As I Was Saying”, a collection of twenty-three of his favorite speeches.

           

            Cliff was born in Cridersville, Ohio, a town of fewer than 2,000 residents in western Ohio between Lima and Wapakoneta.  Ironically, Cridersville has a Lion’s Club but no Rotary club.        

            He was graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1947 which later bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree in an impressive ceremony which some of us Ohio Rotarians were able to attend, and later its Distinguished Achievement Citation.  He attended law school and was also graduated from the University of California at Berkley and has honorary degrees from the College of Idaho and Heidelberg University.  He worked in the administrative offices of the University of California and the University of the Pacific.                                                   

            He has received numerous civic, Scouting and Rotary awards.  As a Rotarian, he served on virtually every committee.  He, like so many Rotarians, had a plethora of interests, achievements and accomplishments, one of which was Scouting.  In 1939, he became America’s youngest Eagle Scout at age 13.  His son also later became an Eagle Scout (as did my son).  He later became president of California’s Forty-niner Council, Assistant Chief and Camp Chief of the 1977 and 1981 National Jamborees.  His Scouting recognition includes the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Distinguished Eagle Scout awards.  Of course, he is a member of the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR), receiving its Silver Wheel award in 2003.                           

            In recognition of Cliff’s dedication to Rotary and to Scouting, IFSR established the Cliff Dochterman award and Cliff became its first recipient.  With the award comes a medal embossed with the IFSR logo hung from a gold and blue ribbon as well as an available square knot (the BSA community service knot) that can be worn on a Scout uniform.