Manning Owen and Owen Clary

According to the District database, Manning Owen joined Rotary on 2/27/1940. (I was told at the meeting that he had been a Rotarian for only 64 years, but who's counting.) He ran an haberdashery in Aiken. Owen Clary joined Rotary on 6/1/74. He owned a floral business in Aiken. Sometime in the late 40's, the Rotary Club of Aiken started a Student Loan Fund to make low interest loans to GI's and other students. There was not much money in the fund. Owen Clary became Club President in 1978/1979, and he suggested that instead of sending flowers to funerals, Rotarians and others make contributions to the Student Loan Fund. Mr. Clary proposed something unique at the time, even though the suggestion would negatively impact his own business. Mr. Owen thought it was a good idea and he became the long time fund manager, making calls to relatives and friends of the recently deceased. The fund grew. However, the difficulty of collecting loans caused the club to convert the loan fund to scholarships and distribute just the interest. The impact? THE FUND REACHED $335,000 just before the recent market downturn, but is coming back. I had the privilege of meeting both men during my official visit to Aiken today. This is a great testament to the Aiken Club and to ordinary men doing extraordinary things.