History
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego was chartered in 1920, the first in San Diego County. The club is one of the largest Kiwanis Clubs in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The club is also known as the ‘Downtown Kiwanis,’ but has members from throughout the region.
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego represents a diverse spectrum of business, government, military, and community leaders providing services to youth and the community.
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego has a proud history. These major programs mark that history and are often referred to by club members:
Laurels for Leaders
Laurels for Leaders is governed by a board of directors consisting of members of the Kiwanis Club of San Diego, school officials, public and private leaders of the community. The program was established to recognize and honor the high leadership accomplishment of the student body presidents of San Diego County high schools. The program culminates in an annual luncheon at which the student leaders are presented certificates of recognition, a distinguished speaker brings them a message on patriotism and leadership and in 2003 eighty-one students were given a cash gift of $500. The luncheon is held in February around the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. This time was selected to relate the event to these great presidents and to recall their service to their country and their patriotic devotion.
Scholarships
The Kiwanis Club of San Diego and the Kiwanis Club Foundation donate more than $100,000 each year for scholarships to students in San Diego County. The Foundation Scholarship Committee provides financial support to students attending San Diego area colleges and universities. Special scholarship grants include the Walter Zitlau and Don McKee memorial scholarships. For more than 25 years the Kiwanis Club of San Diego and the San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Music and Dance have provided annual music concerts to raise money for SDSU music scholarships. In 2008 more than $24,000 was donated to the scholarship fund at the SDSU School of Music and Dance.
Children’s Hospital
Through the years, the club has had a very close relationship with Children’s Hospital. The club was a major financial contributor and a force that led to the founding of the hospital. Over the years, the Kiwanis Club of San Diego has contributed more than $551,000 to its programs. Participation continues through activity in the hospital’s Mile of Quarters campaign and in contributions to help the hospital meet its needs.
Past Club Presidents
| 1920 - Ed P. Sample* | 1953 - Leo B. Calland* | 1986-87 - Morris A. Peelle* |
| 1921 - W. H. Fraser* | 1954 - Herbert C. Peiffer, Jr.* | 1987-88 - Griff J. Hayes* |
| 1922 - C. E. Rinehart* | 1955 - Leslie E. Gehres* | 1988-89 - Charles F. Merz |
| 1923 - George L. Mayne* | 1956 - Roy French Kidd* | 1989-90 - James W. Hurry* |
| 1924 - John J. Frazer* | 1957 - Norman D. Ferguson* | 1990-91 - J. Scofield Hage |
| 1925 - Arthur J. Morse* | 1958 - Cecil D. Hardesty* | 1991-92 - James W. Ledwith |
| 1926 - Edgar McMath* | 1959 - Clyde Cunningham* | 1992-93 - Michael P. Alessio |
| 1927 - Glenn O. Perkins* | 1960 - Julius J. Fink* | 1993-94 - Jay W. Jeffcoat |
| Eugene Zeiss* | 1961 - Pat Hyndman* | 1994-95 - Mark McDonald+# |
| 1928 - Robert L. Mueller* | 1962 - Lawrence Carr, Jr.* | 1995-96 - Sally Hazard |
| 1929 - Sam R. Frazee* | 1963 - George K. Palmer* | 1996-97 - Don Sturek+* |
| 1930 - A. G. Peterson* | 1964 - James M. Gillean* | 1997-98 - Carl Nettleton |
| 1931 - T. O. Scripps* | 1965 - Richard L. Johnston | 1998-99 - Conny Jamison |
| 1932 - P. H. Davenport* | 1966 - Fred S. Hage, Jr.* | 1999-2000 - Ronald L. Munroe |
| 1933 - Donald E. Hanson* | 1967 - Milton R. Cheverton* | 2000-01 - John L. Kizer |
| 1934 - C. E. Sisson* | 1968 - Don R. Driese* | 2001-02 - Stephen All* |
| 1935 - E. G. Colby* | 1969 - James O. Hewitt* | 2002-03 - Art Stillwell |
| 1936 - Arthur M. Shoven* | 1969-70 - Robert H. Bollum | 2003-04 - Persida Drakulich |
| 1937 - Emery D. Sherwin* | 1970-71 - Douglas Giddings* | 2004-05 - Douglas Frost+ |
| 1938 - Thomas M. Bomar* | 1971-72 - Walter A. Zitlau* | 2005-06 - Tom Bauer+ |
| 1939 - Frank M. Lowe* | 1972-73 - Ben W. Hagar* | 2006-07 - LaDrue Jordan |
| 1940 - E. G. Merril, Jr.* | 1973-74 - C. A. Karaberis* | 2007-08 - Judy Leitner+ |
| 1941 - Harry G. Malm* | 1974-75 - LeRoy A. Bellwood* | 2008-09 - Don Sturek+* |
| 1942 - John Aseltine* | 1975-76 - M. Ted Dixon*+ | 2009-10 - Ethel Merriman |
| 1943 - Russell S. Stowell*+ | 1976-77 - Harry D. Frels*+ | 2010-11 - Ken Coley |
| 1944 - Berma W. Bonham* | 1977-78 - Robert W. Klaiber* | 2011-12 - Corrine LeCates |
| 1945 - Edward P. Scott*+ | 1978-79 - Ellis M. Benson | 2012-13 – Ryan Callan |
| 1946 - Andy Borthwick* | 1979-80 - Thomas C. Peek | 2013-14 – Brian Krause |
| 1947 - Orien W. Todd, Jr.*+ | 1980-81 - Jack M. Templeton | 2014-15 – David Gugerty |
| 1948 - A. Monroe Sanders* | 1981-82 - Paul R. Pulliam* | 2015-16 – Joe Sigurdson |
| 1949 - Richard A. Nelson* | 1982-83 - Robert A. Shumake* | |
| 1950 - Dwight E. Keider* | 1983-84 - Rene H. Gentry* | |
| 1951 - S. Robert Frazee* | 1984-85 - Clark B. George*+ | |
| 1952 - Howard Carroll* | 1985-86 - Richard A. Shaw |
+ Past Lt. Governor
* Deceased