Michigan Jaycees History Area

MICHIGAN JAYCEES HISTORY

The Junior Chamber movement is now 88 years old. Originally, a group of young men led by Henry Giessenbier formed a dance club in St. Louis. They believed that if young people were to improve their prospects for social and career advancement, they would first have to join forces socially. With the help and guidance of established civic and business leaders they built the organization. Membership swelled from 32 to 750 members in just five months.

In 1914, the group merged with six other dance clubs and in 1915 they formed the Young Men's Progressive Civic Organization (YMPCA). Later, they changed their name to Junior Citizens and became affiliated with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce.

Lectures, speakers and training sessions provided the group with needed knowledge. But some method was needed for members to apply what they had learned. Service to the community provided the answer. Community service allowed members practical application of the insights they had learned. It was then the Junior Chamber movement achieved its goal - building better leaders.

Over the years, Jaycees have been involved in many local and national issues. In the 1920s, the Junior Chamber began the first national program, "Get Out the Vote", designed to encourage citizens to participate in government. Today, many Jaycee states run Model Legislatures to involve young people in the lawmaking process.

In the '40s, the Junior Chamber went on record in favor of compulsory military training.   While more than 85 percent of our membership were fighting in World War II, local groups were conducting scrap drives, selling war bonds, and assisting USO chapters to help the war effort.

More recently, Jaycees have promoted other constructive activities. These include the formation of the National Wildlife Federation, backing the "Big Brother" program, support of the adoption of the Uniform Vehicle Code, and the creation of the National Center for Voluntary Action.

In September 1924, representatives form Flint, Pontiac, Jackson and Saginaw met at the Old City Club in Jackson for the purpose of establishing a Michigan Junior Chamber of Commerce. Guest from Toledo, Detroit and Chicago attended at the invitation of the Jackson Junior Chamber. Kalamazoo and Bay City did not send delegates. Martin P. Luthy, Executive Secretary of the Jackson Chamber and President of the Jackson Junior Chamber, was named chairman of the By-Laws Committee. Serving with him were Clarence Smith of Pontiac, Elton Viets of Flint and Robert Frantz of Saginaw.

The 50 delegates voted to operate under the direction of a three man committee; Martin Luthy, Clarence Smith, and Elton Viets, until the first convention scheduled in the fall of 1925. Project reports on Reforestation, Civic betterment, Get out the vote and Social activities were presented to the delegation.

A tour of Michigan State Prison was conducted n the afternoon, with entertainment by the prison orchestra and a short motion picture.

In 1926, he took the position of Manager of the Chamber of Commerce in Defiance, Ohio ... while serving another year as Secretary to the national Junior Chamber. Previously Martin Luthy served as president of the Chicago Junior Chamber. He remained active in Jaycee affairs until exhausting at age 36.

Luthy lived to the age of 94, when he passed away in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, where he spent his retirement years. Martin P. Luthy is interred at a Chicago area cemetery.

Here you will find the names of the individuals that followed Luthy as President of the Michigan Jaycees.

1st - Martin P. Luthy, 1925-26 - Jackson
2nd - Glen Reem, 1926-27 - Saginaw
3rd - Clarence Smith, 1927-28 - Pontiac
4th - Don Lyons, 1928-29 - Jackson
5th - Allen Beam, 1929-30 - Flint
6th - Eugene Goebel, 1930-31 - Grand Rapids
7th - Sid Coates, 1931-32 - Grand Rapids
8th - Charles Barber, 1932-33 - Lansing
9th - Fred Braun, 1933-34 - Battle Creek
10th - Ralph David, 1934-35 - Flint
11th - Raymond Bonini, 1935-36 - Grand Rapids
12th - Harry Smith, 1936-37 - Kalamazoo
13th - Howard Sluyter, 1937-38 - Grand Rapids
14th - Bruce Palmer, 1938-39 - Ann Arbor
15th - Einor Larson, 1939-40 - Lansing
16th - F. Schermerhorn, 1940-41 - Kalamazoo
17th - Walter Bass, 1941-42 - Grand Rapids
18th - Ron Weger, 1942-43 - Lansing
19th - Wayne Meadows, 1943 -Ann Arbor
20th - Herbert Emery, 1943-44 - Muskegon
21st - John Hunt, 1944-45 - Detroit
22nd - Robert Reames, 1945-46 - Lansing
23rd - Paul Bagwell, 1946-47 - Lansing - 29th USJCC President in 1948-49
24th - George Fraser, 1947-48 - Port Huron
25th - Ken Heininger, 1948-49 - Ann Arbor
26th - Maury Mayer, 1949-50 - Lansing
27th - Eugene Anderson, 1950-51 - Monroe
28th - Sam Rosenberg, 1951-52 - Coldwater
29th - Richard Peters, 1952-53 - Twin Cities (Benton Harbor/St. Joe)
30th - Herb Auer, 1953-54 - Muskegon
31st - Pete Baldwin, 1954-55 - Howell
32nd - Eugene Pheiffer, 1955-56 - Saginaw
33rd - William Kutchey, 1956-57 - Lansing
34th - Richard Meyerson, 1957-58 - Kalamazoo
35th - Dean Owen, 1958-59 - Twin Cities (Benton Harbor/St. Joe)
36th - Fred Warner, 1959-60 - Sandusky
37th - M.L. Benton, 1960-61 - Owosso
38th - William Pressprich, 1961-62 - Saginaw
39th - Millard Bush, 1962-63 - Alma
40th - Merritt Martin, 1963-64 - Saline
41st - Richard St. John, 1964-65 - Kalamazoo
42nd - Jack Skriden, 1965-66 - Berkley
43rd - Wendell Smith, 1966-67 - Plymouth - 49th USJCC President in 1968-69
44th - Patrick Duggan, 1967-68 - Livonia
45th - Robert Padget, 1968-69 - Westland
46th - Patrick Nowak, 1969-70 - Farmington
47th - Donald DeMoss, 1970-71 - Swartz Creek
48th - Patrick Sheridan, 1971-72 - Detroit
49th - Donald Wadell, 1972-73 - Royal Oak
50th - Richard Robinson, 1973-74 - Rochester - 56th USJCC President in 1975-76
51st - Thomas Ritter, 1974-75 - Waterford
52nd - Gary Rupprecht, 1975-76 - Frankenmuth
53rd - Michael Chaffin, 1976-77 - Bay City
54th - Michael Robinson, 1977-78 - Rochester
55th - Robert Vining, 1978-79 - Marshall
56th - Alex Arends, 1979-80 - Comstock Park
57th - Greg Merritt, 1980-81 - Troy
58th - Duane Alverson, 1981-82 - Saginaw
59th - Terry Sever, 1982-83 - Farmington
60th - Robert Braglia, 1983-84 - Rochester
61st - Dennis Keith, 1984-85 - Bridgeport
62nd - Rick Young, 1985-86 - Shelby Twp.
63rd - Greg Need, 1986-87 - Waterford
64th - Dave Reid, 1987-88 - Jackson
65th - Roy Annett, 1988-89 - Waterford
66th - Louis Legg, 1989-90 - Coldwater
67th - Mike Rockafellow, 1990-91 - Ionia
68th - David S. Allen, 1991-92 - Lansing
69th - Vince R. Goff, 1992-93 - Dundee
70th - Bonnie S. Ballinger, 1993-94 - Hastings
71st - Lynda M. Nelson, 1994-95 - Ionia
72nd - Walter J. Downes, 1995-96 - Ionia
73rd - Adam Pieczynski, 1996-97 - Posen
74th - Barry Marshall , 1997-98 - Ann Arbor
75th - Janie Connor, 1998-99 - Hastings
76th - JoAnn Schmidt, 2000 - Cheboygan
77th - Scott W. Greenlee, 2001 - Grand Rapids
78th - Gerald H. Boik Jr., 2002 - Howell
79th - Michael J. Harris, 2003 - South Lyon
80th - Timothy T. Royle, 2004 - Saginaw
81st - Robert J. Peacock, 2005 - Kentwood
82nd - Jeffrey P. Smith, 2006 - Redford
83rd - Cynthia A. Tomaszewski, 2007 - Cadillac
84th - Brian A. Coker, 2008 - Ypsilanti

Statewide Vice President positions were not created until the 1961-62 Jaycee year. Prior to that year, what we know today as District or Region directors, were called Vice Presidents.

1961-62
Bill Black - Internal Executive Vice President - SAGINAW
Bob Brown - External Executive Vice President - FARMINGTON

1962-63
Bob Beard - Internal Executive Vice President - TAYLOR
Bob Harwood - External Executive Vice President - OWOSSO

1963-64
Lorne Walker - Internal Executive Vice President - LEXINGTON
Loren Adgate - External Executive Vice President - IONIA

1964-65
Bob Bolduc - Internal Executive Vice President - MUSKEGON
Mitch Kehetian - External Executive Vice President - ALLEN PARK

1965-66
Jay Sterling - Internal Executive Vice President - ST. JOSEPH (Twin Cities)
Bill Taylor - External Executive Vice President - PORTLAND

1966-67
Del Copus - Internal Executive Vice President - AUBURN
Lindsay Thompson - External Executive Vice President - TAYLOR

1967-68
Tom Jacobs - Internal Executive Vice President - MERRILL
Howard Baker - External Executive Vice President - BIRMINGHAM

1968-69
Dan Hann - Internal Executive Vice President - HOLLAND
Don Demoss - External Executive Vice President - SWARTZ CREEK

1969-70
Don Wrench - Internal Executive Vice President - PORT HURON
Larry Wine - External Executive Vice President - CHARLOTTE

1970-71
Lloyd Wismer - Internal Executive Vice President - RICHMOND
Ted Collins - External Executive Vice President - WESTLAND

1971-72
Don Waddell - Internal Executive Vice President - ROYAL OAK
Bill Dyke - External Executive Vice President - WYOMING

1972-73
Mike Yaeger - Internal Executive Vice President - MONROE
Jim Welke - External Executive Vice President - MAYVILLE
Dick Robinson - Administrative Executive Vice President - ROCHESTER

1973-74
Fred Whitelock - Internal Executive Vice President - IONIA
Ed Barton - External Executive Vice President - PLAINWELL/OTSEGO
Walt Brown - Administrative Executive Vice President - CHELSEA

1974-75
Jim Yocum - Internal Executive Vice President - NILES
Tom Gorton - External Executive Vice President - LIVONIA
Gary Rupprecht - Administrative Executive Vice President - FRANKENMUTH

1975-76
Jim Koenigsknecht - Internal Executive Vice President - FOWLER
Bob Wheelright - External Executive Vice President - KALAMAZOO
Mike Chaffin - Administrative Executive Vice President - BAY CITY

1976-77
Steve McGowan - Internal Executive Vice President - KENTWOOD
Mike Robinson - External Executive Vice President - LAKE ORION
Rick Simpson - Administrative Executive Vice President - AUBURN
HEIGHTS

1977-78
Karl Gansler - Internal Executive Vice President - PLYMOUTH
Mel Morell - External Executive Vice President - WARREN
Bob Vining - Administrative Executive Vice President - MARSHALL

1978-79
Jerry Wendelken - Administrative Vice President - TAYLOR
Byron Morrison - Chapter Management Vice President - WATERFORD
Paul Miller - Individual Development Vice President - EATON RAPIDS
Bill Joyner - Community Action Vice President - PLYMOUTH

1979-80
John Balagna - Administrative Vice President - NOVI
Greg Merrit - Chapter Management Vice President - TROY
Larry Sills - Individual Development Vice President - SWARTZ CREEK
Rick Lawrence - Community Action Vice President - ALLEN PARK

1980-81
Duane Alverson - Administrative Vice President - SAGINAW
Mike Dengate - Chapter Management Vice President - WATERFORD
Craig Rich - Individual Development Vice President - ZEELAND
Bill Zapke - Community Action Vice President - NORTHVILLE

1981-82
Art Huge - Administrative Vice President - STERLING HEIGHTS
Dennis Esch - Chapter Management Vice President - ELKTON
Doug Thar - Individual Development Vice President - MARSHALL
Duane Humphrey - Community Action Vice President - LANSING

1982-83
Bob Braglia - Administrative Vice President - ROCHESTER
John Swanson - Management Development Vice President - WYOMING
Jeff Lawrence - Individual Development Vice President - MARSHALL
Fred Paffhausen - Community Development Vice President - TRENTON
Jack Moore - Membership Development Vice President - BAD AXE

1983-84
Jack Vettel - Administrative Vice President - COLDWATER
Tom Drooger - Management Development Vice President - GRAND RAPIDS
Hal Dotson - Individual Development Vice President - SALINE
Dennis Keith - Community Development Vice President - BRIDGEPORT
Rick Young - Membership Development Vice President - SHELBY/UTICA

1984-85
Bill Baughman - Administrative Vice President - FENTON
John Deegan - Management Development Vice President - GROSSE ILE
Jim Moseley - Individual Development Vice President - ROCHESTER
Paul Eckard - Community Development Vice President - HOWELL
Steve Shook - Membership Development Vice President - QUINCY

1985-86
Dan Knoch - Administrative Vice President - HILLSDALE
Dave Lichwala - Management Development Vice President - DEARBORN
Betty Cusick - Individual Development Vice President - BIRCH RUN
Pat Malac - Community Development Vice President - FERNDALE

1986-87
Michele Arman - Administrative Vice President - BAY CITY
Dave Reid - Management Development Vice President - JACKSON
Roy Annett - Individual Development Vice President - WATERFORD
Paul Marrero - Community Development Vice President - STERLING
HEIGHTS

1987-88
Louis Legg - Administrative Vice President - COLDWATER
Gary Patrick - Management Development Vice President - CLINTON TOWNSHIP
Gary Goodnough - Individual Development Vice President - MILFORD
Sam Pooley - Community Development Vice President - BLISSFIELD

1988-89
Wendy Swierczynski - Administrative Vice President - GRASS LAKE
Jaylee Lynch - Management Development Vice President - WAYNE
Sue Miller - Individual Development Vice President - HOLLAND
Bob Cunningham - Community Development Vice President - TECUMSEH

1989-90
Jay Johnson - Management Development Vice President - COLDWATER
Mike Rockafellow - Membership Development Vice President - IONIA
Chris Keil - Individual Development Vice President - ALLEN PARK
Charley Staab - Community Development Vice President - NOVI
Denise Young - Executive Vice President - SHELBY/UTICA
Chuck Justin - South Area Vice President - GARDEN CITY
Dave Allen - West Area Vice President - LANSING

1990-91
Becky Staab - Management Development Vice President - NOVI
Pam Leach - Membership Development Vice President - HOWELL
Teresa Folino - Individual Development Vice President - NORTHVILLE
Dave Allen - Community Development Vice President - LANSING
Rosemary Gaumer - Executive Vice President - HOLT
Vince Goff - South Area Vice President -DUNDEE

1991-92
Teresa Folino - Management Development Vice President - FARMINGTON
Dennis Mullins - Individual Development Vice President - LAKE ORION
Chris Keil - Individual Development Vice President - ALLEN PARK
Cheryl Booterbaugh - Community Development Vice President - WESTLAND
Zenon Cardenas - Membership Development Vice President - IONIA
Jane Schelling - Executive Vice President - GRAND RAPIDS
Vince Goff - Administrative Vice President - DUNDEE

1992-93
Gina Root - Management Development Vice President - DELTA TOWNSHIP
John Schelling - Individual Development Vice President - GRAND RAPIDS
Mary Moellering - Community Development Vice President - PETOSKEY
Bonnie Ballinger - Membership Development Vice President - HASTINGS
Renee' Maire - Executive Vice President - BATTLE CREEK
Pam Leach - Administrative Vice President - HOWELL

1993-94
Tom Kaper - Management Development Vice President - MONROE
Lynn Clark - Individual Development Vice President - HILLSDALE
David Lambert - Community Development Vice President - TROY
Gina Root - Membership Development Vice President - DELTA TOWNSHIP
Lori Tyler - Executive Vice President - HOWELL
Lynda Nelson - Administrative Vice President - IONIA

1994-95
Mary Kamsickas - Management Development Vice President - WYOMING
Walt Downes - Individual Development Vice President - IONIA
Adam Pieczynski - Community Development Vice President - POSEN
Rick Lewis - Membership Development Vice President - SOUTH LYON
Tom Kaper - Executive Vice President - MONROE
Shari Hepker - Administrative Vice President - JONESVILLE

1995-96
Don McDurmon - Management Development Vice President - PLYMOUTH/CANTON
Tom Kaper - Management Development Vice President - MONROE
Tamela Spicer - Individual Development Vice President - GRAND RAPIDS
Shari Hepker - Community Development Vice President - JONESVILLE
Adam Pieczynski - Membership Development Vice President - POSEN
Barry Marshall - Executive Vice President - ANN ARBOR

1996-97
Brian Meakin - Management Development Vice President - LIVONIA
Tony Bliss - Individual Development Vice President - MADISON HEIGHTS
Ken Platteschorre - Community Development Vice President - WYOMING
JoAnn Schmidt - Membership Development Vice President - CHEBOYGAN
Jodi Barrette - Executive Vice President - CHEBOYGAN
Barry Marshall - Administrative Vice President - ANN ARBOR

1997-98
Diane Ferris - Management Development Vice President - GRAND RAPIDS
Blanca Fox - Individual Development Vice President - SOUTH LYON
Andrew Huie - Community Development Vice President - JACKSON
Janie Connor - Membership Development Vice President - HASTINGS
Ron Lochocki - Executive Vice President - ANN ARBOR
John Hunter - Administrative Vice President - REDFORD

1998-99
Andrew Huie - Management Development Vice President - JACKSON
Mike Carbone - Individual Development Vice President - TROY
Rich Stewart - Community Development Vice President - BEDFORD
Joe Fenner - Membership Development Vice President - DUNDEE
JoAnn Schmidt - Executive Vice President - CHEBOYGAN
Charlie Ludwig - Administrative Vice President - MANISTEE

2000
Scott Greenlee - Management Development Vice President - GRAND RAPIDS
Gerry Boik - Individual Development Vice President - HOWELL
Bob Peacock - Community Development Vice President - KENTWOOD
Teri Marshall - Membership Development Vice President - ANN ARBOR
Puneet Sahi - Executive Vice President - ANN ARBOR
Tim Royle - Administrative Vice President - SAGINAW

2001
Gerry Boik - Management Development Vice President - HOWELL
Scott Adkins - Individual Development Vice President - ST. JOHNS
Brenda Schietecatte - Community Development Vice President - HOWELL
Dave Laru - Membership Development Vice President - MADISON HEIGHTS
Tim Royle - Executive Vice President - SAGINAW
Lori Starck - Administrative Vice President - KALAMAZOO

2002
Brenda Schietecatte - Management Development Vice President - HOWELL
Kimberly Royle - Individual Development Vice President - MIDLAND
Mindy Fernandes - Community Development Vice President - TROY
Scott Adkins - Membership Development Vice President - CHARLOTTE
Dave Beck - Executive Vice President - CHARLOTTE
Mike Harris - Administrative Vice President - SOUTH LYON

ANN ARBOR JAYCEES' first major money maker was building a house for display and later sold it for a nice profit.

The DETROIT JAYCEES hosted the United States Jaycees' "National Convention" in 1966, and in 1973 sponsored the Soupy Sales Telethon for the Mentally Retarded.

WESTLAND has a 22 acre Jaycee Park, which includes an ice rink and arena, it has become a center for many city events.

The LIVONIA JAYCEES recognized and supported a need to move the first farm house in Livonia to save it from Freeway Construction.

In the late 40's the THREE RIVERS JAYCEES were a major force behind the movement which rid their city of a corrupt government, then in the 60's they successfully backed liquor by the glass.

ROYAL OAK has a 26 acre JAYCEE PARK, which has housed many a Haunted Forest.

The MIDLAND JAYCEES made the most significant physical contribution in a municipal park representing a $220,000.00 investment, that was conceived, designed, promoted and built by the Jaycees.

YPSILANTI JAYCEES headed its city's first "Bond Drive", "Blood Bank" and a project "Housing War Workers".

The MADISON HEIGHTS JAYCEES founded the Speak-Up Program which has been adopted across the nation.

In the Spring of 1954, the GARDEN CITY JAYCEES became the 100th Chapter in the State of Michigan.

When Romulus became a city in 1970, it's first Mayor was Hyle Charmichael, the Charter President of the ROMULUS JAYCEES.

"Did you know" is a reprint of a column in the September 1985 issue of the Michigander.