About Us:

The Orange Park Rotary Club has its roots at a discussion between Harvey Cotton, Past District Governor, and Ted Ryce, a member of the Keystone Heights Rotary Club at a district assembly in June 1968. From that discussion, it was decided that the Keystone Heights Club would sponsor a new Rotary club in Orange Park. Ted Ryce was appointed by the District Governor to be his representative and coordinator between these two groups.

Early in 1969, Ted, Dick Glasgow, Jim Younge, Ed Heinrich, D. B. Hall, and Jerry Linder met with Tom Slade of the Jacksonville Club and Joe Whittlesey, a Past District Governor. After that meeting, twenty one individuals said, "Yes, we want to start a Rotary Club in Orange Park," and we were authorized to start as a provisional club.

An organized meeting was held on June 26, 1969 and our charter was made effective on September 17, 1969. Many long hours had been spent, many telephone calls and many miles traveled over several months for this achievement. Tremendous credit goes to Ted Ryce, Dick Glassgow, Tom Slade, and Joe Whittlesey. It is interesting to note that Ted Ryce's place of business and residence moved to Orange Park. He resigned from Keystone Heights Club on June 30, 1969 and became a charter member of the Orange Park Club.