Featured with his wife Gay on the cover of Rotarian Magazine in July 2019 when Mark assumed his new position as President of Rotary International, he could not have imagined what the next year would bring to our world – Covid 19!Prior to becoming President, Mark served as District Governor, RI Director, presidential aide, Rotary Foundation trustee and chair of the Council on Legislation and the 2014 Sydney Convention Committee.
Mark grew up on a small beef and grain farm in Ridgeway, IL. A born orator, Mark won a blue ribbon for his speech, “A Dream Becomes a Goal” at the Illinois State Fair in 1966 and later became the president of the Gallatin County 4-H Federation. A natural entertainer, Mark and his sister won the Hawaiian -themed costume contest at Ridgeway’s annual Popcorn Day, an event he still attends regularly. As a high school senior, Mark was recognized as Outstanding Catholic Youth of the Year and delivered the valedictory address. His volunteer activities were too numerous to list. No surprise he was voted most likely to succeed.
I will leave it to you to learn more about Mark’s extraordinary and exemplary life as a farm boy, scholar, volunteer, orator, attorney, Rotarian, husband, father, church land community leader, and more, by accessing your July 2019 Rotarian, pages 24-35. His is an amazing story of life, love, service, and fulfillment. As he says, “Rotary Connects the World”. Nicknamed the ‘cheerful traveler’, Mark will share with us more about his year as RI President as well as how he sees Rotary evolving to better serve the needs of mankind! Watch for your ZOOM invitation and join other Canton Rotarians for this great program!