The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands celebrated its 50th anniversary Friday by welcoming back its former presidents, with plenty of scrapbooks and photos to jog memories from the good old days. Twenty-nine ex-presidents attended (many with their spouses) and Lee Leissler got the award for being the earliest serving president in attendance – he helmed the club in 1971.
Event Chairmen Bob Potts and Alan Walne provided copies of a program from the charter meeting, held December 4, 1961 at Vick’s Cafeteria (now a Valero gas station at the corner of Easton and Northwest Highway). It was the Exchange Club of Northlake-Dallas back then, and I’m assuming by the menu of “heavy beef roast prime rib” that the listed meeting time of “7 o’clock” referred to nighttime instead of the morning meetings of today. Robert Koelling was the first president, and Alan’s dad, Herbert M. Walne, Jr. was listed under “Entertainment.” (Alan underscored that this meant only that his dad was responsible for finding entertainment for meetings and events, not necessarily entertaining members himself.)
The original 35 charter members were sponsored by the East Dallas Exchange Club, which included former Dallas Mayor Jack Evans and Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry. Ray Hill, president in 1990, founded the club’s auction fundraiser and Joan Poole, president in 2004, was the first woman to take the helm.
On hand to congratulate the group were dignitaries from the Texas District level of the Exchange Club and State Rep. Kenneth Sheets, also an Exchange Club member, who presented a resolution from the Texas Legislature in Austin.
“As a club, our focus is outward,” said current president Bryan McCrory, summing up the day’s events. “Every once in a while we look inward at the things this club has accomplished and say ‘job well done’ and ‘thank you for the effort from 1961 to now.’”
You can see my photo slideshow of attendees here.
