The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin" #38: 6-21-23
VOLUME 2023 JUNE 21 NUMBER 38
First Vice-President Bill Wisdom (filling in for Thad Hall) welcomed us all, and gave our blessing for the day, followed by the flag salute.
ACHES & PAINS: Be kind, you never know what troubles others may be having, a little kindness goes a long way.
PROGRAM: Bill Wisdom turned the program over to Mike Fincham who introduced our speaker, Dr. Robert Smith, Director of Fort Riley Museum. Dr. Smith spoke about the extensive renovation process at the Museums. The Fort Riley museums serve to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret those materials that are integral parts of the history and traditions of the U.S. Cavalry from 1775 to 1950. In addition, the Museum Division is responsible for exhibiting and interpreting the history of Fort Riley from its establishment to the present, including its various schools, major commands, and community life. To support post education, training, research, and historical programs, the museum will provide educational programs and services.
The U.S. Cavalry and First Infantry Division Museums began renovation in the spring of 2018. The renovation project includes updating lighting and technology and redesigning the display spaces. A third building in the complex will also be renovated to provide classroom space. The project is funded by the U.S. Army Center of Military History and has been designed to preserve and highlight the historic structure of the museum buildings.
One of their artifacts that dates to the end of the war is a jail cell door from the Nuremberg Trials. The cell housed one of the major Nazi war criminals who were being tried for their part in the war. The trial was held from October 1945 through 1946. We had a special guest with us this morning, veteran Jim Sharp, who will play a special role in this display. (You must go visit the museums!)
The U.S. Cavalry Museum is now open and available to visitors during normal operating hours, with the First Infantry Division Museum slated to open later this summer. The Museums are closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dr. Smith told of the many changes and shared a few great pictures, but that was just a little taste as we were all encouraged to come and visit!
CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
$100 gift card to the member that brings in the most “new members” by 9/30/2023.
Special thanks to those who helped hand out water (about 240 cans of water) at the Juneteenth celebration, Mike Fincham, Bruce Spellman, Allen Nesbit, Clyde Scott, Jerry Banaka and Ashley Urban.
Many thanks to Clyde Scott and Jerry Banaka for a wonderful Flag Ceremony.
Remember to “bring a guest” Meeting Mix up next week on the 28th.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: by Greg McCune
Today we are shining the Spotlight on another one of our longest-serving members, Melvin (Hunter) Hunt. Hunter was raised in Tribune Kansas, near the Colorado border, where his family farmed out there in Western Kansas.
One of the first questions I asked him was why he was called “Hunter” when his name is Melvin? I thought it was because his last name was Hunt. No, he said it is because in Greeley County Kansas, he used to go Jack Rabbit Hunting.
Hunter made his way from Western Kansas to K-State for college and thought he would be there only one year and then go back and farm, but he ended up getting a B.S. Degree in Animal Science. After graduating, he taught High School Biology and Chemistry from 1966 to 1968 in Kinsley Kansas. He then went back to K-State and got a master’s degree in animal science in 1970 and then got a PhD from the University of Missouri in Food/Animal Science in 1973. Later in 1973, he joined Eastman Kodak for a few years until Don Good, former head of the Animal Science Department invited him to return to K-State as a faculty member in 1975 and he remained there for the rest of his career, working with meat chemistry issues. Hunter retired in 2014 after 39 years of teaching at K-State.
Hunter met his wife Rae Jean, a 3rd grade teacher, who grew up in Great Bend, through a mutual friend and they were married within a year in 1965. They have two daughters, Paige, who lives in Vicksburg Michigan and Holly, who lives in Birnamwood Wisconsin. Hunter and Rae Jean have two granddaughters, Megan, and Bailey and two grandsons, Drew, and Dylan.
Hunter joined the Optimist Club in 1979 around the time his daughters were playing ball at Brummett Field at Optimist Park. In his spare time, Hunter likes to travel and take photographs and we saw wonderful illustrations of both of those in his program on the Serengeti last week. Hunter and Rae Jean have been on ten Safari’s in Africa.
Hunter, Thank You for your service to the Optimist Club.
GUESTS: Welcome our guest, Jim Sharp, who joined us this morning.
Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.
JUNE PROGRAMS: Program Chair: Craig Cox/Mike Fincham
June 28: Asia Sampson, Riley County Health
Department
NOON MEETING Opioid Abuse, Misuse and Prevention
JULY PROGRAMS: Program Chair: Craig Cox/Mike Fincham
July 5: Katharine Hensler, Director, Riley County
Historical Museums
MORNING MEETING History of Electric Lights in Manhattan
July 12: Karen Everhart, Exec. Dir/Co-founder,
Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue
NOON MEETING Equine Rescue Operations at Rainbow
Meadows
July 19: Brian Peete, Director Riley County
Police Department
MORNING MEETING Riley County Police Activity
July 26: Vivienne Leyva & Associates, Riley County
Public Information Department
NOON MEETING History of the Riley County Fire District #1