Longtime Rotarian Don Horton has stepped up in the wake of powerful natural disasters at home and afar.
Those efforts, along with Horton’s years of work and volunteerism with Rotary, led him to become one of the newest members of the Rotary District 6990 Hall of Fame last May.
“I was honored but completely surprised,” Horton told Keys Weekly. “I had no idea that I had even been nominated for it.”
To achieve the honor, a Rotarian must be a member for at least 25 years. They also must be actively engaged with a club within the district, have served with distinction in leadership positions and have exemplified the ideals of Rotary.
Since becoming a Rotarian in 2000, Horton has been president of the Upper Keys and Key Largo Rotary clubs. He was on the district’s governor nominating committee and the finance committee, which was responsible for giving out district grants to clubs.
He was also an assistant area governor, or a senior district leader appointed by the district governor to support a specific cluster of Rotary clubs. He’s also a discussion leader for the district’s Leadership Institute.
“I’ve really enjoyed my 25 years of Rotary,” Horton said.
Some of his most notable work as a Rotarian came as the district’s disaster chair. Following the devastation from Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, Horton mobilized a collection effort to help the people affected by the storm. Four large shipping containers of supplies were sent to the Bahamas as a result of a massive collection effort in the Upper Keys.
“It was a community effort,” Horton said. “It all just seemed to come together.”
Horton went to the Bahamas to help organize the distribution areas so people could get what they needed. Horton said they also brought supplies to repair a reverse osmosis plant damaged by the storm. For six to eight months, that plant was the only source of fresh water on Grand Bahama, Horton said, and lines stretched miles long.
In addition to Dorian hurricane relief, Horton has assisted others affected by natural disasters, including the Lower Keys, Texas and North Carolina.
At home, he’s spent many years volunteering at the Gigantic Nautical Market, behind the grill and out front welcoming visitors.
“I remember going to the very first one and helping there at what was Yacht Harbor property,” he said. “Back in the day, we were in the kitchen cooking breakfast, lunch and a late lunch. We’d start at 4 in the morning.”
A current Key Largo Rotary Club member, Horton recalled witnessing Keith Douglass become the first Rotarian from the Keys to be part of the hall of fame. A longtime member of the Marathon Rotary Club, Douglass entered the prestigious group with select Rotarians from the Keys and Grand Bahama Island to parts of southeast Florida for his dedication and service.
“I thought he’s well deserving of that honor. He’s been in Rotary a long time and did lots of stuff with his club,” Horton said. “I just never thought I’d ever achieve such an honor.”
