60 years of service above self.
The Rotary Club of Marathon has plenty of reason for celebration in 2021 as it marks its 60th anniversary of serving the Marathon community.
“The pride that I have in the 60-year heritage we have here in Marathon, I can’t explain it,” said secretary Charlotte Quinn. “It’s humbling and very, very gratifying.”
The club was founded in 1961 through the efforts of G. Borden Makepeace, a businessman who relocated to the Keys to attend high school in 1949. After attending the University of Florida, Makepeace returned to the Keys and started his business, Makepeace Office Supply, by selling two typewriters for a $100 initial investment.
After establishing a successful facility in Grassy Key in 1958 and a second in Islamorada in 1961 following the devastation of Hurricane Donna, Makepeace’s business reputation grew, and he was eventually approached by Captain Ned McCarthy, a Rotarian and commanding officer of Key West’s naval base.
At the time, no Rotary clubs existed between Key West and Homestead. Familiar with Rotary due to his grandfather’s involvement since 1917, Makepeace accepted McCarthy’s call to provide greater service for the Marathon community. “The stories that I’ve heard about him and what he’s done in the community are outstanding,” said current Rotary president Duane Webster. The Marathon Rotary Club became a probationary club in January 1961, received a full charter in May 1961, and inducted 10 initial members in June of the same year.
From there, the service hasn’t stopped.
Today, the Marathon Rotary Club boasts 56 members. Known to many for the scholarship aid given to Marathon students — the club provides a full scholarship each year to a Take Stock in Children student, as well as about $19,000 in additional awards — its members take great pride in Rotary’s diverse service involvements.
Past presidents and Rotarians through the years have continued a legacy of service over self in the Marathon community. CONTRIBUTED.
Have You Seen These Rotarians?
While Keys Weekly was able to identify many of the Rotarians in these photos with help, we couldn’t quite get them all. We would love to pay proper tribute to these individuals, so if you recognize any, please feel free to email alex@keysweekly.com.
“If anyone needs anything in this community, they call Rotary. They know the Rotarians will always step up to the plate,” said county commissioner and rotarian Michelle Coldiron. Quinn and Coldiron both easily recalled a long list of the club’s recent efforts, the full version of which is too long to print in this paper. Beyond scholarship donations, several Rotarians particularly noted helping with funds, food and labor after Hurricane Irma; assisting local organizations like KAIR with Thanksgiving baskets; working a booth at Marathon’s annual 4th of July fireworks; and aiding Fishermen’s Community Hospital with its rebuild.
“I went into it as a networking thing, and I quickly realized it’s so much more than that,” said Webster. Citing memories of his upbringing with a single parent who received assistance from community organizations like Rotary, the current president said his service now “brings things full circle” for him. “It’s grind, give, repeat. That’s the mode I’ve been in since the first 6 or 7 months that I’ve been in Rotary. When I first came on, we had a pretty fat checking account. The first thing I said is, ‘We’re going to balance this, and then we’re going to spend it.’ The best part is seeing what happens when the money goes to people who really need it.”
“I wouldn’t have the same joy in my life without the camaraderie and dedication,” said international avenue chair and Rotary foundation chair Keith Douglass. “We yearn to be there every week, do the projects that we do, and welcome new members so we can find new projects.
“It’s not about our jobs and what our title is. It’s about how we can make our community better,” said Coldiron.
“We’re one of the longest standing organizations in Marathon,” said Quinn. “It means that we’re doing the right thing.”
