Our District of Optimist International proudly recognizes the accomplishments of the club(s) shown below. Each month, we will showcase one or more outstanding clubs in our District as recognition for the tremendous accomplishments of their members. To view all clubs in our District, and learn about the tremendous impact each has made the youth in their community, also visit our clubs section.
MARSHALL NOON OPTIMISTS CELEBRATE 75 YEARS OF SERVICE
There are a number of established Optimists Clubs in North Texas and the Noon Optimists of Marshall are certainly one of the oldest. The most eastern of clubs in the North Texas District was formed in November of 1945 when the town Kiwanis Club invited Shreveport, Louisiana Optimists over for a visit. During those early days like most service clubs, the group met in the Hotel Marshall. Now they meet Wednesdays at noon at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 501 Indian Springs Drive.
Since that time, they have been very active in their community and have sponsored at least three clubs for the North Texas District.
So, what do you do during a pandemic year when most everything is shut down? If you’re an Optimist, you “press on to the greater achievements of the future”! The Marshall Club did just that, still sponsoring the monthly Young Texan/Texanne at the local level, having a backpack program for local youth, a birthday party for foster kids, and a SMILE Day where they partner with local professionals to teach teenagers the art of preparing for job interviews.
Club member and local author, Richard Magrill also took the time in 2020 to prepare a 900-page history of his club, gleaned in part from small notices in the town newspaper, “The News Messenger”. Magrill bemoans the smaller club membership compared to years past, but they continue to work hard and partner with other community groups to achieve their goals: “We were the loaf, but now we’re the leaven”.
There’s nothing wrong with that, Richard. Most of us love the smell of fresh baked yeast bread!
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