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Rotary Club serves community with traditional ways, brings in interesting speakers
By Penny Rathbun
Staff writer
One of the benefits of attending the Preston Trail Rotary Club meetings at noon on Fridays is hearing the speakers that come to speak to the Celina chapter.
Rotary members and guests have recently heard a trio of excellent speakers, Dr. Kenneth E. Salyer, former Texas Rangers baseball player Brian Downing, and Celina High School band director Russ Rutherford.
He also spoke about being one of the physicians who treated President John F. Kennedy at Parkland Hospital after being shot in Dallas on November 22, 1963. He was a third year resident at the time.
“We who were taking care of the President were not doing a forensic study. We weren't concerned with bullets coming and going. We were trying to save the President's life,” Salyer said.
He also said Kennedy was still alive when he reached the emergency room, and that Jackie Kennedy stayed in the room while doctors were working on the President.
Salyer added that he has performed thousands of surgeries in his career that have helped people, but he'll always be remembered for being one of the doctors who treated President Kennedy on the day he was shot.
The audience gave him a standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech. The group gathered at Eden Hill Farm in Celina for that meeting.
Usually the Preston Trail Rotary Club meets at Texas Star Bank. Another recent speaker was former Texas Rangers baseball player Brian Downing who lives in Celina. He gave an entertaining talk about his career as a professional baseball player. His audience gladly listened to his anecdotes about what it was like to be a professional baseball player, including all of his injuries, and how he finally figured out what was wrong with his batting stance. A highlight of the talk was hearing him tell about his appearance on “The Jeffersons.” He had a short scene with Isabel Sandord and said it was not something he ws enthusiastic about doing. He said he has never watched the episode.
“Play baseball,” was his advice to young players who want to be professional players. “Do whatever it takes to get better.”
In May Celina High School band director Russ Rutherford spoke to the Rotary Club. He has been band director at CHS for 17 years. He described how when he started there were just a few instruments.
He said the band hall is now in its fourth home in the new high school building.
“You should see some great things with the drumline soon,” Rutherford said.
He added that 50 to 60 percent of students that are part of a band program complete a four-year degree. “The number one reason students drop out of class is they don't go to class. That is not an option for band students,” he said.
The Preston Trail Rotary Club was chartered in April 2008. For information on the chapter call Bobbie Apple at 972-382-4459.
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This month, the famous speech by Lou Gehrig, is being remembered all across America by baseball teams. "