The Orville McPherson Story - Part 2

Last week, we talked about Orville Speedy McPherson's humble beginnings, high school in Yuma and illustrious University of Arizona career.  This week we shall see what he did for the rest of his life.

Speedy graduated from Arizona with a B.S. in Commerce in 1917.  His life's work became journalism.  He worked at the Tucson Daily Citizen (our former afternoon daily) his senior year in college, then served in the Army in the first World War, fighting as an officer on three fronts in Europe.  Resuming his journalism career in 1921, he worked first as an executive for Hearst Newspapers then worked as a consultant for failing papers.  During his journalism days, he worked on the Los Angeles Examiner, Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Herald Examiner (as assistant publisher), and Detroit Times (Business Manager).  From 1938-1943 he was Editor and Publisher of the Kansas City Journal.  He then worked on papers in Southern California for five years before returning to Tucson in 1948.  He also worked on Harry Truman's campaign for the Presidency.  During all his moves, Orville remained an active Rotarian for almost 60 years.

In 1921, while Orville was Secretary of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce, he invited the heads of Kiwanis and Rotary to Tucson to discuss a charter.  Strangely, they both arrived the same day and Orville had to run between two dining rooms to discuss the options available.  Both offered charters to members of the old Tucson Luncheon Club.  Fifty older members went to Kiwanis and fifty younger members showed interest in Rotary, which started with 25 members and 25 prospects.  Rotary received its charter first and Orville became the Club Secretary (local architect Jack Lyman, president of the Lunch Club, became the first President of Rotary).  The charter date was February 14, 1921, Valentine's Day and Arizona's ninth birthday.

Orville stayed busy during his years in Tucson.  He had a permanent and long lasting impact on our community.  In addition to those activities mentioned above, he was also part of the teams that created the Tucson Municipal Airport and the Veteran's Hospital.  In 1976, the Tucson Chamber of Commerce named him Man of the Year.

The Rotary Club of Tucson's Orville McPherson Award is given yearly with member input, normally in late spring.  Please pay attention to the hard working Rotarians who make our Club a most Remarkable Rotary Club and nominate one next spring for this prestigious award.  Someone will win it.  Will it be you?