CU Kiwanis History

1920s

• 1921
  • Our club was founded with 59 charter members.

• 1922
  • The University of Illinois men’s basketball players were guests at a postseason club luncheon. It was the first of what would become an annual postseason celebration until the 2020 covid pandemic forced cancellation that year.
  • Our club’s second president, Elmer Ekblaw, had helped organize the first homecoming celebration at the University of Illinois , held Oct. 25, 1920. Ekblaw, who had been editor of the Daily Illini newspaper, and Clarence Williams started the UI homecoming celebrations.

• 1924
  • Future Kiwanis International president A. Copeland (Cope) Callen joined the club in 1924, became club president in 1927, and Kiwanis International President in 1937. He was a member of UI engineering faculty who was known for his mining expertise.

• 1925
  • C.L. Kiser, the first club president, suffers a fatal heart attack at a Kiwanis luncheon.  In 1928  the club founded the Charles L. Kiser Student Loan fund of $500 (~$7,600 in 2021 dollars) to make small loans to worthy students.

• 1928
  • During 1928 our club raised about $800 for its Underprivileged Committee; donated $250 to Urbana Chamber of Commerce for new street lights in the business district; and took Cunningham Children’s Home youngsters to hear a touring Russian choir.
  • The first Kiwanis Crier, the club’s weekly newsletter, was published Feb. 23, 1928. 

• 1929
  • Our club purchased milk for children attending “open air” schools which were a fad at the time to try to prevent children from catching tuberculosis, and also donated $10 to a boy returning to the hospital for an operation.

1930s

• 1930
  • The club provided clothing and other necessities for a young man to attend a business school. He earlier had received funds for a prosthetic leg from the club when he was injured while crossing railroad tracks.
• 1931
  • Cunningham Children’s home youngsters attended the Ringling Bros. circus as guests of our club.
  • The club also helps organize women to care for seven young children whose mother had died. When their father died a short time later, the club secured homes for all of the children.
  • Our Kiwanis Club works in cooperation with other service clubs to purchase land for Bob Drake Memorial Boy Scout Camp near Oakwood, Illinois—still there as of 2026.
• 1932
  • Kiwanis sponsors building of a gateway at the entrance to Camp Drake.
  • Our club sponsors about 200 children (and adults) to attend a Christmas dinner organized for children whose parents were unemployed during third year of Great Depression.
• 1933
  • Our club donated funds to let one Urbana girl and one Champaign girls attend Camp Kiwanis in Decatur.
• 1935
  • We provided milk to needy families and institutions. 
  • We gave $750 to Community Chest (~$17,000 in 2024 dollars).
• 1936
  • The club paid for a baby’s 21-day hospitalization. 
• 1937
  • A.C. (Cope) Callen, CU Kiwanis 1927 president, becomes Kiwanis International president.
  • Our club sent one truckload of food and another of clothing, plus $200 to Southern Illinois after severe flooding that caused $75+ million in damage (more than $1.2 billion in current funds) smashing 300 bridges, submerging 1,200 homes, and ruining six schools.
• 1938
  • Our club continued sponsoring vocational training for boys and girls (which included training in making gloves to prepare for jobs at the Illinois Glove Company at Neil and Green) and by identifying part- and full-time jobs for young persons.
  • We provided 2,200 filled Christmas stockings for children at Christmas time.

1940s

• 1940
  • Our club worked to persuade municipal officials to install flashing signal at a railroad crossing in the city. 
  • The club bought, at a cost of $616 (~$11,000 in 2024 dollars), a 6.16-acre tract on the Sangamon River and gave it to the Girl Scouts.
• 1941
  • William L Springer joins our club. He later became a county judge before being elected to Congress in 1950, serving until 1973. He was author of Public Law 480—Food for Peace (sharing of U.S. crops surpluses abroad). Springer’s residence at 900 W. Park Ave. is now on the U.S. register of historic places. 
  • The club installs penny gum ball machines in businesses with proceeds to go to the club’s Underprivileged Children’s Fund.
• 1942
  • Kiwanis members rang bells at Salvation Arm kettles during Christmas season. 
• 1943
  • The club raises $38,000 in war bonds (~$700,000 in 2024 dollars).
  • Winners of a Kiwanis-sponsored Kite Day attend a Kiwanis luncheon.
  • Club contributes for $225 for a religious education course in public school programs.
• 1944
  • Our club buys a refrigerator for Perkins School PTA (near intersection of Perkins Road and Route 45) for preservation of foods and allow serving of hot school lunches. Refrigerator cost $30.50 (about $620 in 2024). 
  • We bought a refrigerator for a needy serviceman’s family.
  • The club gave $1,525 (~$27,000 in 2024 dollars) to enlarge Girl Scouts camp on Sangamon River.
• 1945
  • V.C. Shaul, Byron Vedder, and Harry A. Combes (Champaign High School basketball coach at the time) join our club. 
  • The club donates another $1,000 for Camp Kiwanis.
  • World War II years: Kiwanians took boys whose father were in military to football, basketball and baseball games.
• 1947
  • Harry Combes named UI basketball coach after Champaign Central High School (with future Kiwanis president Ted Beach as a key player) won state title in 1946.
• 1948
  • Club moved meetings to Hotel Tilden Hall. 
• 1949
  • Kiwanis introduces Little League to Champaign-Urbana with 130 boys ages 8 to 12 taking part on six teams.
    • Wayne Winters gets the league going after reading a magazine article about the 10^th anniversary of Little League in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
    • The first game was played July 5, 1949 with Kemper-Fabert Motor Company defeating McBride’s Drugs 7-6 in six innings at South Side School. Other team sponsors in year one were Kuhns, Piggly Wiggly, Webb’s Drive In, W. Lewis and Company
  • Camp Kiwanis now covers 50 acres with 240 scouts and leaders camping in 1949. The club builds a fireplace in Locust Lodge, put water service into use.
  • Kiwanis and Alpha Gamma Delta sorority hold a dance raising $2,033 (more than $24,000 in 2024 dollars) for speech correction department of the University of Illinois. 
  • The club supplies 4,600 half-pints of milk for a sight-saving class at Champaign’s Gregory school. Classroom is designed to help prevent deterioration of eyesight in affected children.

1950s

• 1950
  • Little league expands to 20 teams in five leagues.
• 1952
  • Kiwanis sponsors first Twin City Little League tournament, with 10 of 20 teams in four leagues qualifying for the event.
  • Club gives $100 to Kankakee team that won state title to help defray expenses of national tournament. 
  • Club buys four tents for Camp Kiwanis.
• 1951
  • Twenty-two “Vocalettes” under direction of Kiwanian Vic Shaul (Unit 4 music teacher) sang at Kiwanis International meeting in St. Louis, at music festival in Chicago, and on radio station WGN.
  • 182 persons, including 130 Kiwanis members, attend annual UI basketball postseason dinner.
• 1953
  • 167 persons attend chicken fry at farm home of Kiwanian John Maxwell.
  • Each Thursday two local high school students are guests at Kiwanis luncheon.
  • Kiwanis donates  $4,680  (~$46,000 in 2024 dollars) to a Burnham City Hospital building fund to help pay for a three-story addition.
  • We begin having an invocation at each Kiwanis luncheon.
• 1955
  • Champaign 4-H member teen Nancy Turner was among local 4-Hers honored this year as 200 persons attend annual December Kiwanis meeting to recognize  4-Hers. Turner showed her 986-pound Angus steer Julius that won Grand champions award at the 1955 International Livestock Show.
  • Kiwanis wins annual golf match with Rotary—more than 150 golfers participate.
• 1956
  • Kiwanis raises monthly salary for secretary to $75 from $60/month.
  • V.C. Shaul has been asked to lead singing next month at International Kiwanis meeting in San Francisco.
  • Kiwanian quipster Byron Vedder notes in April 19 Crier: I regret that I have but one income to give to my country.
  • New dining hall at Camp Kiwanis is about ready for use. Hall is 25 x 75 feet, capable of feeding about 160 persons at a time.
  • Vic Shaul and Unit 4’s High School Vocalettes provide a musical program at an April meeting. 
  • A total of 1,100 boys register for Little League. Kiwanis builds batting cage on South Pine for teams to use.
  • One weekly Kiwanis meeting held at supper time at Camp Kiwanis. 
  • Partial dentures provided to two high school boys at cost of $400.
  • Kiwanis football guesstimating at 0.796 this year; Rotary at 0.7715

1960s

• 1961
  • University of Illinois Circle K club holds its organizational meeting during February.
  • CU Kiwanis hold a districtwide ladies night (women had not yet been admitted to membership) with 381 participants from 16 area Kiwanis clubs. Vic Shaul was honored as incoming district governor. C.I. Martin, Kiwanis international treasurer, and past international president Donald Forsythe attended.
  • Penny gum ball committee chairperson Art Sackett estimates the 200 Kiwanis penny gum ball machines in the community would realize about $1,000 for service projects in 1962.
• 1963
  • At the March 11, 1963, postseason UI basketball dinner Dave Downey becomes the first three-time MVP award recipient. Bill Edwards of Windsor is to be the 1964-65 season captain.
  • Our club celebrates its 45th anniversary with a banquet at the Champaign Country Club. George Grubb receives a pin recognizing 45 years of membership. Twenty-eight other members receive Kiwanis Legion of Honor Awards for at least 25 years of membership.
• 1966
  • Kiwanis President Paul Van Arsdell and Unit 4 music director Vic Shaul presented music awards to Champaign High School students, including the “highest vocal award” to senior Clark Breeze, a future Kiwanis member.
  • U.S. Army Maj. L.W. Douglas of Urbana, tells Kiwanis he will use the club’s $100 donation (~$970 in 2024 dollars) to build swings and see-saws at schools he has helped construct in Vietnam’s mountainous region.

1970s

• 1976
  • Luncheon cost $2.95 each week with meetings held at the Urbana-Lincoln Hotel and University of Illinois Levis Faculty Center before moving to the Ramada Inn in Champaign by the end of the year.
• 1977
  • Kiwanis Club commits $3,000 for Girls Club building fund. Club had been established in 1974 for girls ages 7-17.  Club plans to build on two empty lots at Beech and Wright Streets.
• 1978
  • Kiwanis earmarks $2,250 to Youth Service Clearinghouse at University YMCA which helps find age-appropriate jobs for 14- to 21-year-olds. Three-hundred, sixty youth are enrolled in summer program.

1980s

• 1981
  • The Ramada Inn raises prices for the Kiwanis lunch. Beginning March 1, lunch will cost $4, salad-only will cost $2.
• 1983
  • Champaign Kiwanis sponsors creation of the Urbana Kiwanis Club. Organization day was April 27; charter night was June 8.
• 1984
  • The Kiwanis board approves donating $1,440 to buy receivers for WILL’s radio service for the blind.
  • The club has 264 members.
• 1985
  • Four-hundred persons, including 175 Kiwanians, attend annual postseason dinner for Illini basketball team.
  • With women not yet allowed to be Kiwanis members, our club forms a Kiwanianne Club with charter night being August 19.
  • The club sponsors creation of a Mahomet Kiwanis Club.
  • Kiwanian Fred Krauss’ 14-year-old daughter, Alison, entertains at annual Valentine lunch to which wives are invited. Alison will become an award-winning country musician.
  • In October, Kiwanis and Rotary jointly sponsored a talk by Urbana High School graduate  Admiral James Busey, vice chief of naval operations, at the Assembly Hall. Approximately 350 persons attended.
• 1987
  • Annual dues raised to $90 (~$114 in 2024 dollars) from $70.
  • Illinois basketball coach Lou Henson elected to honorary membership.
  • Kiwanis’ 54th annual December Christmas party for Cunningham children’s home draws 80 staff and children. 
• 1988
  • First women members join CU Kiwanis on May 12, 1988: Kiwanis Crier reports: “It was an historic day for our club as two women were among the five new members inducted last week: Sandra Casserly, Sharon Armstrong, William Ma, Rev. Gregory Bench and John Reeves.”
• 1989
  • Kiwanis begins awarding Vic Shaul scholarships to honor long-time member who was song leader at International Kiwanis conferences for decades.
  • CU Kiwanis hosts Illinois-Eastern Iowa District conference that attracts 1,100 participants

1990s

• 1990
  • Lunch price rises to $4.75.
  • Peanut League for youngsters under age 9 established as part of Little League program.
• 1991
  • Annual postseason UI basketball banquet draws 484 persons.
  • Seventeen past presidents attend 70th anniversary celebration.
  • A 50th anniversary celebration of Camp Kiwanis is held during a luncheon at the camp.
• 1992
  • In June, six members of the Romanian Junior National Champion Gymnastics Team, including coach Bela Karoli, attend a weekly luncheon while touring the United States.
• 1993
  • Vic Shaul Day is held to honor long-time club secretary, with Kiwanis International president William Lieber presenting an award to Shaul for his Kiwanis activities including being director of music and song at all Kiwanis International Convention between 1962 and 1992, attending more than 7,500 Kiwanis meetings (including 45 international conventions), and having 50 years of perfect attendance.
  • The Kiwanis gum ball machines around town are producing about $3,500 a year.
  • For the first time, our club received the trophy for football prognostication.
• 1994
  • Little League enrolls 1,400 players in 1994.
• 1995
  • Club membership reaches 265.
  • The first Kiwanis pancake breakfast, held May 20 at Bromley Hall, has gross receipts of $4,100 and a net of $3,200 to help fund community service projects.
  • To mark his 50th anniversary as a member, Byron Vedder’s family donates $15,000 to establish the Byron C. (By) Vedder Camp Fund to provide “camperships” to allow youngsters to attend overnight camps which they otherwise could not afford.
• 1996
  • Kiwanian George Miley is the guest for Ted Koppel’s Feb. 7, 1996, Night Line program.
  • Club membership reaches a record 271 in September—tenth largest Kiwanis Club internationally.
  • Sandra Snodgrass becomes first female president of the club. Her father, Homer Bash is a former club president.
  • Kiwanis wins the service club football prognostication competition for the fourth straight year.
• 1997
  • A record 747 persons attend the May pancake breakfast.
• 1998
  • More than 1,600 persons attend Kiwanis’ 75th postseason event, held in the Assembly Halll, honoring the  University of Illinois basketball team.
  • The club begins a project to raise funds to provide lights for two Little League fields at the Champaign Park District’s new Zahnd Park at Windsor and Staley roads in southwest Champaign. The plan is to include  a concession stand with restrooms and other amenities. The Kiwanis Little League program now includes 1,400 youngsters between ages 7 and 12 playing on 102 teams aided by 300 volunteers.
  • Kiwanian Tom Jones spearheads a plan to create, in partnership with Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation, a youth baseball league for special needs children. 
  • Rhea Lawrence becomes the club’s second female president in October.
  • Turk Edwards turns in his 192nd, and final, report completing 16 years as club treasurer.
  • This year marks 62 years that either Kiwanian Frank Beach or Kiwanian Ted Beach has been the timer for University of Illinois home basketball games. There have been two parent-child presidential duos for our club: Frank and Ted Beach, Homer Bash and Sandy Snodgrass.
• 1999
  • Q.L. Snook is recognized for his $50,000 contribution to the Kiwanis Endowment Fund.
  • First Little League Tournament Championship game scheduled to be played July 17 on lighted field at Zahnd Park.
  • Annual Little League luncheon marks 50 years of Littles League as well as first year of play for the Tom Jones Challenger League with 13 players divided into two teams. Radio station WDWS begins broadcasting Little League games.
  • Matt Herges became the first CU Kiwanis Little League player to reach the Major Leagues when he made a relief appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros.

2000s

• 2003
  • Kiwanis begins a new book distribution program for pre-kindergarten students at Champaign’s  Marquette School and Urbana’s Washington School.
  • For the first time there will be a raffle with prizes at the pancake breakfast at Bromley Hall on May 24.
  • Jane Waldbillig reported that the Byron Vedder Campership Fund has provided $15,545 to support 93 kids to attend overnight camps.
  • Floyd Bundy announced 10 new tables and 60 new folding chairs were delivered to Camp Kiwanis this week, partially paid for by a $500 donation from the Sam’s Club Foundation.
  • Annual dues increase to $175/ from $160 because of a $15 annual increase in individual international dues.
  • Mike Trippiedi described a new club project of taking kids from the Swann School on brief outings each Friday.
• 2004
  • Clyde Smith is stepping down after 12 years as club secretary.
• 2005
  • For the first time, the club will have a raffle for 12 prize packages as an adjunct activity at this year’s UI basketball banquet. The raffle previously was held during the spring pancake breakfast.
  • Q.L. Snook has donated $2,000 to pay for lunches for prospective members and $50,000 to educate young people about vocational opportunities. The vocational donation is expected to generate about $2,500 annually for schools and organizations that want to apply.
• 2006
  • Our club, has held approximately 4,400 meetings since its founding 85 years ago.
• 2007
  • Nearly 600 persons attend the May 19 pancake breakfast that raises more than $5,000 for service projects.

2010s

• 2010
  • Club sponsors first “Pancake Literacy” lunches at Champaign Early Childhood Center providing chance for parents, teachers, and kids a chance to visit casually. In following years, however, event morphs to “Pizza Literacy Lunches,” which are less messy (no syrup) and easier to serve.
• 2013
  • First Kiwanis Tom Jones Challenger League All-Star event held at Eichelberger Field on University of Illinois campus.
• 2014
  • CU Kiwanis begins a five-year campaign to raise $81,000 to become a “model” club in Kiwanis International’s Project Eliminate—an effort to curb global tetanus as a cause of death among mothers and newborn infants. The goal was reached in 2019.
• 2015
  • “Illini Night” at the Kiwanis Tom Jones Challenger League attracts more than 200 spectators who watch as University of Illinois coaches and athletes serve as “buddies” for the players. UI Athletic Director Mike Thomas and head football coach Tim Beckman participate.
  • Mike Barker buys a new U.S. flag and stand for the club to replace hotel’s tilted flagstaff with a one-winged eagle at its top.
  • Club members volunteer 100 hours to Salvation Army’s Christmas toy distribution program. 
• 2016
  • President Doug Fink announces the club will receive a United Way of Champaign County Spirit of Caring Award at the United Way annual award luncheon February 26.
• 2017
  • Endowment Fund chairperson Dick Thies reports endowment fund has reached $372,00, up $80,000 during the past five years.
• 2018
  • Kiwanis Club donates an official Kiwanis bell to Centennial Key club.
  • Club receives $1,500 from Illinois Marathon for having providing parking wardens at this year’s event.
  • Marc Changnon reports that Vic Shaul Scholarships totaling $73,000 have been given to local high school graduates since 1989.
  • For first time, both president and vice president posts were held by women as Gail Broadie was installed as president and Sara Tondini as vice president.
• 2019
  • Five Kiwanians among “70 Volunteers over 70” receiving recognition for service to community: Harold Guither, Lou Liay, Carol Scharlau, Richard Thies, and Sara Tondini.
  • “Kiwanis Peanut Days” will no longer be major fund raiser as firm that has been supplying peanuts has closed and Kiwanis International decides not to continue with another supplier.
  • Doug Fink announces the club will hold a dinner in October at Urbana Country Club to celebrate raising $81,000 for Kiwanis’ Project Eliminate.
  • Mac McFadden drew a round of applause when he let it be known that we have finished in first place among the service clubs competing in football prognostication. For the season, we had 73.58% correct, edging out 2^nd place Mahomet Rotary which had 72.72%.

2020s

• 2020
  • January board meeting: Board approves $10,000 donation to Champaign Park District for proposed Martens Center in north champaign. Oversize check presented to CPD at the February 6th lunch meeting.
  • Mid-March: COVID-19 has led to delays in our local club activities and for Kiwanis International. The CU Kiwanis Club board of directors has voted not to hold weekly luncheon meetings until sometime in April. Kiwanis International President Daniel Vigneron has recommended that Kiwanis clubs suspend meetings through April. CU Kiwanis President Doug Fink said that topic will be discussed at our local board’s April meeting, which may be held by conference call.
  • April 30: Club begins weekly meetings via Zoom.
• 2021
  • For the third time, child of a past president is elected president when John Thies, son of  Richard Thies (1967 club president), is elected president