Ike Hockwald, Charter President

.George A. Kelly, son of Marvin Kelly founder of Kelly Plow Works in Longview, recalled the events leading to the organization of Rotary in East Texas as follows:

In 1919, my dad was visiting in the office of Arthur A. Everts in Dallas.  When it became time for Mr. Everts to go to the Rotary Club (Club #39), he invited dad to be his guest.  Dad was so impressed with this meeting that he asked if a suburban club “could be organized in Longview, and he was told such a thing could not be done.

A few days after returning to Longview, his good friend Ike Hockwald of Marshall was in Longview and came by and talked to Dad on his wonderful experience of being invited to attend a Rotary meeting in San Francisco (Dallas?).  He and Dad were so thoroughly sold on the ideals of Rotary that they decided to try to do something about organizing a Rotary Club in East Texas.  Ike Hockwald was so enthusiastic that he got a group of Marshall men together, and they organized the Marshall Rotary Club in 1919. After the Marshall Club received its Charter, Ike Hockwald came back to visit Dad, and they, with other Marshall Rotarians organized a provisional Club in Longview.

Ike had an overriding desire to serve beyond himself.  He fathered not only the Rotary Club of Marshall. but also was recognized as the father of organized baseball in Marshall bringing to Marshall teams that brought distinction to the community; and was a driving force in forming a Marshall Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. in which be held the highest offices and who, in his later years. annually was publicly recognized by the lodge at special "Ike Hockwald Appreciation" meetings; and, for nearly two decades he served as chairman of the Rotary student loan fund, later to become the Marshall Rotary Scholarship fund, to which he was extremely devoted.

He served unselfishly in all programs for community betterment. giving of his time and efforts to long service on the Marshall School Board; contributing generously to Kahn Memorial Hospital. which was named at his suggestion in recognition of the largest contribution for its erection; was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America with its highest award, the Silver Beaver, to adult benefactors; and distinguished himself as a Mason; and his affiliations with the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, the East Texas Chamber of Commerce, and other civic groups earned for him the deserved recognition as an outstanding civic leader.

 

The man who was instrumental in organizing the Rotary Club of Marshall was a man of many interests, and extraordinary vision.