1972 - 1973
President Joseph C. Hillier, Secretary W. Guy Smith III
Membership March 29 - 32

The Club sponsors the Thomas Dale High School Key and Keyette Clubs.

1973 - 1974
President J. Marshall Henry, Secretary W. Guy Smith III

1974 - 1975
President Courtlandt H. Joyner, Secretary David J. Jones

1975 - 1976
President Hampton R. White, Secretary David J. Jones

1976 - 1977
Division 4B
President Bryon F. Price, Secretary David J. Jones

1977 - 1978
President Guy W. Smith, Secretary David J. Jones

1978 - 1979
Divsion 18
President Billy H. Johnson, Secretary David J. Jones

1979 - 1980
President William M. Koogler, Secretary Guy Smith III

1980 - 1981
President Thomas A. Moody, Secretary W. Guy Smith III
Sponsors Swift Creek Club

1981 - 1982
President Henry J. Schott Jr, Secretary Herbert E. George

1982 - 1983
President Phil R. Collier, Secretary Herbert E. George

1983 - 1984
President David J. Jones, Secretary Herbert E. George
Sponsor Central Chesterfield Club

1984 - 1985
President Philip R. Crow, Secretary MArk L. Alley

1985 - 1986
President Herbert E. George, Secretary Larry D. McCoy
Governor Joseph Hillier, Charter President

1986 - 1987
President Rex E. Dykes, Secretary Paul J. Murman Jr

1987 - 1988
President Henry J. Dvorak, Secretary Phillip R. Collier

1988 - 1989
President Dr. Russel V. Brown, Secretary Philip R. Collier
Sponsor Midlothian Club

1989 - 1990
President David F. Lykins, Secretary Gary L. Burleigh

1990 - 1991
President Richard E. Dodson, Secretary Gary L. Burleigh

1991 - 1992
President Richard E. Goyne, Secretary Richard E. Dodson

1992 - 1993
President Louis A. Rosenstock III, Secretary Richard E. Dodson

1993 - 1994
President Gary L. Burleigh, Secretary Richard E. Dodson

1994 - 1995
President William H. Rhea, Secretary Richard E. Dodson

1995 - 1996
President Lawrence M. Smith, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier

1996 - 1997
President ?, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier

1997 - 1998
President Robert Goodwin, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier

1998 - 1999
President Christopher M. Wyndham, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier

1999 - 2000
President Eleanor P. Lee, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier

2000 - 2001
President Robert O. Cassadea, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier

2001 - 2002
President Steven H. Miles, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 33, Attendance 84%

The Annual Christmas Parade continues to be an important tradition, which helps to build and maintain our sense of community and to preserve the area’s small town character. The Kiwanis Club of Chester has organized the event since 1997. The parade had previously been organized by a local Jaycees club which disbanded in the mid 1990’s.

Club secretary and charter member Joe Hillier and committee chairman David Duncan talked with the local police to change the parade route. Chairman Dave filed the required permits, mailed entry forms, processed applications and entry fees from local businesses, individuals and groups, maintained a database of all participants and other contacts. Kiwanian Rick Dodson provided valuable assistance with follow-up phone calls. Club President Steve Miles, acted as liaison to the Virginia Department of Transportation which was responsible for detouring traffic during the parade. Steve and Chairman Dave prepared a parade map and parade lineup. Nicole Jordan, the club’s vice president, designed and built a Kiwanis theme float for the parade. Assisting Nicole were Kiwanians Bob Cassada and Rick Dodson, and local Brownie Scouts.

Marshall Henry, our Sponsored Youth chairman, secured volunteers from the Thomas Dale Key Club and Keyettes to march in the parade and carry the Kiwanis Family Banners. 55-year member Cliff Schorer drove his model T Ford at the head of the parade. A local Aktion Club was among the lead units in the parade. Kiwanian Dave Lawton announced the units as they passed the judging stand. Kiwanian David Lykins served on a panel of three judges filled by local elected leaders. All club members were encouraged to assist with various duties on parade day.

The event was promoted in local newspapers, radio and on public access TV. Banners were displayed and flyers were posted at local businesses and schools. All promotional costs, as well as permit fees, printing and mailing expenses were paid for out of parade entry fees.

The 2001 Kiwanis Chester Christmas Parade was by all accounts the biggest and best ever for this small but growing community. Thousands of children, teens and families lined the sidewalks on the main street through town for the 1.7-mile parade route. Hundreds marched or rode on floats representing scout troops, athletic associations and church and civic groups. The parade comprised sixty-three units. These included: over two dozen horses marched, trotted or galloped by in five group,. antique cars, fire engines, classic muscle cars, marching bands, carolers and musical floats.

Many units were very professionally prepared, other units merely paid their entry fee and showed up to march in their Sunday best or Scout uniforms, helping to maintain the “small town” atmosphere.

In honor of the heroes of 9/11, we invited a local police officer and fire lieutenant to be Grand Marshals for the Day. Many of the floats reflected patriotic themes and red, white and blue were evident all around. A fire truck drove as the final unit in the parade, with every child’s favorite elf as its passenger.

The event was an unqualified success for our club both in service to the community and exposure for Kiwanis. The event paid for itself and added $700 to our club’s community service account. This money was returned to the community in the form of a charitable contribution selected by our board of directors.

Eighty-five percent of the Chester Kiwanis Club participated, contributing an estimated 500 service hours in preparation and on parade day. Our sponsored youth logged over 120 service hours and the Aktion Club of James River (sponsored by a neighboring Kiwanis Club) participated for another 40 hours of service.

While no formal crowd estimates are available, It would be conservative to say that over 5000 people attended the event. The entire community, however, will benefit from the sense of community pride and togetherness engendered by this tradition, and from the excitement of every single child who got a glimpse of Santa and a warm feeling about Christmas right here in Chester.

Year End Statistics: 72 Projects Completed, 1138Service Hours, $865 Spent, 21 Interclubs

2002 - 2003
President Danny R. Wyatt, Secretary Joseph C. Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 37, Attendance 76%

Our project monies go to Bensley Bermuda Rescue Squad, YMCA of Chester, Christmas Mother - Colonial Heights/Chester, scholorships at L.C. Bird High School, Thomas Dale High School and John Tyler Community College, YMCA's Bright Beginnings Program, Terrific Kids Program in four local elementary schools and helped start The Chester Forum for which we also provided manpower. Monies come from fundraisers such as the Chester Spring Fling, working the Bizarre Bazaar, Chester Kiwanis Christmas Parade, historical ornament sales and historical prints.

Year End Statistics: 82 Projects Completed, 672 Service Hours, $1257 Spent, 31 Interclubs

2003 - 2004
President Nicole Jordan, Secretary Steven Miles
Membership Oct. 1 - 35, Attendance 73%
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store

Year End Statistics: 53 Projects Completed, 937 Service Hours, $20,318 Spent, 24 Interclubs

2004 - 2005
President Joseph Hillier, Secretary Guy Smith III
Membership Oct. 1 - 34, Attendance %
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store
Distinguished Club
LG Steven Miles (also D24)

Contributed $1,000 to Tsunami Relief Effort.

Year End Statistics: 46 Projects Completed, 1500 Service Hours, $21,282 Spent, 56 Interclubs

2005 - 2006
Heart of Virginia Region
President Steve A. Casstro, Secretary Joseph Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 45, Attendance 74%
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store
District Chair Serving Children of the World Joseph C. Hillier
District Web Page Award

Year End Statistics: 37 Projects Completed, 1703 Service Hours, $11,246 Spent, 40 Interclubs

2006 - 2007
President Ronnie L. Gray, Secretary Joseph Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 44, Attendance 73%
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store
District Chair Serving Children of the World Joseph C. Hillier

Year End Statistics: 32 Projects Completed, 1074 Service Hours, $29,810 Spent, 31 Interclubs

2007 - 2008
President James Slagle, Secretary Joseph Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 47, Attendance 72%
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store
District Chair Serving Children of the World Joseph C. Hillier

Year End Statistics: 12 Projects Completed, 116 Service Hours, $0 Spent, 4 Interclubs

2008 - 2009
President Dixon Handwerk, Secretary Joseph Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 42, Attendance 76%
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store
District Chair Serving Children of the World Joseph C. Hillier

Year End:112 Projects Completed, 1137 Service Hours, $13,031 Spent,20 Interclubs $200 District Foundation

2009 - 2010
President Gary Burleigh, Secretary Joseph Hillier
Membership Oct. 1 - 39, Attendance %
Meet Monday 6:30 PM Eckerd Drug Store

Year End: Projects Completed, Service Hours, $ Spent, Interclubs $ District Foundation